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Conifer turning black inside
Millie Molly Mandy
Posts: 142
I have a little green conifer, don't know the variety, it came in the middle of a hanging basket last spring. I planted it out in the garden, it has grown quite a bit and looked healthy until this autumn when the inside has started to go black. I sprayed with fungicide but it has not stopped the progression of whatever it is. Any ideas please?
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the inside of a conifer always looks dead, does it show on the outside?
In the sticks near Peterborough
Paradoxical as it might seem ,as nutcutlet says "the inside of a conifer always looks dead" , some of them literally 'shade themselves out' as they grow . This is why you have to be careful when pruning ; if you cut into the 'dead' wood , most of them will not regenerate .
Very few coniferous trees have the ability to re-grow if cut to base . (I know that wasn't the question, but thought I'd put it anyway) !
A photo would help, MMM.
Conifers can suffer from a disease called Phytophthora, but it's usually more common in very wet conditions, so if it's been in a basket for a while before planting out, that's unlikely. It would be very dead looking on the outside too - hence nut's question.
If you've then planted it in a very wet area, there could be an issue. Conifers will take lots of rain, but if it's been planted too deep, and/or in very wet conditions, there could be issues. It's difficult for anyone to be more specific without seeing photos
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I don't think that's anything to worry about. If it's been planted in a basket with other plants, those other plants prevent light and air getting to it, so you can end up with 'dead' areas. Exactly the same happens in a border if other planting is too close. When you remove the planting, the dead areas are seen.
As it grows, other stems/branches will cover that. You can even lightly wire stems together to help close the gap.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The variety looks like Cupressus macrocarpa 'Goldcrest' ; they grow very quickly in open ground .