Weeping blue atlas turning brown... - Ask Extension
Hi-- We moved into a 1961 house last year with lots of (probably original) landscaping including a huge old weeping blue atlas (I think) cedar. It loo...
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Weeping blue atlas turning brown... #576359
Asked July 02, 2019, 5:46 PM EDT
Hi-- We moved into a 1961 house last year with lots of (probably original) landscaping including a huge old weeping blue atlas (I think) cedar. It looked fine last year, but this year, a number of the branches are browning, from the tips. Others seem to be yellowing a bit.This huge old tree isn't dying, is it???
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Your tree, Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' (Atlas Cedar), likely has a tip-blight. Sanitation is important: remove the dropping needles and dead branch tips. Don't compost them nearby.
There are not home-owner chemical controls listed, but if this is an important tree in your landscape, consult with certified arborists.
Read up on how and when the disease spreads so you understand when to take appropriate steps, as summer is too late for chemical treatments. Here is a link to the PNW Handbook page about the problem. Though not written for homeowners, it provides good basic information. https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/cedar-cedrus-spp-needle-blight
This ISA page, "trees are good" helps you find a certified arborist in our area. When calling, ask about the costs for a visit and interview them about their knowledge of treating this type of tree. https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
