Arborvitae Browning - Ask Extension
Hello, I have a couple arborvitae bushes in my front yard (south facing). One is doing very well. The other has started to brown over the past year f...
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Arborvitae Browning #832422
Asked May 28, 2023, 3:30 PM EDT
Hello,
I have a couple arborvitae bushes in my front yard (south facing). One is doing very well. The other has started to brown over the past year from the bottom up. It started with the bottom few branches and has slowly progressed upwards. Do you have any idea what is causing this?
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
Matt,
Thank you for your question and pictures.
Can you please step back and take a broader picture of the entire plant/s.
Thank you for your question and pictures.
Can you please step back and take a broader picture of the entire plant/s.
Per your request, here are the attached photos. Thanks.
Matt,
Thank you for your additional photos.
Did you amend the soil prior to planting?
How is the water drainage in that area?
Do you have the exact "variety" of this arborvitae?
Do you prune this plant?
One last question, do you use salts on your sidewalk to keep the ice melted in winter by this plant?
All evergreens loose some of their leaves each year. Most broadleaved evergreens lose some of the older leaves during the winter or when new growth resumes in the spring. Narrow leaved evergreens can maintain foliage for two years or more. Eventually the innermost, oldest foliage drops off. Evergreens that are sheared tend to be bare on the inside because the outer growth promoted by shearing excessively shades the foliage towards the inside, causing it to drop
We see a lot of "heat" in your picture, a stone wall, rocks on the ground under the plant, close to the sidewalk, as well as facing south. All of these hold heat. That could have something to do with it.
Also, winter kill can sometimes occur depending on winter weather conditions.
We might suggest taking the "wait and see" approach to see if it recovers during these lower, wet temps.
Thank you for your additional photos.
Did you amend the soil prior to planting?
How is the water drainage in that area?
Do you have the exact "variety" of this arborvitae?
Do you prune this plant?
One last question, do you use salts on your sidewalk to keep the ice melted in winter by this plant?
All evergreens loose some of their leaves each year. Most broadleaved evergreens lose some of the older leaves during the winter or when new growth resumes in the spring. Narrow leaved evergreens can maintain foliage for two years or more. Eventually the innermost, oldest foliage drops off. Evergreens that are sheared tend to be bare on the inside because the outer growth promoted by shearing excessively shades the foliage towards the inside, causing it to drop
We see a lot of "heat" in your picture, a stone wall, rocks on the ground under the plant, close to the sidewalk, as well as facing south. All of these hold heat. That could have something to do with it.
Also, winter kill can sometimes occur depending on winter weather conditions.
We might suggest taking the "wait and see" approach to see if it recovers during these lower, wet temps.
I have responded underneath each question below. I agree that there is a lot of "heat" near that plant. If that is indeed the case, do you have recommendations for plants that would be able to tolerate that heat well? We ideally would like something that provides some year round color and height to visually soften the transition from the driveway to the foundation of the house.
Matt,
Your answers did not come through.
How big of an area does that measure? How much height would you prefer?
Your answers did not come through.
How big of an area does that measure? How much height would you prefer?
I copied and pasted the answers to your previous questions below... The space is approximately 2 feet deep by about 8 feet wide. We prefer approximately 4-8 feet of height to provide a nice visual transition between the house and driveway.
Did you amend the soil prior to planting?
Answer: We used a landscaper and I do believe they amended the soil appropriately. All of our other plants have done well and are several years old.
How is the water drainage in that area?
Answer: Unsure, it does slope downward (to the east) so I think the drainage should be good. It is hooked up to a drip irrigation system and receives the same amount of water as the same plant next to it. The other plant is doing well.
Do you have the exact "variety" of this arborvitae?
Answer: I do not. The landscapers just used "arborvitae" in their description and there are no tags on the plants.
Do you prune this plant?
Answer: We have never pruned these plants.
One last question, do you use salts on your sidewalk to keep the ice melted in winter by this plant?
Answer: No, we don't use any salt or other chemicals that would drain into these plants water / roots.
Matt,
Last question. Thank you for your patience.
This last winter did snow pile up at all or take longer to melt on the plant that is having trouble? You said the other one is doing fine. Was there anything different you noticed between the two over the winter? Does one get more wind than the other?
Last question. Thank you for your patience.
This last winter did snow pile up at all or take longer to melt on the plant that is having trouble? You said the other one is doing fine. Was there anything different you noticed between the two over the winter? Does one get more wind than the other?
No, I haven’t noticed any differences between the two plants.
Matt Westbrook
Matt Westbrook
On Jun 13, 2023, at 9:48 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Matt,
We would suggest pruning off the dead. Wait and see how it does. It doesn't appear to be terribly bad from the pictures.
Below is a link provided by Penn State suggesting plants that are heat and drought tolerant. Be sure to choose one that grows well in zone 5. Please keep in mind that you will have to water the new plants for the entire first season to create good, strong root establishment.
https://extension.psu.edu/heat-and-drought-tolerant-plants
We would suggest pruning off the dead. Wait and see how it does. It doesn't appear to be terribly bad from the pictures.
Below is a link provided by Penn State suggesting plants that are heat and drought tolerant. Be sure to choose one that grows well in zone 5. Please keep in mind that you will have to water the new plants for the entire first season to create good, strong root establishment.
https://extension.psu.edu/heat-and-drought-tolerant-plants
