Very graphic, slender towards the sky, the Florence cypress is an exceptional ornamental subject in a garden. From routine maintenance to pruning, here's how to maintain its distinctive habit.
The needs of the Florence Cypress
Cupressus sempervirens is a coniferous tree with a naturally conical habit, very resistant to the elements but also to pollution and disease.
It works wonders as an isolated subject to mark the entrance of a property or planted every 5 m to emphasize a wide path. It can also be planted in dense hedges as a windbreak or privacy screen thanks to its dark green evergreen foliage.
Easy to maintain, it only requires a very sunny location and extremely well drained soil to grow.
After planting, remember to water it regularly for the first two years to give it every chance of recovery. In this respect, it is always preferable to plant a young bare-root plant in autumn rather than an older plant in a container. The former will have a better chance of recovering, will be more vigorous and will quickly catch up with the latter.
Once well established, the Florence Cypress will be satisfied with what nature offers in terms of watering.
If you wish to see it grow faster, as part of the installation of a hedge for example, do not hesitate to scratch a little compost and ground horn powder at its foot in spring and then every two months until autumn. This large tree can grow up to 30 meters high if the conditions are right.
Pruning the Florence Cypress
A Florence Cypress can grow very well without any pruning being done on its branches; it will then keep its natural habit but will become very tall.
It will keep its natural growth habit but will become very tall. However, some pruning can ensure a better branching and thus make it denser and more bushy.
When to prune the Florence Cypress?
Prune in spring and a second time at the end of August if necessary.
How to prune the Florence Cypress?
- You should only prune the young stems and never attack the old wood.
- Proceed in spring on the young shoots when they reach 10 cm. Prune them by half so that the branches branch out to make the subject more bushy when it is young.
- On older plants or for hedges, prune in the spring the shoots that protrude all around the plant in order to regain aestheticism. If you need to contain the plant in height, prune gently, very regularly, without ever cutting into the old wood.
- A second pruning can be done at the end of August to keep all its splendor to your hedge. This pruning simply consists of removing half of the ends of the shoots that have developed during the summer.
