Leyland cypress, forsynthia or arborvite?

Question

Hi....this is a two part question...

l. I have six Leyland cypress trees about 5'...I put them in the ground 2 years ago....one tree got a brown limb, on the bottom, and, now is losing its color and, it looks as the needles are closing...what should i do?

2. I live in zone 6, and have mostly clay soil...I need to put up a privacy hedge in front of my house on the easement..I was thinking forsynthia, as, in the winter, if the plows come along...and, push snow on the forsynthias, that, it really will not matter, as they grow quickly...my friends advised aborvite or leyland cypress...what is your thinking on this...

thanks a bunch!

Answer 1

leyland is a beautiful plant, however, it does not like the soil it is in. I hope you planted the units with a healthy application of Sphagnum Moss and gypsum before planting!
Check your fertilizing schedule for the Cypress. Immediately remove all dead wood/limbs from all the plantings. Spray or dip the pruning shears with a mild bleach and water solution after each cut to reduce the spread of any disease. Much as I hate to suggest it I would use Mir-Acid (from Miricle Gro) to feed the roots for this spring and fall.
Follow the manuf. directions.
For your zone (mine as well) there is a relatively cheap planting that is rarely used but is quick growing, hardy, disease resistant, and of much interest year round. In some cases it is a specimen plant. In some cases it is trained as a hedgerow for privacy. The plant is a RedTwig Dogwood!
Make sure you prepare the soil properly with the Sphagnum Moss and a healthy mix of granular gypsum (the gypsum will add the drainage to the soil and allow for salt damage to be minimum). Plant a two-three foot tall plant a minimum of four foot apart (center to center measurement). fertilize with a general granular 10-10-10 with minerals fertilizer in the spring and fall.
Train the plantings into the hedgerow and height you want. Pruning with a simple anvil type of pruner is perfect. Snip a few of the center upright branches before it leafs out (Late Feb). An application of a Dormant Oil spray in March is strongly urged for protection. It is a shrub but treat it for what it is - a Dogwood.
This, when mature, will make a hearty hedgerow. It can be sheared in the spring and fall like anyother hedge material. Best part is that it will flower in summer. In addition it gets its name from the fact that the newer growth is a distinct red. In winter, in the snow, you wll find the redtwigs most attractive. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Zone 6 may be a bit much for hemloc. I would try using something like Bottle Brush Buckeye Aesculus parviflora, or perhaps White spruce, Leylands are a good screening plant, but it sounds like they do not like it where they are now. Given the conditions, Forsythia sounds like it would work even though it is way overused. You may want to consider viburnums, they will do well in a variety of soils. There are probably a few native to your region as well. I would think Viburnum rhytidophyllum or X.Burkwoodii would solve you needs.

Answer 3

Sounds like the Leyland have a fungus.

Forsithia is deciduous, won't offer much privacy in winter. What about hemlock? Can be pruned into any shape you want, evergreen, tollerates snow....or rhododendron....

good luck

Answer 4

i would do green giant western arborvitae. they grow 4 feet a year and can take any soil. they top out at 25 feet tall. the leylands do not like clay soil. it probably got too much water. hemlock do not like intense heat or sun as zone 6 is too hot for them. botanical name for green giants is thuja occidentalis "green giant'