Knowledgebase
Dying cedar tree #831250
Asked May 21, 2023, 9:30 PM EDT
I have a large white cedar tree that that has been withering away the last couple years and would really like to try to save it..I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice.. Thank you!!
Bay County Michigan
Expert Response
Please answer these as best you can:
Type of soil ( sandy loamy or clay)
Any obvious injuries, insects, off-color needles, oozing sap, or other signs?
How many hours of direct sun does the tree get?
Does it get watered when rainfall is lacking? How much?
Was the root zone flooded, or was any construction (digging) or heavy equipment parked over the roots?
Were any garden chemicals, such as weed killer, applied nearby( such as on a lawn)?
Is there any pattern to the dieback- such as only on the bottom, or only on one side?
A photo of the whole tree, one of any damaged area, and a closeup of a branch showing off-color needles will help.
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Click the “Drop files here or choose them” below the response box to attach them.
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I know this is a lot to ask- as you can see we need to become ‘detectives’ to narrow the possibilities!
Thank you so much for taking time to help us! The tree is located on the bank of the Kawkawlin River in Bay City so it gets plenty of water.. It may get a little less sun than it used to 3 years ago because we made our house taller. It does not get a lot of direct sunlight because of a large boxelder tree near by but the Boxelder has always cast shade on it. We have never put pesticides near it nor has there been any construction near by. We have 3 to 4 ft of loamy soil with clay underneath. We cannot find any obvious injuries, insects, or oozing sap. There is no pattern of dieback. The tree has lost 60% of its leaves in the last few years. I tried to upload a photo of it in 2020 but Im not sure it worked.. The tree was luscious and full and appeared to be in its prime.. showing no evidence of being under stress. It wont let me upload any more pictures for some reason.. maybe ill try again tomorrow. If the tree has been poisoned is there any way to tell? It is frowned upon to have trees like this near the river because it might block the neighbors view..so anything is possible i guess. The Cedar has a scraggly looking Blue Spruce, an Ash Tree (which has made a strong comeback) and a couple small Mulberry trees very very close by. We have never raked under the tree either. Hopefully this is enough info to get started! Again thank you so much!!!
Hello Tyler,
Thank you for the pictures and information.
White cedar( aka arborvitae) are not very tolerant of complete shade, and do not like very wet roots. They prefer full sun to part shade and well drained soil.
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thuja-occidentalis/
I suspect the amount of shade this tree is now getting, in combination with nearby tree and shrub competition, has led to the decline. If soils are constantly saturated, that will contribute to decline, too.
Try removing as much competing small brush and trees as you can, especially ones that shade the white cedar. Consider hiring a certified arborist to thin the boxelder tree, to allow as much light through as possible. The arborist can assess the white cedar at the same time, and give you his/her opinion. He/she may spot something we can’t see in the pictures.
A Certified arborist is a professional who has taken training in care, diseases, pests and passed certification tests. Find certified arborists by zip code here—-
Thank you so much!! We'll call an arborist ASAP!!!
You are very welcome. Glad to help.
