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Cedars Browning

2 years ago

Hi, we planted about 12 cedars this past summer, watered them pretty well and they seemed fine. We're in Montreal so the temperatures are starting to dip.

I noticed most of our Cedars are going brown along the trunk, is this normal due to the weather. The odd thing is even our mature ones are browning and I can't say I've ever noticed that before. I will attach photos below.

Is this normal or are they sick?

Thanks

Comments (10)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
2 years ago
Whether from oldest needles dying or shaded from the the outer shell of green, interior browning is normal especially at this time of year on all conifers.

tj
TB
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago

New Cedars.
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Thuja occidentalis (eastern white cedar) are most vulnerable to damage in late winter/early spring. In short the strong sun and wind dry out the foliage and the plant is unable to take up moisture from the roots to replenish as the ground is still frozen. I think your only course of action is to wait until the ground thaws out some more and then water regularly. If it's minor browning on some branch ends, the plant may repair itself this growing season. If it's major damage, it may take quite a few years to repair if at all. I had a five foot juniper die back to one foot of the ground because of winter damage. Not wanting to wait years for it to repair itself (and questioning if it was indeed hardy for my spot) I replaced it. Having said that, some varieties of 'cedar' are more susceptible to winter damage. 'Emerald/smargd' is sold by the truckload every spring but doesn't seem to be a good performer in our zone. 'Brandon' is somewhat more winter resistant. There are countless other ones that are hardy but even then, they prefer a site that's partly shady to sunny, not too windswept and has adequate moisture. In autumn water regularly and ensure they are well watered right until ground freeze up. Also, sometimes they may suffer winter damage for the first winter or two until they really get established. That is what I found with my 'brabant' ones. I usually winter wrap mine in burlap though but have never tried products like wilt-proof so am not sure how good they work. Also, I sometimes see cedars used as a hedge facing a busy road or highway. In this case, they sometimes brown due to a more exposed location as well as the use of road salt in winter. Regards, Glen
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it looks normal. Instead of looking for the browning, check to see if the leaves are healthy. Usually when there's transplant shock, some branches are affected and will turn brown but the remaining green leaves will show a lively green colour. Its possible the plants were not thoroughly watered before being planted in the ground. I find that transplant shock is reduced when the plant has had a chance to absorb as much fluid before it's transferred.. anything things look like it's fine.. Just don't over water them. they can actually die from that as well because roots can drown in too much water. make sure this winter to mulch them for their first winter in teh ground.
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dont see a lot of what??? tip blight??? that is why i suggest asking the local pros at the extension office .... if it is more prevalent in your county .... than you might think .. or notice ... if it is.. and you have a long line of them.. a monoculture.. then i suggest you better take action ... or you have the potential to lose them all .... but again.. i cant diagnose such on this one pic ... ken
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Did any of your cedars die? We have recently planted seven cedars (three Emerald and 4 Degroot Spires) even though it is not recommended that we plant them in summer months due to high die rate but we are going to baby them and make sure that they get enough moisture and sun. We are concerned that when we planted the Emeralds our grading did not support enough pooling of water at the root circumference and they were looking a bit "weepy". We are also going to ramp up the watering to ensure they get a good soak twice a week. Hoping to see them rebound. No brown or yellow just kind of droopy. The Degroots just went in and we are really babying those as well. They are very beautiful and sculptural. I would love to get more of those.
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TB
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago

Older Cedars, I can't say I've ever seen them brown like this.
TB
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks tj, that's what I figured. Should I pull them off or will they fall off on their and return to golory green next Spring.
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
2 years ago
That seems excessive and not limited to the interior. Not sure if bagworms are in Monteal, but that looks like the damage they might do.

tj
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
While tj's statement is correct, the amount of browning I see (especially in the first photo) is not exactly "normal". They are showing signs of flagging or the drying and browning of second year or older growth, typically as a response to stress, like excessive heat, insufficient water, hot winds, construction damage or other root disturbance, poor planting procedures, or recent planting. It is most common and tends to be very visible in late summer and early fall. Generally, later fall and winter rains and storms will shed most of this dead material.

We see this routinely at this time of year with our native Western red cedars, Thuja plicata, but any Thuja can develop flagging. This year the flagging is extensive and very pronounced on our WRC's, as the summer here has been very warm and abnormally dry.
TB
Original Author
2 years ago
tj, do you believe that's the case for both photos I posted? It's definitely worse on the mature ones. How do I properly diagnose the issue and if it is a bug what can I do?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
Not a bug and you don't need to do anything. At most it is a seasonal issue. Flagging never killed a cedar :-)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
no evergreen plant holds its leaves forever ...

annual shedding of the older interior leaves is ENTIRELY NORMAL... and can be increased by any stress ... bad last winter.. drought.. and especially transplanting ...

if you look inside any mature conifer.. or evergreen.. they are all bare .. because as the vibrant exterior growth shades out the interior old leaves.. they yellow.. then brown.. then fall off ... again.. entirely normal ...

just water deeply and properly with near drying between deep waterings ... and focus on the growth tips... and as long as those stay green.. you are all set ...

also keep in mind.. though the pix are a bit vague.. they look like large transplants.. and you really have no idea if they were field dug for sale.. and that can be a lot of stress ...

i will bet my shiny penny .. now that youve noticed it on yours ... as you drive around town.. see if you dont notice it everywhere ... this would indicate the general drought or bad winter .... as compared to the transplant stresses ...

just water properly.. they are stressed.. they are not hungry.. fert is not a response to stress ....

ken

i was just thinking yesterday.. i ought to pull up the old post on interior yellowing ... its just that time of year ... and because of planting stresses ... it is a bit worse ...
TB
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks Ken, I thought the same, "look at other Cedars in the area". It was hot dry summer here in Montreal too. I was consistent at watering my newly transplanted ones and they did well throughout the summer and look worse now with the cooler temps. As for the mature ones they didn't get as much attention from us so could be why they don't look great right now.

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