I know its like Ford or Chevy but, I was wondering if anyone can share their experiences pro or con. I want them mainly for privacy. I have the capacity to water them if it is too dry. But I'm worried about the wind on my hill here. Are the roots deeper on the giants?
Thuja giant or Leyland?
- Thread starter YesDeere
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forgeblast
Elite Member
I heard that the thuja giant is immune to the Hemlock woolly adelgid, I am not sure about the leyland cypress.
MikeInEburg
Veteran Member
I see lots of Leyland Cypress that just fall over in the wind due to ineffective rooting systems. Have you considered something more native, like white pine? Have you looked at the offerings of the Maryland nursery on the eastern shore? If you meet certain requirements, you can buy a variety of native trees at a very reasonable price. Nursery | Forest Service | Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Mike
Mike
ace10
Silver Member
Two questions... what's your timeframe for this privacy screen? How much space have you got (vertical and ground level)?
Thanks for the response guys. Mike I will look into that. I've heard of the rebates for native trees. Sounds like a good program. I would like the privacy asap but understand it takes a while. Plenty of vertical space, and I need to run them about 300 yards down one side of the property. (neighbor side)
westbrooklawn
Platinum Member
In my opinion, the Leyland provides a much better privacy screen... thick, wide, and fast growing. The thuja green giant grows in a much narrower profile. The problem with leylands around here is that they are susceptible to disease, and I have seen many mature, seemingly healthy plants die quickly.
If you don't need something to go above 8'-10' you might check on elaeagnus... fast growing and very dense cover.
If you don't need something to go above 8'-10' you might check on elaeagnus... fast growing and very dense cover.
flowerfarmer
Member
Leyland Cypress is MUCH faster growing, more prone to blow down, more attractive(IMO), less attractive to deer, more resistant to insects & disease, less prone to snow damage and with greater width will require fewer trees than would be required for given length of hedge than would be required with Thuja. If you want want a clipped hedge for a more formal look, Leylands will require more maintenance than a Thuja hedge.
srs
Veteran Member
YesDeere I went with the Leyland Cypress, also for privacy. What I was told when I planted them was to use a post hole digger and go down a good 30 plus inches to loosen the soil and allow the roots to go deep. I then compacted the soil with a sledge hammer (dropping it into the hole back and forth) to tighten up the soil. I planted the trees at the proper height and kept them watered pretty good. The only problem I had with them when they are small the deer like to rut against them and the horns tear the trees up. In the fall (rutting season) I place a temporary electric fence around them to keep the deer away. I can get pretty good winds here in Maryland but I never lost one tree. Once the trees get some growth to them I never use the electric fence again. I think one of the biggest reasons for some of these trees failing is lack of water when you first plant them. You can see the trees behind my Kubota during the blizzard of 2010. These were planted in 2005.
srs
Veteran Member
Oops, forgot pic.
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Just ordered some white pines and chickapin trees. Good deal. Gonna plant the white pines staggered in with the leylands/thuja. Havnt decided which one yet. The rest of the trees are going to my fathers property. It's on the way. Grown in Preston. Thanks mike!
dave1949
Super Star Member
You could plant something like forsythia for a quick screen while your tree of choice develops.
I have seen white pine used for privacy screening along the Maine TP. Worked out pretty well if they all get plenty of light and space.
Dave.
I have seen white pine used for privacy screening along the Maine TP. Worked out pretty well if they all get plenty of light and space.
Dave.
QueBota
Gold Member
If you go with the Leylands be aware that they can tend to thin out at the bottom as they get taller and they normally don't produce growth off of "old wood". This can leave you with a privacy screen/windbreak that is a bit sparce at the ground level. May consider another plant in conjunctioin with the Leylands that will provide thick growth in that space.
The Green Giant or Emerald Green Arborvitae will produce new growth off old wood and respond well to shearing if you desire. Supposedly the Aborvitae as favored less by deer than the Leylands. Have seen many Leylands in my area stripped clean to the browse line, the never recover that growth, Arborvitae, if protected after the attack, will eventually regrow what was eaten, though it will take a while.
My .02
Dave
The Green Giant or Emerald Green Arborvitae will produce new growth off old wood and respond well to shearing if you desire. Supposedly the Aborvitae as favored less by deer than the Leylands. Have seen many Leylands in my area stripped clean to the browse line, the never recover that growth, Arborvitae, if protected after the attack, will eventually regrow what was eaten, though it will take a while.
My .02
Dave
CompactTractorFan
Super Member
Just NEVER plant bamboo!!!!!!
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