If your Leyland cypress privacy screen is turning brown in patches, you're not alone.
Leyland cypress was planted by the thousands around Mooresville and Cornelius because it grows fast. But in our hot, humid summers and heavy clay, it's prone to fungal cankers such as Seiridium and Botryosphaeria. These show up as individual branches browning, often with sunken, oozing spots on the bark. Screens planted in a single tight row also share problems quickly, since one sick tree can spread it to the next.
Drought stress makes it worse, and trees planted too close together stay damp and crowded. Pruning out infected branches in dry weather, cleaning tools between cuts, and watering deeply during dry spells can slow the spread.
Once more than a third of a tree is affected, replacement with a more resilient option like Green Giant arborvitae, cryptomeria, or native hollies may be the better long-term choice.
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A row of Leyland cypress with scattered brown branches, plus a close-up of a canker on the bark if available. Authentic local photos preferred over stock.
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