Question
QUESTION: We have 22 Leyland Cypress trees planted in a row approximately 5' apart. Trees are about 30' tall on average and the needles on the inside of the trees are brown. The outer needles are very green with just an occasional brown tip here and there that is pruned when noticed. There are no apparent signs of canker diseases or insect damage. Located in western part of W.Va. with no serious drought issues. Is browning of the interior of the limbs a natural occurring condition as the trees grow? The limbs on the back side of a few trees are nearly all brown but those few trees are heavily shaded due to building structures. The remainder of the trees not heavily shaded appear very healthy on their exteriors and the brown needles on the interior are only noticeable when the limbs are manually separated for inspection. The trees are planted in an established mulch bed.

ANSWER: Yes it sounds like just natural shedding from the shading effect. Conifer tree do this--the inner needles will die and shed from the shade. Sounds normal. As long as the outer needles are green and healthy looking the tree is OK.

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QUESTION: What affect and would you recommend me cutting the top 12" of new growth on the trees to slow their height? The trees are about 30' tall now.

Answer
Topping is the practice of removing major portions of a large tree's crown by cutting branches to stubs or to the trunk. Some homeowners think their tree is too big and therefore, unsafe; some believe it is good for the health of the tree; some simply planted the wrong tree in the wrong place (under utility lines, for example) and need to "whack" it back into its space. Tree topping shortens the life of your tree, creates weakly attached limbs prone to breakage and disfigures your tree.


With its rapid growth a young Leyland cypress hedge can soon become overgrown if not maintained at the required height. Healthy plants will usually respond well to a reduction of up to one-third of the height. This is best carried out in April on young as the new growth is about to begin.

Taking too much off of the top can result in a bare, flat-topped hedge, or result in the death of older or less vigorous plants. If a reduction in the width is required care needs to be taken not to cut back into older leafless growths, as new growth will not appear from bare wood.