where is the plant ...

looks like its all one branch.. can you get in there.. and see if it was broken or damaged somehow.... like snowload... though it doesnt look like a snowland plant ...

i hoping someone can ID it from this distance ... if not.. we will need closer pix ...

ken

Otherwise since it's all at one point on the tree I would wonder if there was wire cutting into the trunk, that was left from it having been staked at one time.

Not what you want to hear, but I look at situations like this as the universe giving you the opportunity to replace a not so great tree with something that doesn't get crazy big, doesn't have shallow roots that make it easy to fall over in a storm, and doesn't roll out the welcome mat for bagworm and a bunch of other nasties.

Most trees have primarily shallow roots - in my region of giant forest conifers it is typical for the bottom of the root system to turn out to be as flat as a board when one of these blows over. And not very deep at all.

Probably with Leyland cypress the main problem is them being rootbound at planting, due to production operations not keeping up with their fast growth. A big heavy top develops after installation on the final planting site, while a lot of the root system is still deformed and not therefore providing a secure anchorage.

That looks like cankers to me...should see discoloration and/or sap exuding from base of the branches. Clip out the dead branches close to the trunk, and disinfect your clippers to prevent the spread of the fungus. There isn't much else to do. Water in times of drought and maybe fertilize to keep it healthy. The healthier it is, the more likely it will have fewer issues in the future.

Or...the way the branches are splayed looks like they could be broken. Have any tree climbers or rough housers in your yard lately?

Get up in there and check it out.