Cypress trees are great-looking trees for landscaping, looking great outside the home. Many believe these trees can only flourish in humid environments, but they can find a home in many places. So what is the best time to plant your cypress trees outside? We have researched this for you and have the answer below.
It's recommended you plant your cypress in the fall. Doing so allows the tree to go into dormancy during the winter months and require less watering for its first few months. It's tricky to balance the right amount of water for initial planning if you try planting in the spring or summer.
There's a lot more to go into with establishing these majestic trees on your property. Continue reading down below, and we'll get into the details for you.
Initially keeping your cypress trees
If properly planted and maintained, Leland cypress trees make great assets for your outdoor space. It's important to remember that these trees will grow into large trees, so you'll need to plan for the future when initially planting them.
Though Leland cypress trees are hardy, they require attentive care when starting. This care includes tending to the soil in the surrounding area and ensuring your tree gets adequate water. If adequately cared for, cypress trees can flourish in both containers and directly in the ground.
It's recommended you plant your small trees outside in the fall. These trees initially require a fair bit of water and care. Getting your trees established in the fall before going into dormancy in the winter mitigates this. Doing so will save you money on watering and increase the likelihood of your trees surviving.
Before planting the tree, loosen the dirt in a 6-foot radius to allow the roots room to grow. The roots having room to grow and anchor the growing tree is critical to survival. You'll also want to make sure to be careful with watering.
You can establish a fertilizer when first planting your tree. Doing so lets the root system take hold and get your tree situated. Once the roots have become well situated, unless your soil is less than ideal, using fertilizer becomes far less necessary for the benefit of the tree.
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Can you plant cypress trees outside?
Cypress trees can be planted outside and grow to great heights if adequately cared for. While cypress trees can withstand a range of experiences, you want to do a few things if you want proper growth. The soil and watering of your plants as they live outside are critical to their continued growth.
Establishing the root system is essential for growing your tree outside. When first digging the hole for your tree, make sure the hole is big enough that the tree won't topple over as it grows. Twice as wide and around six inches deeper than the rootball allows for a solid root system to develop.
Soil Requirements
Cypress trees can flourish in a range of soil PHs, ranging from PHs of 5.0 to 8.0. You should supplement your tree with additional nutrients if your soil is quite sandy and lacking minerals. If your soil is arid, consider using drip irrigation to keep your tree happy.
Using the Plant Hardiness Map, Cypress trees flourish best in USDA Zones 5-10.
Excess water is also a problem for these trees. Don't leave your growing cypress in standing water for any amount of time. Root rot is a significant problem for developing trees. Dead and rotted roots are a substantial cause of trees failing to thrive when first planted.
Avoid damage to the root system
If you're having difficulties safely removing your root system from the container, don't excessively pull or tear at the roots. If you're able to, cut the container away from a securely fastened root system. Gently break up bound roots to allow for growth, but make sure your roots don't sustain lasting damage.
Your tree's ability to flourish comes down to how well the roots take, and if your tree is suffering to establish itself, it simply won't grow.
Watering
When your tree is just starting, it requires manual watering [depending on the season, which is why early fall is recommended]. Initially, you want to water down to the depth of the root ball without constantly keeping the roots submerged.
Fertilizer can help establish those roots, but you must also weed the area around your tree. Excess weeds and vegetation around the roots will impede growth and health. You can lay down some wood chippings after water to discourage weed growth.
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How much does a cypress tree grow per year?
Knowing the heights to which your tree can grow is critical. Many houses can handle a 6-foot tree in their front yard, but a tree will only be small for so long. The point of correctly planting your cypress trees is to encourage growth. So you'll need to be aware of what you're getting into, or the consequences could be dire.
Cypress trees can grow on average of 18 to 36 inches a year when planted young. Because of their ability to survive in many places, if not pruned back and purposely kept smaller, these trees will continue to grow yearly at a significant pace.
If you aim to keep your tree healthy, be aware that it won't stay the same size for very long unless you work hard to keep it under control. If you are looking for a smaller tree for your landscaping, there are other options for you out there.
That being said, because of their size and ability to grow if taken care of, Leland cypress trees make excellent windbreaks and will continue to grow for years after purchase. If you go into landscaping with cypress trees with an informed understanding, they can make a great addition to your home space.
How quickly do cypress trees grow?
The growth rate of a given tree is dependant on the vertical height it achieves per year as opposed to the size of the previous year. Rates for cypress trees heavily depend on the soil quality and regions they are planted in. These are hardy plants, but they grow faster in certain conditions.
The three types of growth rates are 'slow,' 'average,' and 'fast.' Slow growth in a Leland cypress describes a tree growing 12 inches or less over a year. The average increase is 13-24 inches per year. And a fast-growing tree describes as one growing 25 inches or more per year.
These rates will depend on the soil, temperature in your region, and access to water your tree receives. They can be adjusted to achieve a rate of growth you find desirable. But these are trees with the capability to be over fifty feet tall. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
Why are cypress trees so expensive?
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If you're looking to use cypress tree wood in your home, there are some special considerations to keep in mind. The typical cost of cypress tree wood is around 2-6 dollars per foot. However, there is a desirable variant that will cost you a bit more.
Peaky cypress wood is caused by a specific fungus invading old growth trees, giving it a unique appearance. This wood costs around 4 dollars a foot due to the time spent obtaining it. If you're set on cypress wood with this fungus, you'll have to be willing to pay.
Old-growth cypress wood is also tough to find. Due to the amount of time it reaches these trees to reach their full peak, it's always going to cost you more to obtain this type of wood.
There, of course, are additional factors that play a role. Your location, the amount of wood necessary, and any other costs by your lumber yard all play a part in the price.
In Conclusion
Cypress trees are a great addition to landscapes when handled by knowledgeable landscapers. It is critical to know the size these trees will reach and the effort required to keep them going. If you're deadset on having these trees and have the space for them, they're one of the best and hardiest.
We hope this article informed you of some of the reasons to have a Leland cypress on your land. We also hope you've been briefed on some of the best ways to keep your trees flourishing during that initial vulnerable state. May your present and future with your Leland cypress be fruitful and grand.