Leighton Green is a fast-growing conifer hedge, but it has a critical weakness: it will not reshoot from bare wood. Reducing its height requires a careful, staged approach.
Leighton Green (Cupressocyparis leylandii 'Leighton Green') is prized for its rapid growth and upright, dense habit. It is often planted as a privacy screen around Sydney properties. However, its fast growth can quickly create a hedge that is taller than desired.
The important thing to know is that Leighton Green does not regenerate from old, leafless wood. If you cut back beyond the green foliage, the branch is likely to die and leave a permanent brown gap. For this reason, height reduction must be done gradually and conservatively.
Reduce the top by no more than 20–30 cm at a time, always cutting back to a point where green growth remains. Allow the hedge to regrow and fill in before taking more off. Depending on how much height needs to be removed, this process can take two or three rounds over a couple of years.
If the hedge is already bare at the base or far too tall for its position, removal and replanting with a more manageable species may be the better long-term option. A professional assessment can help you decide whether reduction or replacement is the most cost-effective choice.
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