Green giant arborvitae help

10 years ago

Is this browning normal? We're in zone 7. Planted these in early fall and did fine for a few weeks. Now that winter is coming they've been browning. I'm not sure if it's normal or we should do something else. We go out every 2 to 3 days to check if the soil is damp.

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Embothrium

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Peeing would not account for the glassy paleness of the remaining green foliage. Nor for conspicuous yellowing > browning extending up the center of some of the trees. Also a dog would not go along the entire row and pee on every tree, all the way around each one, and cause entire large sections to go completely dead after a few months.

This is a watering issue, considering the seasonal timing - and general appearance of the trees - very likely not enough. Otherwise over-watering may be possible.

If I am seeing a soaker hose or drip line and that is all you have been using it may not have been enough for newly planted specimens. Until newly installed plants root out well what needs to be monitored is moisture conditions inside the original root-balls. If you have instead been only looking at the soil around them up to this point then you may be in for a surprise.

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Comments (14)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
interior browning is normal ... varies season to season ... increased by any stressors ..

we need some pix .. to help you

ken
staceyf07
Original Author
10 years ago
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staceyf07
Original Author
10 years ago
staceyf07
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you! I've heard it can be normal, but just worried that something may be wrong and if we should do something to it now. I really don't want to replace them next year.
Embothrium
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Trees look to be dried out and dying. Check soil moisture inside original root-balls.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
got a dog?? .. its sorta mysterious that its all at the same height on all trees ...

ken
User
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
' its sorta mysterious that its all at the same height on all trees ...'

and at the perfect height for a medium to large (male) dog.
staceyf07
Original Author
10 years ago
We we do have a medium dog. We watch most of the time. We'll keep a closer eye on him from now on. Should we water more?
staceyf07
Original Author
10 years ago
Oh forgot to say when we do watch him we've never seen him pee on them. But we'll watch him more now. Thank you.
Mike McGarvey
10 years ago
It looks like rough handling to me. That's where the tree is normally held when lifting. The lower branches have been bent to the point of not working anymore. Broken, but not broken in half.
staceyf07
Original Author
10 years ago
Rough handling could be possible, but they were in for a month or two and looked just fine.

Yes we we have a soaker, but have also. Been checking the soil with our fingers. I know we under watered some days, but we tried to keep checking.
Mike McGarvey
10 years ago
The damage from rough handling can take some time to be visible. It's not like the branches were completely severed.
wisconsitom
10 years ago
Tops look green and healthy-from what I can tell anyway. Will likely be just fine. Not a fussy plant-at all.