Do our tall dying arborvitae have root disease? - Ask Extension
We are sad to report the dying of at least 9 of our ten-twelve foot arborvitae border in our yard in Estacada and our neighbor reported to us that 2 y...
Knowledgebase
Do our tall dying arborvitae have root disease? #868940
Asked May 17, 2024, 5:05 PM EDT
We are sad to report the dying of at least 9 of our ten-twelve foot arborvitae border in our yard in Estacada and our neighbor reported to us that 2 years ago his neighbor lost all of his to a disease in the roots of his "cedars" which I think ours are in same family. Can you use a picture to identify the problem for us? Give a call if you can, 760.803.9827, thank you! Colleen Taylor
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Colleen- Thanks for your question, but we can't call and will need some pictures to help you make a diagnosis. If you want to call an arborist to come look at your arborvitae, you can find one close to you at this website:
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/arboristsearch
Sorry not to be of more help,
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/arboristsearch
Sorry not to be of more help,
Here are the pictures of our distressed/dying arborvitae. We appreciate your response greatly.
Colleen
Hi Colleen and thanks for the pictures of your cedars with brown tops. This is often a symptom of water stress, as the lower branches get fluid when there is not enough water to reach the top branches. Many of our conifers in the area are having the same problem!
We had a very dry summer last year as it didn't rain after May 15, and if you did not give your trees water during June, July and August, they were just too stressed to continue. We are even having to water our 40 year old Douglas fir!
I would still suggest an calling an arborist to come out and look in case there are other factors involved, but once the trees are drought stressed, they are easy targets for other diseases and pests.
https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Documents/forestbenefits/Drought.pdf
Sorry this is not better news!
We had a very dry summer last year as it didn't rain after May 15, and if you did not give your trees water during June, July and August, they were just too stressed to continue. We are even having to water our 40 year old Douglas fir!
I would still suggest an calling an arborist to come out and look in case there are other factors involved, but once the trees are drought stressed, they are easy targets for other diseases and pests.
https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Documents/forestbenefits/Drought.pdf
Sorry this is not better news!
