Knowledgebase
rusty branches on cypress tree #867967
Asked May 11, 2024, 7:57 AM EDT
Frederick County Maryland
Expert Response
Are any of the plants in an area visited by deer? Some of the bark damage looks extensive and seems consistent with "buck rub," when male deer rub antler velvet off on young trees in autumn. Such damage can cause significant dieback on a plant if enough of the sapwood just under the bark is damaged by the bark's removal/injury.
Regardless of the original cause of damage, the entirely-brown branches will not recover and need to be pruned off. Any with brown inner needles but healthy-looking green tips can be left alone, as it is normal for a bit of shedding for those older needles to occur each year as the plant ages.
If deer are around, the Arborvitae might need long-term protection from browsing of its foliage, too...it depends on the type of Arborvitae, which we can't tell from the photo. If you have its name tag, varieties of Eastern Arborvitae (botanical name Thuja occidentalis) are favored for browsing but Western Arborvitae (Thuja plicata and its hybrids, like variety 'Green Giant') are usually left alone. Long-term, while deer browsing won't necessarily kill an older plant, it will create a bare zone in the bottom 4 feet or so of branches which will never regrow.
Miri