Leyland Cypresses are a total favorite for backyard privacy, whether you’re planting them as a standalone specimen or a lush hedge. These trees are super resilient when it comes to pruning and are actually pretty easy to shape once you get the hang of it. Plus, keeping up with a regular trimming schedule doesn’t just make that delicate foliage look sharp—it actually keeps the whole tree healthier in the long run.
When to Grab the Shears
Summer is generally the sweet spot for pruning your cypresses. However, a dry, frost-free day in the fall works great too, as long as it’s not too sunny. You want to avoid damp weather because those fresh cuts can start to rot if they stay wet. On the flip side, intense direct sunlight can actually scorch the cut tips and turn them an unsightly brown.
Aim for Two Trims a Year
If you’re growing a hedge for a privacy screen or a windbreak, you want those closely spaced trees to fill in fast. Regular pruning is the secret sauce here—it actually stimulates growth, encouraging the branches to fill out so your hedge becomes “neighbor-proof” much quicker.
I recommend doing your first big trim in late June (just make sure any nesting birds have finished up first!). Then, give them a second touch-up in late summer or autumn. If you have a particularly fast-growing variety, you might even want to do a third light trim in the spring.
Here’s my pro-tip checklist for the job:
- Keep it clean! Whether you’re using manual hedge shears or an electric trimmer, make sure your blades are spotless. I always clean my tools before and after use to make sure I’m not spreading any pests or diseases between plants.
- Safety first: Wear gloves! Leyland Cypresses are actually toxic, and the sap can cause some pretty annoying skin irritation. It’s best to keep your skin covered while you work.
- Clean up the clippings right away. Since the plant is toxic, you don’t want kids or pets getting curious and playing with the debris.
- Start with the sides. Trimming the vertical faces first helps you establish a nice, clean line.
- Then, take it off the top. Even if your hedge hasn’t reached its final goal height yet, topping it slightly helps it grow thicker.
- A good rule of thumb is to prune back about one-third of the new annual growth.
One big warning: Never cut back into the “old wood” (the brown, leafless parts of the inner branches). Leyland Cypresses won’t grow back from old wood, and you’ll end up with permanent bald spots that ruin your privacy screen!
