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Conifers turning brown

laurenmuklaurenmuk Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hello any ideas as to what to do about dying conifers. They are turning into a bit of an eyesore unfortunately! Any suggestions as to help them or if possible removing them and what would anyone suggest ??? This is out my depth !!! Appreciate any feedback and help ! TIA ! 

Posts

  • GravelEaterGravelEater Posts: 124
    They look like Leylandii to me.  All of that stone work covering the ground is likely preventing enough water to their roots.  Unfortunately this species doesn't grow back from dead wood, so that brown stuff won't re-shoot.  If the greener stuff is trimmed every year, it may well become bushy enough with side shoots, that over tiem it may fill over the brown patches.

    Rather than Leylandii I always suggest a Thuja Plicata as they still grow pretty fast, but can be forgotten about re. pruning for a few years and then cut back to size quite heavily.  They'll sprout from older wood and fill in over the next couple of seasons.  Also don't have so much of the spores and pollen that Leylandii have.

    That all said, I don't think any large conifers are good when their roots are covered with paving, they will utterly drink water from soil.  Perhaps, if the pool has chlorinated water, that is splashing over?
  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    I suspect it's the chlorinated pool water thats damaged them - it'll be in droplets in the air + splash back + run off into the soil. 
    Conifers like acidic conditions. I doubt they will last long in that situation. 
    There are alternatives that will cope - are you in the UK?
  • laurenmuklaurenmuk Posts: 3
    Thank you ! Yes in the Uk they were planted over 30 years ago and have been a bit neglected for a few years unfortunately! 



    Chris-P-Bacon said:
    I suspect it's the chlorinated pool water thats damaged them - it'll be in droplets in the air + splash back + run off into the soil. 
    Conifers like acidic conditions. I doubt they will last long in that situation. 
    There are alternatives that will cope - are you in the UK?

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The brown parts won't regrow. They need trimmed every year - only taking off new growth. Once they're allowed to spread further, that's when the problems start.
    I'd agree that the water from the pool won't be helping, but dry conditions generally won't help, despite them being shallow rooted, so having paving right up against them will prevent any rainwater getting in properly. That leads to a gradual decline, which isn't always apparent until it's too late.

    As suggested, the thujas will regrow from old wood. It will take a while for anything to grow well enough to give you privacy though. Plants aren't 'instant', so you may have to put a fence in initially.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • laurenmuklaurenmuk Posts: 3
    Thank you for all your replies ! Very much appreciated! :smiley:
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