Mock cypresses are very popular because of their rapid growth. But in order for the tree to grow well, it needs plenty of additional nutrients, at least initially. When planting, ensure a humus-rich location. You also need to fertilize the false cypress regularly.
How should you properly fertilize a false cypress?
To properly fertilize false cypress trees, you should regularly work mature compost, chopped leaves, horn shavings or commercially available cypress fertilizer into the soil in the first few years after planting. Older false cypresses look after themselves and benefit from a layer of mulch in spring and autumn.
Provide nutrients when planting
Before planting false cypresses, you should ensure sufficient nutrients. Prepare the soil well:
- Keep enough distance from other plants
- loosen the soil well
- Lime acidic soils
- Create drainage for dense soils
- Work in tires with compost and/or horn shavings
Soil prepared in this way creates the best conditions for rapid growth of the false cypress.
Fertilize young false cypresses regularly
In the first few years after planting the young false cypresses, you should fertilize the false cypresses regularly.
To do this, carefully work mature compost, chopped leaves, horn shavings or cypress fertilizer (€17.00 on Amazon) from the shops into the soil as instructed. Under no circumstances should you disturb the soil too deeply. The false cypress is a shallow-rooted tree. Deep tillage would injure the roots.
Depending on the location and soil conditions, fertilizer can be given every four to eight weeks.
Older false cypresses are self-sufficient
As soon as the false cypress is well established, you usually no longer need to fertilize and only water when it is very dry.
The conifer forms a dense root system through which it can supply itself with nutrients.
Ensure nutrient supply through mulching
The best way to provide an older false cypress with sufficient nutrients is to create a mulch cover. Cypress trees should be mulched at least in spring and autumn.
Spread leaves, grass clippings (without flowers!), straw or chopped cypress trimmings on the ground.
As the components slowly rot, the mulch constantly supplies the roots with new nutrients. It also prevents the soil from drying out. Maintaining a false cypress hedge is made easier because the mulch keeps weeds down.
Tip
Low varieties of false cypress can also be cared for very well in pots. However, you will then have to water more often, fertilize regularly and provide suitable winter protection in winter.