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leyland cypress transplanting

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  • From what I can see in your photo this is Chamaecyparis  lawsoniana Ellwoodii  quite a few years old at that. At the time of planting it was probably a very innocent small plant. Personally I would avoid leylandii of any type no one is entirely sure of how tall they could eventually grow. 
    I think you are right it is this species- not sure why people are not keen on this tree ... speed of growth and potential to get out of control...  great to engage with you all. This topic was my first  post.  😁
  • Hello all I decided not to buy it. Can someone recommend a garden centre I can get Chamaecyparis  lawsoniana Ellwoodii - tall one . Thanks 😊  so much. Phew 😅  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Thujas are also a good choice, because you can clip them back into brown wood without them dying.
    All conifers will get large over time, but if you then need to keep them a bit more contained, that's when you can get problems. Never take off more than the current season's growth if/when you need to do that - just keep it trimmed lightly once it gets to the size you eventually want.
    Leylandii are fine - if they're kept trimmed properly from the start. The problem arises because people don't do that  :)

    They're all slow growing for the first few years anyway. It takes a while for any conifer to get to the size of that one in your pic. It's only once they get to around eight to ten years old that they grow more rapidly :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • I would certainly keep an open mind regarding what you buy. If you are also planting next to a fence most conifers become brown on that side due to lack of light.@Farygirl suggested Thuja which you could consider. Conifers are not deep rooted they have fibrous roots and then long roots that go side ways to anchor them. They can be moved when young. If you move an old conifer the long roots are unable to anchor it properly as they are loose in the ground and it is unable to support its self. Take your time and get some good advice when buying.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes, but if there's a fence, it doesn't matter if it's brown on that side  ;)

    It largely depends what @fareenaism is planning re the site/location, but most conifers cope with everything except long periods of drought.  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Yes there’s a fence I wanted a conifer as a clutch of a lovely textured evergreens in my very  narrow garden. I have a forest flame bush and the confided was going to  by it. 
  • I think I would consider a third plant in your clutch of evergreens if you have space. If the three plants together create a triangle shape this will complete your scheme
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There are also some nice columnar junipers and yews, so you might want to take a look  at those as well @fareenaism :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I've just looked at this thread and thought what a cheek - the owner of that conifer asking someone to pay him to take it away!  Was he also expecting a free tidy up afterwards?!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I expect he has a fair stock of Brasso too @Plantminded ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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