Knowledgebase

Dying bushes? #752431

Asked May 26, 2021, 10:07 PM EDT

These bushes are on the north side of our house, along the foundation. I’m not sure what kind of bushes they are. We’ve lived here for 7 years and they’ve been really happy - until this spring. Now (as you can see in the photos) they seem to be dying. Not sure what to do. Cut back the dead parts? (Will they grow back?) Remove them and start over? Looking forward to your tips, thanks so much. More info: I trimmed them fairly significantly in the fall. We also got new gutters in summer 2019, and I just realized they’re getting significantly less water from rain (but they were fine all last summer, so I’m not sure that’s the issue). I did start watering them this week, but have never done that in the past. Thank you, in advance! We really appreciate your assistance and expertise!

Ramsey County Minnesota

Expert Response

A combination of factors is likely leading to your brown arborvitae. Winter damage, severe pruning, and a change in the amount of water may have contributed to this condition. You can trim off the brown foliage, and after a while new needles should emerge. If they don’t ordinarily receive much water now that you have gutters and downspouts, water them occasionally.

For information on winter damage to plants, see https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/protecting-trees-and-shrubs-winter

Diane M Replied May 27, 2021, 9:16 AM EDT

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