What to do about Leland cypresses?
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Anonymous
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Our home has Leland cypresses which create privacy from the house next door. 15 years later, they don't look so great or so healthy at the bottom, but they do give us great privacy.
I could cut them down and replace with fast growing trees. Anyone have suggestions for good evergreen alternatives? I like the look of cryptomeria. Are those good privacy trees and do they thrive in DC? Or should I hire some tree people to prune the Leland cypresses to get a few more years out of them? Thanks. |
Anonymous
| Take out the Leylands and use a mix of different trees. Crytomeria is nice. Sweetbay magnolias, hollies, etc., will give you some privacy. I don't know what amount of sunlight you get, but this is a start. |
Anonymous
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OP here. Thanks for the feedback. Any idea how much it might cost to take out the Lelands?
I'd really love to do a mix of trees. Can we do a staggered row of taller trees, and then bushes (maybe hydrangeas, or little princess spirea, maybe lavender) in front? Might you have a landscape designer you'd recommend? I really no nothing about plants and trees and I'd like to do it better this time around (although I don't have an unlimited budget). |
Anonymous
| Hollies are more sparse than Leylands. I have both. |
Anonymous
We had a leland cypress removed a few years ago, and it was relatively inexpensive, something like $300 or $350. We used Adirondack. |
Anonymous
| Leyland are not too expensive to remove. We had a ton of medium-large ones removed a few years ago for under $1000. Get several quotes - there was a large range. |
Anonymous
You're growing them wrong. 
Evergreen, native, and deer don't like them. |
Anonymous
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PP who mentioned planting a few different things had a good idea. Stagger the plantings; make sure they have proper room to spread.
Mountain laurel--can grow up to 20 feet tall. Evergreen, deer don't eat them, gorgeous flowers: http://blogs.ubc.ca/lucia316/files/2015/10/Kalmia_latifolia-134139.jpg Viburnum (black haw)--can grow up to 24 feet tall. http://www.mtcubacenter.org/images/sized/images/plant-finder/Viburnum_prunifolium_1-385x256.JPG has gorgeous fall color: http://plants.gardensupplyco.com/Content/Images/Photos/D083-12.jpg Typically, they don't shed all their leaves in this area during winter, however as part of a staggered planting this wouldn't be an issue. If you're looking for a single tree, try eastern red cedar: https://www.arborday.org/trees/TreeGuide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=913 or magnolia tree: https://www.arborday.org/programs/NationalTree/magnolia.cfm and yup, they're native and deer don't eat them. |
Anonymous
| I have a sparse holly. What am I doing wrong, and how can I fix it? Is it too late to fill it in somehow? |
Anonymous
| I am embarrassed to say I love my L. Cypresses. |
Anonymous
me too. They get a really bad rap on this board, but I love mine, they are healthy, and give us great privacy. |
Anonymous
Yup, tall and beautiful... |
Anonymous
| I love my Leland Cypresses!!! |
Anonymous
+1 Me too. I think the only ones who don't like Lelands are nosy neighbors. 
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Anonymous
Most people who actually know something about trees don't like them. Washington Post garden columnist Adrian Higgins included them among the worst ten trees to plant. And they are not protected by DC's special tree law - you can remove them without a permit. |