Fast Growing Trees for Quick Shelter

The Leyland cypress is a high quality yet reasonably priced tree that is perfectly suited for a variety of landscaping objectives. Once established it requires little or no care and will grow up to 3 feet per year in its first few years. It's perfect as a privacy hedge, planting for noise abatement or even to hide the junky backyard of a neighbor.

We transplanted 28 Leylands in our front yard and have been amazed at their rapid growth. They took well to our southern Oregon clay based soil and have been happily growing with virtually no care. The dense blue-green branches make for a beautiful addition to our view while hiding the road. The trees have little aroma and are considered by most to be non-allergenic.

Although the trees generate very small cones there are no naturally occurring Leyland cypresses in the woods. They must be propagated by rooted cuttings. There are several different varieties but they are all considered to be sterile hybrids.

Leylands will grow 60 to 70 feet tall and 12 to 20 feet wide. Heights of 100 feet and more are common if they are given enough space. If left unattended the trees will probably grow larger than desired. Thankfully, this versatile tree can tolerate severe trimming and be easily trained at an early age with pruning.

A privacy screen to one person can be an oppressive blanket of light blocking foliage to another. In Britain, where millions of people live just a matter of feet from their neighbors, Leylands are at times referred to as the "scourge of suburbia". Thousands of disputes between neighbors relating to the thick evergreen trees are subject to new anti-social behavior laws. Local authorities now have the power to intervene and arbitrate high hedge quarrels and order trimmings.

A relatively new tree, the Leyland cypress traces its roots back to 1888 when an accidental hybridization by C.J. Leighton of the Monterey Cypress and Alaska Cedar took place in southern Wales. Over time, studies by British botanists resulted in the classification of the tree as an intergeneric hybrid (the breeding of two genera). This crossbreeding is a very rare occurrence especially for conifers.

The first introduction of the Leyland cypress to the United States was in 1941 at the Institute of Forest genetics in California. Today, in addition to their value in landscaping they are a popular Christmas tree variety, particularly in the south. They offer a hopeful alternative to allergy sufferers who desire the warmth and beauty of a real tree.

We haven't given much thought to utilizing the Leyland as a Christmas tree but we are thankful for choosing this hearty, fast growing tree for our hedge. It is remarkable how much growth we have witnessed over the last four years and are now enjoying a private sanctuary.