The Blue Lawson Cypress is a real speed demon when it comes to growing. Because it puts on height and width so quickly, it’s a go-to favorite for American gardeners looking for an evergreen windbreak or a natural privacy screen. The best part? It’s incredibly low-maintenance. You’ll only need to grab your shears once or twice a year to keep it looking sharp.
Just How Fast Does a Blue Lawson Cypress Grow?
If you don’t stay on top of pruning with your hedge trimmers, these trees can easily pack on about 12 inches in height and 6 inches in width every single year. Left to their own devices, mature Blue Lawson Cypresses can tower up to 80 feet tall!
To keep things manageable, I recommend pruning twice a year—once in the spring and again in the fall. This prevents the hedge from getting “leggy” or thin at the bottom. Regular trimming ensures the lower branches get enough sunlight, which is the secret to lush growth and keeping the tree strong enough to fight off diseases. A pro tip: prune your hedge into a slight “taper” or cone shape (wider at the bottom). This ensures the base gets plenty of light and stays full and green.
Spring is Pruning Time
Blue Lawson Cypresses are pretty hardy when it comes to pruning, but there is one golden rule: never cut back into the old, brown wood. These conifers aren’t very forgiving about that, and you’ll likely be left with a permanent bald spot where new needles won’t grow back.
Aim for your first trim in early spring just before the new growth starts, and then give it a light touch-up in the fall. Try to pick a cloudy day for the job; this helps prevent the freshly cut tips from getting “sunburned,” which is why needles sometimes turn brown after a trim.
Also, keep our feathered friends in mind! Make sure nesting season is over before you start hacking away. It’s always a good idea to peek inside the branches first to make sure there aren’t any active nests hidden in your hedge.
Winter Care to Prevent Frost Damage
While Blue Lawson Cypresses are generally winter-hardy, they still appreciate a little extra TLC when the temperatures plumet and the snow starts piling up.
Here’s how to keep your evergreens happy:
- If you have a Blue Lawson Cypress in a container, wrap the pot in burlap or frost fleece to protect the roots.
- For trees planted as a hedge, loosely tie the branches together with twine. This prevents heavy snow from weighing them down and snapping the limbs.
- If your trees are planted right up against the house, consider building a simple wooden frame over them to protect them from “roof avalanches” (falling snow masses).
And don’t forget: even in the winter, these trees are still “breathing” and losing moisture through their needles. If there’s a warm spell and the ground isn’t frozen, give them a good drink of water!
