How do you prune a tall Italian cypress tree?

Italian cypress trees grow quickly, with the ability to add 3 feet in height each year without pruning. Prune the tree branches in late winter to early spring while the tree is still dormant. Shape the tree by clipping off terminal buds during the first growing season to prevent heavy growth.

When should cypress trees be pruned?

Pruning cypress

  1. Prune your cypress preferably at the end of summer or at the beginning of spring.
  2. Feel free to prune severely because cypress tends to grow very, very fast.

Can you trim the top of a cypress tree?

Snip the top off your cypress if you want to keep it from growing taller. Know that once you do this, it may start to branch out more, spreading wider. In this case, shaping the tree may be needed annually. Maintain the top by trimming it back every year to keep it at the size you want.

How do you reduce the height of a cypress tree?

Cut back each overly-long branch to a branch fork with a green shoot growing from it. This is the most important rule for cutting back cypress trees: never cut all green shoots from any branch since the branch will not be able to grow more.

Should Italian cypress be topped?

Top the tree to limit its height. Climb a ladder to the top of the tree and use hedge clippers to cut off the top until it’s the desired height. Because of the fast growth of Italian Cypress trees, this may need to be repeated annually.

How short can you cut Italian cypress?

Never take off more than 1/3 of the tree in a single season. If your tree is currently 6 feet tall you can take off at most 2 feet from the top. Taking off more than 1/3 of the tree’s total height can damage it beyond repair.

Why are my Italian Cypress trees turning brown?

The Italian Cypress is drought-tolerant and needs to dry out between waterings. Too much water or soil with poor drainage will cause the tree to turn brown and can also cause root rot. Too little water will also cause browning. Water to a depth of 24 inches and allow the soil to dry out before watering again.

Why do cypress trees turn brown?

Poor environmental conditions such as dry weather spells, infertile soil with not enough iron content, and continuous dehydration can cause your bald cypress tree to become chlorotic. If your bald cypress tree is suffering from chlorosis, you will notice that leaves have become flaccid, wrinkled, and brown.

What happens if you top an Italian Cypress?

It is a good idea to trim the tops of your trees each season if you are growing them into a hedge. This will encourage thicker growth at the bottom of the tree and prevent the formation of a long, gangling trunk. Trim off any branches that stick out from the tree’s evergreen cone shape but don’t cut into the greenery.

Can Italian Cypress trees be topped?

How do you keep Italian Cypress small?

The Italian Cypress does not grow back from old wood so the only way to keep your tree small is to start early in its life and trim regularly. Trimming tall trees can be dangerous. For mature trees, consider hiring a professional tree trimmer.

How wide do Italian Cypress trees grow?

Habit: The Italian cypress is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 115ft tall and 10ft wide! However, the tree usually averages 50 feet in height and 3 feet in width. The Italian cypress has a dense columnar crown and is symmetrical in shape.