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Burnt Conifers

Martin GardenerMartin Gardener Posts: 70
in Problem solving
My conifer plant got burnt from being in direct wind. Over two years ago I moved it to a more sheltered area. But the brown burnt parts have not returned to green. Any suggestions as to what i can do to improve it and get it all green again? 
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  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    edited May 2023
    The damaged foliage will never return to green ; I can think of only a handful of conifers which regenerate from brown wood , but your Chamaecyparis lawsoniana cultivar is not one of them :(
  • Martin GardenerMartin Gardener Posts: 70
    Thanks! Should I maybe remove some of the branches that are brown? Would that encourage it to grow new branches? Or just leave it as it is?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd take it out - the brown parts won't recover, and if you take them out, you won't get new branches in their place, so it's ever going to look good.
    Containers aren't ideal for most conifers unless you can keep them well hydrated - they're shallow rooting, so the width of pot is more important too.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Yes I agree with @Fairygirl needs to come out it won't recover.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Most conifers do not resprout from brown wood.  So I would agree with the advice you have been given.

    However, I doubt whether the sort of damage your plant is showing was caused by wind.  Have a good think about what else could have caused it.  You don't want it to happen again.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    It can take a long time for a conifer to die. I wonder if it hasn't recovered from the move two years ago. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Martin GardenerMartin Gardener Posts: 70
    Thanks for all the feedback. I'll give up any hopes of it improving so. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Has it always been in a pot? It's likely to have got dried out completely if that's the case, and that can be difficult to then rehydrate.
    If it was dug out the ground and potted, that can still be difficult if there wasn't sufficient root ball, and it wasn't well enough watered. 
    As @GardenerSuze says - the problem with conifers, and some other plants, is that they can take a while to show the signs of dying, and by the time they do, it's too late to do anything about it. 
    I'd cut my losses and find something new for the container - but make sure it's suitable, and it has the right care and maintenance  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Martin Gardener Just wanted to say you have given alot of thought to that area of the garden. Some interesting and unusual colours, love the yellow a bold choice. You have considered the 'borrowed landscape' with your planting too. I am sure you will choose something that works well with your other plants, an opportunity to make a change always exciting.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Martin GardenerMartin Gardener Posts: 70
    Fairygirl said:
    Has it always been in a pot? It's likely to have got dried out completely if that's the case, and that can be difficult to then rehydrate.
    If it was dug out the ground and potted, that can still be difficult if there wasn't sufficient root ball, and it wasn't well enough watered. 
    As @GardenerSuze says - the problem with conifers, and some other plants, is that they can take a while to show the signs of dying, and by the time they do, it's too late to do anything about it. 
    I'd cut my losses and find something new for the container - but make sure it's suitable, and it has the right care and maintenance  :)
    Yes it was always in a pot. I repotted into that pot after it had gone brown. Hoping that would help it.

    I have another conifer in a pot that I don't treat any different really and it is doing great. So the only real difference was this one was in direct line of gusting wind.
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