With their rapid growth and tall narrow shape Leyland cypress trees are a popular choice for creating living fences and screens. But to keep your Leyland cypress healthy and avoid future problems, it’s important to give them adequate spacing from fences or other barriers. Planting too close can lead to crowded, stressed trees down the road.
Follow these Leyland cypress spacing guidelines to allow your trees enough room to reach their mature size without infringing on structures:
Leave Adequate Clearance on Both Sides
Leyland cypress trees grow quite large, reaching 60-70 feet tall at maturity. Even as a screen or hedge, they need sufficient space between planting rows and adjacent fences or buildings.
As a rule of thumb, leave at least 8-10 feet between the trees and any structures on both sides. This gives the spreading roots room to develop and prevents the expanding canopy from encroaching too much.
For single specimen Leyland cypress trees, allow even more space. Plant the tree 10-15 feet away from fences, allowing clearance all around for the eventual width.
Consider Mature Height When Spacing Rows
When planting a screen or hedge row of Leyland cypress trees, the spacing between the trees themselves also matters. Plant them too close together, and they’ll be crowded as they grow.
Space the trees around 3 feet apart within the row if you want a tight screen. For a more open hedge, space them 5-6 feet apart.
Then, allow 8-12 feet between rows depending on the desired mature height:
- For a 10 foot screen, space rows 8 feet apart
- For a 20 foot screen, space rows 10 feet apart
- For a 30 foot screen, space rows 12 feet apart
This gives each tree adequate room to reach its potential height without excessive crowding.
Staggered Rows Maximize Space
For the most efficient use of space, consider a staggered double row. This offsets the trees in the back row from the ones in front.
The offset allows more light penetration and air circulation. It also minimizes gaps as the trees are establishing, while preventing overcrowding when mature.
Leave at least 8 feet between staggered rows and 12 feet between aligned rows for best results with Leyland cypress hedges.
Be Wary of Planting Too Close to the Fence
It can be tempting to plant Leyland cypress trees right along a fence line to get an instant screen. But this causes issues down the road.
As the trees grow, the spreading branches and roots will intersect with the fence. This can damage the fence, heave up posts, and stress the trees.
Instead, allow a buffer zone on your side of the fence. The wider the better, but 6-8 feet is reasonable for most sites. This gives the canopy and roots space to develop freely.
Watch for Shading on Other Side Too
Leyland cypress trees get quite wide at the base as they mature. Even though they grow in a tall, narrow shape, you don’t want them casting too much shade on the neighbor’s side either.
Consider how a 30-40 foot Leyland cypress hedge may impact sunlight on adjacent properties. Leave adequate border space so you remain friendly with your neighbors!
Prepare the Soil Properly
When prepping your planting area for Leyland cypress trees, take the time to improve the soil. This encourages healthy root growth.
Dig down at least 12 inches and turn the soil to improve aeration. Mix in several inches of compost or other organic material.
Make sure the soil drains well, as Leyland cypress dislikes soggy feet. Install underground drain pipes if needed.
Give Young Trees Extra Care
For the first few years after planting, Leyland cypress trees need regular irrigation. Water deeply once a week in dry weather.
Also apply an organic mulch around each tree to retain soil moisture. Keep the area around the trees free of weeds.
Stake young trees to protect against wind damage for the first season. But remove the stakes after a year so trees can develop anchoring roots.
Be Patient in the First Years
Leyland cypress is fast growing, but still takes time to establish and fill in. Don’t expect a thick, full hedge right away.
Give your trees 2-3 years after planting before you have a mature screen. Adhere to proper care and spacing guidelines in the meantime.
With the right Leyland cypress spacing from fences and proper site prep, your trees will take off and provide beautiful greenery for years to come. Be patient, and resist planting them too densely or too close to property lines.
Common Spacing Questions
Here are some quick answers to common Leyland cypress spacing questions:
How far should Leyland cypress be planted from a pool?
- Leave at least 10 feet between the trees and pool edge. The spreading roots can damage pool walls.
How far apart to plant Leyland cypress hedge?
- Space 3 feet apart for a tight screen or 5-6 feet for a loose hedge. Allow 8-12 feet between rows.
How close can Leyland cypress be planted to a house?
- Allow at least 10 feet between the trees and house for proper root and branch clearance.
How far should Leyland cypress trees be from a septic system?
- Leave at least 10 feet between the trees and any septic tanks or drainage fields. Roots can interfere with pipes.
Properly spacing your Leyland cypress trees allows them room to thrive. So don’t plant too close to fences or buildings, and be patient. In a few short years, you’ll have a beautiful screen or hedge to enjoy for decades to come.
Leyland Cypress Spacing for Hedges: How to Space Leyland Cypress Trees for Hedging
To grow leyland cypress trees as a landscaping hedge, you should space them 3-6 feet apart (on center). How far apart the hedges should be should depend on one thing: how quickly you want them to grow into a hedge.
For a quick hedge, plant them 3 feet apart. But you can easily get a hedge with longer spacing (up to 6 feet), though it will take longer to get the shape you want. Leylands bush out and have a very dense foliage.
With about 3 feet of space between each plant, the leyland will grow into a nice hedge in about 2 to 3 years. The hedge will improve in thickness and height over time. At spaces greater than 3 feet, it could take 3-4 years to achieve a hedge.
Leyland Cypress Spacing for Privacy Screens and Windbreaks
When planting leyland cypress trees for a privacy screen or windbreak, space them 4-15 feet apart. How far apart you put your trees should depend on how fast you want privacy and how tall you want the leylands to grow.
If you want privacy within 2-4 years, then plant the leylands at a spacing of 4-6 feet. At this spacing, it is best to keep the leylands at a height of 15 feet or less.
Longer spacings, on the other hand, will need anywhere from 3 to 10 years to grow together with a dense screen. At the longer spacing, you can easily allow the leyland to achieve a height of 15-40 feet.
Leyland Cypress | Cupressocyparis leylandii
FAQ
Can I plant a Leyland cypress next to a fence?
What happens if you plant Leyland cypress too close together?
Why not to plant Leyland cypress?
What is the best time to plant Leyland cypress trees?