With its very slender, upright growth, the columnar cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), also known as the Mediterranean or Tuscany cypress, is particularly well suited as an evergreen hedge or as an interesting solitaire. Although the trees and shrubs are not reliably hardy everywhere in our latitudes, they can also be cultivated in sufficiently large pots.

Columnar cypresses should only be planted in warmer regions

Which location do columnar cypresses prefer?

Like all cypresses, columnar cypresses also like the sun, although a location in full sun is not always an advantage. In particular, if the soil tends to dry out quickly, the wood should be planted in a semi-shady location. It is also important that the tree is protected from wind and frost.

What soil should columnar cypresses be planted in?

Not too heavy, clayey soils with a pH value between 5 and 6 are ideal for the evergreen Mediterranean plant. Well-drained soils rich in humus are very suitable, whereas sandy and very loamy soils should be improved with compost or humus soil. Make sure that the substrate is neither too wet nor too dry: the wood does not tolerate both very well.

When is the best time to plant columnar cypresses?

Columnar cypresses should be planted in spring as soon as the ground is frost-free and no more frosty nights are to be expected. Then the plant has a good chance of developing strong roots in time for winter.

At what distance should columnar cypresses be planted?

For a hedge planting, place the individual trees at a distance of between 80 and 100 centimeters.

What is the best way to plant columnar cypresses?

When planting the columnar cypresses, it is best to proceed as follows:

  • Dig a planting hole
  • which is about twice as deep and twice as wide as the root ball.
  • Loosen the bottom of the planting hole with a hoe.
  • Then the roots can penetrate the soil more easily.
  • An additional drainage layer is recommended for heavy and wet soils.
  • Mix the excavation with compost and horn shavings
  • and fill the substrate back into the planting hole.
  • Dig a support pole at the same time
  • and connect the trunk and stake with an elastic material (e.g. a coconut or bast rope).
  • Water the newly planted columnar cypress
  • and cover the root area with bark mulch.

Can columnar cypresses also be cultivated in a bucket?

The columnar cypress can also be cultivated in a bucket up to a height of about one meter, but should then be planted out.

Can you propagate columnar cypresses yourself?

Columnar cypresses can be propagated by cuttings or by sowing (collect cones!).

tips

Significantly more robust and better suited to a Central European climate are the very frost-hardy yew trees (Taxus fastigiata) or the cedar cedar (Thuja), which look very similar to the cypress tree. The same applies to the Leyland cypress, also known as the giant cypress.

Category:

Trees