- Plant false cypress correctly
- care tips
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- What is the best planting time?
- Cut the cypress correctly
- Water the cypress
- Fertilize false cypress properly
- hibernate
- Propagate false cypress
- Is cypress poisonous?
- Beautiful varieties
The false cypress opens up undreamt-of dimensions for creative garden design for hobby gardeners. The range of possibilities extends from the dainty, evergreen ground cover to the majestic solitaire. The following answers to frequently asked questions will show you how to properly cultivate the versatile coniferous tree.
False cypresses convince with beautiful colors and elegant growth
Table of Contents
Show all- Plant false cypress correctly
- care tips
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- What is the best planting time?
- Cut the cypress correctly
- Water the cypress
- Fertilize false cypress properly
- hibernate
- Propagate false cypress
- Is cypress poisonous?
- Beautiful varieties
- Keep the soil constantly slightly moist, both in the bed and in the tub
- Optionally apply a long-term fertilizer in March and June or fertilize organically every 4 weeks
- Depending on the variety, cut and thin out 1 to 2 times per season without cutting into the old wood
- Light winter protection is recommended in the year of planting and for tub trees
- Depending on the variety, cut once or twice a year, in spring and late summer until August
- Due to the toxic content, put on gloves, eye protection and long-sleeved clothing
- Shorten branches that are too long so that you don't cut into the old wood
- Thoroughly thin out the entire wood at the same time
- Never dispose of the toxic clippings on horse or cattle pastures
- Cover young plants with a breathable hood made of fleece or jute before the first frost
- Wrap buckets in several layers of foil and place on wood
- Cover the root disc with autumn leaves, brushwood or straw up to the root neck
- In the case of frost in the bed and tub, water on mild days so that the root ball does not dry out
- Take cuttings as cracklings between October and March
- Defoliate the lower part and plant two-thirds in a pot with peat sand
- Put on a transparent hood and set it up in a partially shaded, warm window seat
- Keep the substrate constantly moist and do not fertilize
- Winston Churchill: Boasts a conical silhouette, golden-yellow needle leaves all year round; 15 m height
- Aurora: Historical yellow shell cypress with a height of 100 cm; ideal for the bucket and small garden
- White Spot: Innovative breed that attracts everyone's attention with white tips on new shoots and columnar growth
- Elliwoodii: Beautiful, taut, upright cone shape, densely covered with moss-soft, blue needles; Growth height 200-300 cm
- Columnaris: Classic for the evergreen hedge, thanks to rapid growth and a shapely columnar silhouette
Plant false cypress correctly
Before you put the young plant in the ground, the still potted root ball is soaked in water until no more air bubbles rise. Meanwhile, dig a hole 1.5 times the volume of the root ball. Add mature compost, peat or leaf soil to the excavation. It is important to note that the planting depth is maintained during cultivation. After the soil has been compacted and watered, spread a layer of mulch with fall leaves, grass clippings, or bark mulch.
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care tips
The closer the location is to the ideal conditions, the less the cypress demands from its gardener in terms of care. How to cultivate:
Please consider the poisonous content of all work involving the cypress. The protection of gloves and long-sleeved clothing should never be dispensed with.
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Which location is suitable?
False cypresses have a sunny disposition. The closer the site conditions correspond to this characteristic, the more magnificent the growth. Temporary penumbra is tolerated; sooner or later leads to disappointing stunted growth. If the coniferous tree finds fresh, humus-rich soil with a slightly acidic pH value, nothing stands in the way of a perfect habit with a dense needle dress.
What soil does the plant need?
Hobby gardeners enter into a lifelong friendship with a false cypress. This applies all the more if the soil conditions meet the requirements. Choose a nutrient-rich, fresh, moist soil that never gets waterlogged. As is typical for conifers, a slightly acidic pH of 5 to 6 is ideal.
What is the best planting time?
Planting young plants in containers is possible all year round, provided it is not freezing or there is a summer drought. You create optimal growth conditions if you plant the false cypress in the sun-warmed autumn soil. The time window is open from the end of August to mid-November. If there is no winter frost, the planting season continues throughout the cold season, as long as the spade still penetrates the soil.
Cut the cypress correctly
The rapid growth rate requires regular and planned pruning for most species and varieties. Proceed as follows so that a false cypress develops a harmonious silhouette and does not bare from the inside:
In order to give a cypress the shape of a sphere or pyramid, specialist shops have special templates ready. If you cultivate the conifers as a hedge, strings stretched on wooden pegs serve as orientation. Ideally, give the hedge a trapezoidal shape with a wide base that tapers towards the top. In order to keep the amount of work within limits, a cut shortly after St. John's Day, June 24th, is considered sensible. From this date, the growth rate is reduced, so that the accurate form is preserved for longer.
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Water the cypress
Do not let a cypress dry out, because the conifers usually never recover from this. Primarily in the first few years, the plant is always watered when the surface of the earth has dried up. Only use collected rainwater, decalcified tap water or pond water so that the pH value in the soil does not rise. Experience has shown that buckets should be watered more frequently than beds. On hot summer days, check the watering requirement daily with a thumb test.
Fertilize false cypress properly
The nutrient requirements of a false cypress are at a low to medium level. Start this year's season with a start fertilization in March/April. This can be a mineral-organic long-term fertilizer that is administered again in June. Optionally spoil the conifers every 4 weeks with a portion of compost and horn shavings.
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hibernate
Adult false cypresses can withstand a normal Central European winter. A light winter protection only makes sense in the year of planting. Likewise, trees and shrubs in the bucket should be protected from the rigors of the cold season. How to do it right:
Adult cypresses are protected from the intense winter sun with bast or reed mats. Don't worry if the needle tips take Frost damage. Cut off the affected areas of damage in the spring.
Propagate false cypress
The propagation of false cypresses is so uncomplicated that even the novice gardeners enjoy it. That's how it's done:
If a fresh shoot appears, the hood has done its job. Continue tending the cuttings until they have fully rooted the pot.
Is cypress poisonous?
Experienced gardeners know that all conifers should be treated with caution. Unfortunately, the beautiful cypress is no exception in this respect. The coniferous tree is very poisonous in all parts and therefore not suitable for the family garden. Please wear sturdy gloves, long trousers and long-sleeved clothing for all planting and care work. Even slight skin contact can lead to very unpleasant inflammation. If shoots or cones are intentionally or unintentionally eaten, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
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