oops, didnt mean to repost - moderator can you delete?

They have ~no upward limit,~ only a growth rate, which I think can vary widely, but they grow "fast and tall." I am in a much more northerly climate than you are but just removed, by hand, three 10 year old Leylandii that were growing at a rate of perhaps 2 feet a year. I wish I had never planted them, and would never plant another. I'd use something else and shall. There are many beautiful conifers to use for screening to choose from and you are in the right place to solicit suggestions. Good luck, at any rate...

A moderator? Here? I have never seen any evidence of moderation in this place. Ad spam sinks to the bottom of the forum list- it is never deleted. How sadÂ

I would like to know how much the amount of light would modify the growth of the Leyland Cypress. I have moved an 8 ft specimen to a spot where its mostly shady (maybe two hours afternoon sun) so I dont think it will grow in a robust manner. If the advice is that it wont grow well then I should move it this early spring.....

Up to 36m tall in Britain.

With your being in zone 6, I'd suspect winter cold could be the main limiting factor - a severe winter could kill it. When the next severe winter arrives is however unpredictable; it could be next winter, it could be 20, or 50, winters away.

Resin

I am looking for something fast growing, with an ideal ht of 20-25 ft. I was planning on trimminng the leyland to this ht once achieved.

I have strayed away from arborvitae because the deer in my area destroy them. Any other ideas, hopefully of something not too expensive.

Deer LOVE Leylands!

Ok, so if I don't go w/leylands any suggestions, something more deer resistant, but with a max ht of 25 ft.

I have planted Norway Spruces for screening - deer dont eat 'em and they are somewhat shade tolerant. Now these grow more than 25 ft but you can control them by snipping half or 1/3rd of the candles after the spring growth - which will slow down the trees maturation - and make 'em more dense. For me by the time the Norways are too tall I will be long gone - under a nice one somewhere I hope!

Yew is poisonous but slow. However, a comparatively small and slow tree like this is more likely to not be seen above 25'. Plants like Leyland cypress that shoot up often tend to keep going.

Leyland cypress here appear to resent shade. On a site where I planted some quite a long time ago now there is no sign of interest from the deer. However, deer behavior and how to deal with it in gardens is one of those subjects like disease resistance in roses - your mileage may vary, and does. At least with deer if you stop fooling around and fence them out that will take care of it.

nothing stops at some magical height...

you have already been told about the growth rate... it will grow that rate every year.. until it dies.. it may slow a bit at maturity.. but with conifers/trees... you are talking in the hundreds of years ... for zone appropriate stock.. which resin suggests this is borderline for you ....

there is a growth rate tutorial at the AmerConfSoc webpage.. no time to link you.. good luck

ken

From what I can tell, deer don't like Leylands in NJ, but that is no guarantee. They seem to grow okay, but not especially fast. They are not particularly attractive, so this would be an entirely practical measure. It would take a long time for them to reach 25'. Probably growing about 1 to 2 feet a year at best, especially in shade. Deer will devour Yew. Spruce might be a better choice, but they are susceptible to foliage diseases that ruin their appearance. They don't age well, in other words. Fastigiate white pine would be a good choice, but again, not particularly attractive. One trick with screening is to layer them, with shorter things below taller things.

I am now thinking of going with Nellie stevens holly. A bit more $, but should do the trick, although mature size may be a bit smaller than i ultimately desire. Or maybe Norway spruce as someone suggested and clip the leader off every year to slow growth.

"Or maybe Norway spruce as someone suggested and clip the leader off every year to slow growth"

A lot of hard work once they get too high to reach without a ladder, and it'll also ruin the appearance.

Maybe use a small-growing spruce such as Black Spruce?

Resin

yeah, I am a bit worried about snipping the tops. I have never seen black spruce for sale around here.

Leylands I planted in the open in Western MD in ~1977 are now ~60' tall x 35' wide. My sister's lot has two 25 yr-olds 50' tall x 20' wide.

Too big for a tight screen w/o pruning, IMO. There are better, smaller evergreens for screens.

how about thuja plicata - western red cedar. they seem to be resistant to deer, but ultimately grow too large for what I need? I know these can be sheared though. Is Western red cedar better a better choice than leylands.

thanks

how about thuja plicata - western red cedar. they seem to be resistant to deer, but ultimately grow too large for what I need? I know these can be sheared though. Is Western red cedar better a better choice than leylands.

thanks

Thujas grow fast and much bigger than 25 feet. I've planted many. The 'Zebrina' is beautiful and grows slower and wider. Thujas like to be watered.

Planted 2 Nellie R Stevens hollies. Very pretty trees. Slower than Thujas. Wouldn't want to have to trim them; stickery. These like water also, in my yard demanding more watering than the thujas.

Planted 1 Black Spruce, Picea mariana. Gorgeous. Not that slow but not fast. Getting bushier. About to search out and find another. These love water.

Leylands grow very fast. I've planted a lot. Naylor's Blue grows slower. There are so many varieties now. Leylands do well with careful regular pruning. And they're not expensive here. A hedge made up of several variety of Leylands would be interesting.

If you plan on doing pruning 2X a year the rest of your life several of these options are fine. Hope you're healthy with a bucket crane or rich enough to hire a yard person when you're older. Around here there are all sorts of beautiful hedges that ppl maintain of evergreens. Each has a distinct character.

Personally I like English Laurel hedges but those REALLY take vigorous maintenance.

If you want beauty and density go for Picea mariana and install irrigation first because they are thirsty. Or for super density go for Black Hills Spruce, the most cheerful tree possible, but very slow.

Deer eat the new tender leaves on our Nellie Stevens hollies. They never ate our late, not-lamented leyland cypresses as far as we know. There was some rutting damage on the leylands.

I have had decent luck with Schipkaensis Laurel. Its the shape you want, and will grow about a foot or more a year, in each direction. Deer will eat if starving in the winter, and the tender growth in spring, but then leave it alone. Whatever is eaten fills back in quickly in the spring if you fence it in. I fence it in during May and that seem to work.