With its very slender, upright growth, the columnar cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), also known as the Mediterranean or Tuscan cypress, is particularly suitable as an evergreen hedge or as an interesting solitaire. Although the trees are not reliably hardy everywhere in our latitudes, they can also be cultivated in sufficiently large containers.
How should columnar cypresses be planted?
Plant columnar cypresses in spring in a frost-free, wind-protected, sunny to partially shaded location. Choose a humus-rich, well-drained soil with a pH value between 5 and 6. The planting distance for hedges is 80-100 cm, in a pot up to a height of 1 meter possible.
Which location do columnar cypresses prefer?
Like all cypresses, columnar cypresses like the sun, although a location in full sun is not always an advantage. Especially if the soil tends to dry out quickly, it is better to plant the tree in a partially shaded location. It is also important that the tree has a place protected from wind and frost.
In which soil should columnar cypresses be planted?
Not too heavy, clayey soils with a pH value between 5 and 6 are ideal for the evergreen Mediterranean plant. Humus-rich, well-drained soils are very suitable, whereas both sandy and very loamy soils with compost orHumus soil should be improved. Make sure that the substrate is neither too wet nor too dry: the tree does not tolerate either particularly 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 frosty nights are no longer expected. Then the plant has a good chance of developing strong roots in time for winter.
At what distance should columnar cypresses be planted?
To plant a hedge, place the individual trees at a distance of between 80 and 100 centimeters.
What is the best way to plant columnar cypresses?
When planting 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.
- Loose 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 excavated material with compost (€12.00 on Amazon) and horn shavings
- and fill the substrate back into the planting hole.
- Dig in a support post straight away
- and connect the trunk and post with an elastic material (e.g. coconut or raffia rope).
- Water the newly planted columnar cypress
- and cover the root area with bark mulch.
Can columnar cypresses also be cultivated in a pot?
The columnar cypress can also be cultivated in a pot up to a height of around 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!).
Tip
Much more robust and better suited to a Central European climate are the very frost-hardy columnar yews (Taxus fastigiata) or the columnar arborvitae (Thuja), which are externally very similar to the columnar cypress. The same applies to the Leyland cypress, also known as the giant cypress.
