Leyland cypress tree is fast - develop and promiscuous to hold . leave good condition , it quickly develop into a thick cover , bring home the bacon secrecy and shelter from winds . It also makes a pretty specimen Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . As easily as they are to produce , Leylands sometimes hit a bump in the road and turn lily-livered . Yellowing needles on a Leyland cypress tree often point chlorosis . faithful attention to soil condition will both forestall and curative greensickness in Leyland cypress .
Symptoms
The leafage of Leyland cypress should be a dark forest green and the needles should have a waxy grain . Affected plant turn yellow - gullible – inside phonograph needle turning first – then wholly yellowish . If untreated , ontogenesis stop , succeed by continued declension and death .
Soil pH
greensickness is due to iron deficiency . Iron , present in most garden ground , is not available to plants unless soil pH is correct . Leyland cypress prefers acidic grunge , but is resistant of most alkaline soils . Still , territory pH of 7.5 or smashing can block iron absorption in Leylands .
Prevention
Leyland cypress should be implant in well - drained soil with neutral to acidic pH–5.0 to 6.5 is ideal . Soils above 7.50 should be amended with iron sulfate or aluminium sulphate to increase acidity .
Treatment
Treat affected plants by scratching iron sulfate or aluminum sulphate into the soil above the roots . contribute in 1 inch of compost to soil at this clip will enrich grunge , render moderate alkalinity and a medium for safely scratch postscript into the soil without disturbing roots . To quickly immature - up yellow Leylands , spray with a chelated iron resolution according to recording label directions .
Maintenance
Replenish your Leyland with mulch every year , and let fallen needles decompose in places where they will nutrify etymon and kick in sourness to soil . Apply a fertilizer in late pin that has micronutrient and is formulated for acid - sleep with evergreens . Apply smoothing iron supplementation to soil as soon as the needle start to wrick white-livered .
Alternative Diagnosis
Yellow leave on Leyland Cypress can sometimes be induce by too much water . Soil should never be waterlogged and should be left to dry out before irrigation . Leylands institute in wet stain will continue to fail and die , so graft them to a more suited location .