skip to main content

Will Cedar Trees Recover?

10 years ago

I have an entire property of Cedar trees that were covered in Ivy and vines. They look terrible but I would really prefer not to take them down if there is any chance they can recover. I attached a picture of the worst example (The dead vines will be removed). I have others where one side of the tree has all dead branches and the other sides is completely green. This is a general question as there are about 10 trees all in different condition. I have heard that these trees do not recover.... Any suggestions or advice?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
not the best pic.. i dont think i see any green at all ...

even if there is.. i suspect it might take a decade to green back up properly.. IF AT ALL ...

i wouldn't waste my time on a hope and a prayer .. that they will recover..

get rid of them.. and plant replacements...

whats all the wood work behind.. and the churned up soil... any heavy construction or logging in the immediate area of these trees... or severe canopy changes... as in.. they used to be shaded.. and are now in sun ????

ken
brandon7 TN_zone7
10 years ago
Unfortunately, the one in the picture is toast.
Related Discussions
Prune recovering trees?
Q
Comments (2)
I am with Josh on that! Hey Josh, good to hear from you:-) Tanksalot: I am so glad you think that spring is almost here..After today, I was beginning to doubt that..lol I only fell several times on snow and ice trying to keep my tarp from ripping off my greenhouse and taking me up in the air for a flight, and had a squirrel land on my head from being blown off the roof.. Mike
...See More
Can glysophate damaged grape vines and peach trees recover?
Q
Comments (7)
Thanks farmerdill. I’m currently a bit more north than you were. We have very high pest and disease pressures, I’m guessing from the year-round high humidity and hot summers. I think we have moles, and the roots are collateral damage. There are tunnels everywhere under the soil. I’m having a hard time catching them. I caught only one so far after a year: I can’t remember exactly when I sprayed last year, but used it undiluted, because I was trying to kill bamboo and other strong weeds. All four of these affected plants had mole holes exiting right next to the trunk, among other places. There was already a lot of die back before I sprayed anything, presumably from root damage. However, one grape vine is completely dead, and the peach tree is not waking from dormancy despite having buds. This is very strange behavior for mechanical root damage. Seems like a strange coincidence that it coincides with glyso spraying. I thought they may have absorbed it in the fall and been damaged, gone dormant and show the damage in the spring.
...See More
Let Italian Cypress trees recover or remove/replace them?
Q
Comments (6)
The planters are open on the bottom to the soil beneath, however the soil beneath is composed of rocky clay soil that doesn’t seem to drain well. FWIW, I think the rest of the planter gets decent drainage by excess water leaving the planter through the spaces between the bricks (I’ve watched this happen when hand-watering previously). However, within the last year in the troubled section, adding additional soil outside of the planter between the planter and hot-tub (to prevent rodents from getting underneath the tub) may have prevented that section from draining similarly to the rest of the planter.
...See More
will this tree recover? Help please
Q
Comments (2)
Looks like Yucca rostrata. Eliminate water issues, wait it out. If top rots off you might be able to root it, otherwise it might resprout from the base.
...See More
scotjute Z8
10 years ago
Concur with the above comments. The one shown is dead and will not come back.
Where others are dead on one side and green on the other,
would have to see a picture. I have seen some growing on the edge of a forest that were similar to that, all the limbs on the sunny side. Tree may live for many years like that. If it is just recently unbalanced, it will be more susceptible to uprooting during heavy wind/rain.
lucky_p
10 years ago
Looks like several good cedar fence posts in the making...
arktrees
10 years ago
It's dead Jim! (think original Start Trek). IMHO, in this case go to planting, and make use of the old trees for something else. They make excellent Fence posts, and that way you and someone else can get some value out of them.

Arktrees

EDIT: Lucky, I had the same thought but got delayed on my submit and you beat me to it.

This post was edited by arktrees on Mon, Jul 22, 13 at 12:31
zooba72
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for the replies ... I like the Star Trek reference. You're looking at over 30 years of neglect that I'm working to restore. The entire property was covered in brush and vines that basically covered every tree. All of the Cedars are damaged, that picture is the worst of them. The churned up soil is the remnants of the brush after I used a Bobcat to clear the area and the wood pile represents the casualties of neglect.
arktrees
10 years ago
Don't forget this is an excellent chance to diversify. You got some lemons, now make some lemonade. Your last pic show cedar in a very dry sunny location. PERFECT for American Smoketree and can grow incredible fast, and unique appearance. Then when fall rolls around, you will not be sorry. Not to mention providing habitat, and helping a very threatened species.

Point being, is that while it sucks, there is much good can come of this, and there are many people that will be happy to help you.

Arktrees
katob Z6ish, NE Pa
10 years ago
Diversity would be a good thing. Don't get too attached to the cedars, if they don't show signs of recovery after a year or so get after them with the chainsaw. People love saving trees but it's very likely the cedars are just as much a symptom of the neglect as were the weeds and vines. In some regions they are quite the pest in any unmown field or pasture.
Btw cedar arbors are nice too if you don't need all those fenceposts.
zooba72
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks everyone. I will definitely be introducing some new species into the yard in the fall and spring, I just didn't want to remove the cedars if there was a chance they could recover. Thx!
florauk
10 years ago
If they are not going to endanger anything if they fall and you have some space, a little deadwood, or at least some trunks and stumps left on the ground, make for a much more biodiverse environment than removal of all dead and dying trees. Invertebrates and the birds which feed on them would thank you.

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Add an Apple Tree to Your Edible Garden

By Marianne Lipanovich

Readily available, beautiful and fragrant, apple trees offer four-season interest along with crisp, juicy fruit

FALL GARDENING 6 Trees You'll Fall For

By Therese Ciesinski

Don’t put down that spade! Autumn is the perfect time for planting these trees

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Cedrus Atlantica ‘Glauca’

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

With its blue foliage and variety of shapes, blue atlas cedar earns its place in the sun

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Cedrus Deodara ‘Feelin’ Blue’

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

The smallest of the cedars softens a hardscape while bringing structure and texture to the garden

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Alaska cedar brings an element of sculpture to the garden

TREE HOUSES Houzz Call: Show Us Your Well-Designed Treehouse or Tree Fort!

By Mitchell Parker

Got a great treehouse or tree fort? We want to see it! Post yours in the Comments and we’ll feature the best in a future article

LANDSCAPE DESIGN The Weepers and the Creepers: 10 Intriguing Trees for Your Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Bring something a little different to your landscape with a tree that dives, twists or crawls

SIDE YARD IDEAS Narrow Trees for Tight Garden Spaces

Boost interest in a side yard or another space-challenged area with the fragrance and color of these columnar trees

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year

GARDENING GUIDES How to Keep Your Citrus Trees Well Fed and Healthy

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Ripe for some citrus fertilizer know-how? This mini guide will help your lemon, orange and grapefruit trees flourish

Sponsored

NME Builders LLC

2 Reviews

Industry Leading General Contractors in Franklin County, OH

More Discussions

Will ash and/or mulberry trees affect established junipers?

1

Bursera Fagaroides?

4

Is This a Sandbox Tree?

1

Pink dogwood with buck damage

2

Paw paw seedlings or cuttings

6