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Dying trees

juenevillCXFtb33sjuenevillCXFtb33s Posts: 8
in Plants
Hi, I have had these trees in my garden for over 17 years. They have always been beautiful and healthy. Sadly, this year, this has happened. I am guessing, it's now too late to revive some of them?  
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Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    That's a sorry sight, very disappointing for you.  Do you know the identity of your trees?  The only conifer I know that recovers from browning is Thuja which is sometimes used for topiary spirals.  The leaves have a distinctive scent when crushed.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Too dry last summer is my guess.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • juenevillCXFtb33sjuenevillCXFtb33s Posts: 8
    We are quite diligent in watering our garden in the summer, so I can't really see that as being a problem, but thank you as it wasn't something we had considered.
  • juenevillCXFtb33sjuenevillCXFtb33s Posts: 8
    Plantminded said:
    That's a sorry sight, very disappointing for you.  Do you know the identity of your trees?  The only conifer I know that recovers from browning is Thuja which is sometimes used for topiary spirals.  The leaves have a distinctive scent when crushed.
    It is so sad to see and happened so quickly. I am not sure about the identity of the trees but I will check if they have a distinctive scent with the little bit of green, we have left. Thank you. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2023
    Trees that size need gallons and gallons of water every couple of days … particularly in the sort of heat we had last year. I’m afraid it looks like the effects of drought to me too … sadly I’ve seen lots of similarly affected conifers this spring. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • juenevillCXFtb33sjuenevillCXFtb33s Posts: 8
    Dovefromabove said:
    Trees that size need gallons and gallons of water every couple of days … particularly in the sort of heat we had last year. I’m afraid it looks like the effects of drought to me too … sadly I’ve seen lots of similarly affected conifers this spring. 
    Oh really? We really do water our garden a lot but obviously not enough last year. Such a shame as we planted them when they were little. Thank you for your help. 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited May 2023
    Conifers have shallow roots, usually in the top three feet of soil.  As they don’t have deep roots which would enable them to search for water, they need extra watering in times of drought.  Your trees are close to the fence, in a rain shadow, which makes watering even more important in extreme temperatures.  Their shape would also lead to rain run off, acting like an umbrella and reducing the amount reaching the root area.  Your vigilant watering would have been sufficient in normal times but last summer was extraordinary.  Many of us have seen trees and shrubs suffer as a result, compounded by an unusual winter.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • WatsoniaWatsonia Posts: 134
    We have some very nice lemon cypress trees, which look very similar to the ones in your photos (minus the topiary). 2 in the back garden, 4 in the front garden. We lost one of the ones in the backgarden about two years ago, slowly turning brown. All others have started this year as well. They started off with some brown patches and and the brown patches are now expanding. In the front the brown patches started from the top extending down, the opposite direction the back garden. It is really disappointing, they are also over 15 years old. We have other shrubs, trees and bushes right next to them which have not been affected. I will check the roots when we dig them out in autumn, it’s a bit odd that these trees are the only ones affected by the potential lack of water. We also have other conifers in the garden which are absolutely fine.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2023
    @Watsonia  …  as @Plantminded has said, many conifers have shallow root systems. If yours were surrounded by other shrubs and trees with deeper-reaching roots that could well explain why the drought affected the conifers more. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Even here, quite a lot of conifers were struggling, as we've had a lot of dry weather in the last two summers, which isn't the norm. 
    Those are unlikely to recover unfortunately, and the same with yours @Watsonia. They can cope with reasonable drought conditions when well established, but it can be too much for them once the ground dries out long term. They really need moisture retentive soil, and other shrubs/planting nearby adds to the problem.
    You need to have regular, persistent rainfall for them to avoid that drying out of ground. If you don't have that, there has to be huge amounts of water given to them. Mulching regularly helps - especially before getting anywhere near spring, and that can help retain any winter moisture. It's the condition of the soil that matters most. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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