Plant cypress with the root ball slightly high in a wide hole, spaced for the mature outline.
Set the root ball slightly high, and space for the mature outline
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Grade | Top of the ball level with the soil, or about 1 inch high | Do not pile soil or mulch on the collar |
| Italian | Leave air for a 3- to 6-foot mature width | Do not plant an 18-inch hedge row |
| Arizona screen | At least 7 feet between trunks | Do not use Italian pencil spacing on a 20-foot pyramid |
| When | Fall, or April or September while roots are growing | Do not plant in midsummer with no water |
The collar is trunk, not root. Burying it sets up rot. [1] Italian Cypress stays narrow; Arizona Cypress is much wider at the base. Match kind on Types of Cypress before you space the row. [2]
How far apart should you plant cypress?
Leave the mature width. An Italian column needs a few feet of air. An Arizona screen needs at least 7 feet between trunks. A Monterey species tree needs room for a spreading crown.
How to plant cypress
- Plant in fall, or in April or September, so roots move before summer heat. [3]
- Choose ground that drains. Raise or drain a bowl before you dig.
- Dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball, and no deeper. [4]
- Slide the plant out. Loosen circling roots with your hands or a knife.
- Set the top of the root ball level with the soil, or about 1 inch high so water sheds off the collar.
- Backfill. Do not pile soil on the ball. Soak to the depth of the root ball. Keep the new plant moist for the first season if rain fails. After that, watering is on How to Grow Cypress.
How deep do I plant a cypress?
No deeper than the root ball. The top of the ball sits level with the soil, or about 1 inch high.
What fails at planting
A tight, deep clay hole holds water on the crown. Soil piled on the root ball smothers the flare. Italian trees stacked 18 inches apart brown in the middle. An Arizona pyramid in that same row never has room. A midsummer plant with no water fails before the first dry spell. Moving an established tree later is a poor bet.
If you buried the collar or stacked the row, reset the young plant now — do not wait for brown in the middle.
FAQ
Can I start cypress from seed?
Named kinds are sold as plants. Seed is slow and will not copy a cultivar. Buy a nursery plant for the first one.
Can I take cuttings instead of planting a pot?
Stem cuttings can root, but it is slow. A container plant is the usual first step.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Bartlett Tree Experts -
https://www.bartlett.com/tree-species/italian-cypress - [2] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hesperocyparis-arizonica/ - [3] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cupressus-sempervirens/ - [4] Gardening Know How -
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/italian-cypress/growing-italian-cypress-trees.htm
This note is part of Cupressus Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors