Dying cedar - Ask Extension
Cedar thinning foliage over 5 years. Many woodpecker holes
Knowledgebase
Dying cedar #802932
Asked July 25, 2022, 2:31 PM EDT
Cedar thinning foliage over 5 years. Many woodpecker holes
Kalkaska County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello Lee,
Sorry for the delay.
Serious disease, insect, or abiotic problems in cedar usually cause overall discoloration, thinning of the crown, dieback of the top and then the entire tree. Based on what I see in your images I do see thinning of the crown as well as an area where insects could enter (woodpecker holes)
I highly recommend you get a confirmed diagnosis from the MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics Lab on the MSU campus to see if they detect a serious disease in your cedar tree.
Please e-mail your images to the MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics Lab on the MSU campus. Prior to bringing or sending physical samples. Images can be sent to <personal data hidden>.
IN ADDITION TO YOUR IMAGES - PLEASE SEND ANOTHER IMAGE!!
Can you send an image of the upper canopy of your cedar tree - Clear and close-up
MAKE SURE IN THAT E-MAIL YOU INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER!
They should be able to diagnose your problem without seeing a sample. A lot has to do with the quality of your images and yours look good!! BE PREPARED THEY MAY ASK FOR MORE IMAGES!!
THE LAB WILL LET YOU KNOW IF A SAMPLE NEEDS TO BE SENT - There is a $20-25 dollar fee (if they need a sample sent)
Lab phone:<personal data hidden>
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
PLEASE READ BELOW ON PREPARING YOUR SAMPLE (IF THE LAB NEEDS SAMPLES)
From the lab: Please do not ship samples on Fridays. Due to the current COVID-19 circumstances, please allow additional processing time. They thank you for your patience and understanding.
Every sample must be accompanied by a completed submission form. Please place the form in a separate resealable bag to prevent it from getting damp or soiled. The form is at this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/uploads/files/MSU-DS-Form-012-001-version6.0.pdf
Complete details of submitting a sample are at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/submit-samples/
Another option (more expensive), you may want to hire a certified arborist. Certified arborists have training in plant selection, care, diseases/pests; and have passed a certification test. They can do an onsite evaluation of the tree. You can find certified professionals in your zip code here: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/arboristsearch
Hope this helps - Any other questions, please let me know
Sorry for the delay.
Serious disease, insect, or abiotic problems in cedar usually cause overall discoloration, thinning of the crown, dieback of the top and then the entire tree. Based on what I see in your images I do see thinning of the crown as well as an area where insects could enter (woodpecker holes)
I highly recommend you get a confirmed diagnosis from the MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics Lab on the MSU campus to see if they detect a serious disease in your cedar tree.
Please e-mail your images to the MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics Lab on the MSU campus. Prior to bringing or sending physical samples. Images can be sent to <personal data hidden>.
IN ADDITION TO YOUR IMAGES - PLEASE SEND ANOTHER IMAGE!!
Can you send an image of the upper canopy of your cedar tree - Clear and close-up
MAKE SURE IN THAT E-MAIL YOU INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER!
They should be able to diagnose your problem without seeing a sample. A lot has to do with the quality of your images and yours look good!! BE PREPARED THEY MAY ASK FOR MORE IMAGES!!
THE LAB WILL LET YOU KNOW IF A SAMPLE NEEDS TO BE SENT - There is a $20-25 dollar fee (if they need a sample sent)
Lab phone:<personal data hidden>
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
PLEASE READ BELOW ON PREPARING YOUR SAMPLE (IF THE LAB NEEDS SAMPLES)
From the lab: Please do not ship samples on Fridays. Due to the current COVID-19 circumstances, please allow additional processing time. They thank you for your patience and understanding.
Every sample must be accompanied by a completed submission form. Please place the form in a separate resealable bag to prevent it from getting damp or soiled. The form is at this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/uploads/files/MSU-DS-Form-012-001-version6.0.pdf
Complete details of submitting a sample are at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/submit-samples/
Another option (more expensive), you may want to hire a certified arborist. Certified arborists have training in plant selection, care, diseases/pests; and have passed a certification test. They can do an onsite evaluation of the tree. You can find certified professionals in your zip code here: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/arboristsearch
Hope this helps - Any other questions, please let me know
