I Recently Planted 10 Leyland Trees That Were About 2…
Russ Asked
I recently planted 10 Leyland trees that were about 2 feet tall. Immediately after planting they appeared to be all droopy and quickly turned all brown. I have been watering regularly and even tried Miracle-Gro. How do I know if they are all dead, is this normal when replanting trees, and is there any way to recover them?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hi, Russ: Anytime we transplant a new addition to the garden there is always a certain amount of stress involved. This is why it is so important to plant properly and reduce as much stress as possible. The holes for your Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) should have been twice as wide and just as deep as the containers they were purchased in. Planting too deep or too shallow can cause problems. They should have been watered immediately and mulched with a thin layer no more than 2 inches deep. It is important to make sure the mulch does not get piled up around the trunk of your trees since this can encourage insect and other disease problems. Fertilizing is not necessary for the first year. It really is better to let the plants become established in the environment that exists naturally without giving them a boost that may not be there in the future. Too much fertilizer can actually burn our plants. Unfortunately when evergreens turn brown there is little we can do to save them. The droopiness you described could be due to lack of moisture if they were dry when you planted them and then not watered for a couple of days. You can contact the nursery you purchased them from and see what their guarantee policy is. You can also take a sample to your County Extension Service to make sure there are no insect or disease problems. Leyland cypress are prone to bagworms and fungal and canker problems. I would be surprised, though, if this were the case since they declined in health so fast after being transplanted. It sounds more like an environmental issue. These rapid growing evergreens are tolerable of most soil conditions as long as it is a well-drained area.
