Expert: Jim Hyland - 6/26/2010

Question
Is it normal for leyland cypess trees to turn brown in the middle after transplanting?  I am in Knoxville Tennessee and had 10 feet leylands put in and are worried about them. What should I do?

Answer
You can get some browning of inner foliage after planting especially if the weather is hot. Leylands do not like a lot of water and too much can cause foliage to brown. I would water with 1 inch of water--place a pan under the trees and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop. Do this every fourth day if it does not rain--then after a month water once a week. If you have not done so mulch around the trees with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch (pine straw is good) not pile up on the trunk. This will help hold moisture around the roots.