Dawn Redwood with yellow/brown top - Ask Extension
We planted 4 dawn redwood trees last November (2023). They have all looked great with new growth until a few days ago one of them suddenly started ...
Knowledgebase
Dawn Redwood with yellow/brown top #873751
Asked June 19, 2024, 10:07 AM EDT
We planted 4 dawn redwood trees last November (2023). They have all looked great with new growth until a few days ago one of them suddenly started having yellowing/browning leaves on top. The rest of the tree looks fine. I don’t see any bugs or mites anywhere. Being June, I believe it’s too early for it to be transitioning for leaf drop. I have watered it the past two days but we’ve had a very wet Spring and just now starting to get hot and dry here, so unsure if it is a watering issue. I have attached a photo. Please advise.
Delaware County Ohio
Expert Response
Thank you for contacting AskExtension
The yellowing/browning of the top of the Dawn Redwood could be due to a few different issues, but without a specific diagnosis from the photo, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact cause.
However, based on the symptoms you've described, it could be a sign of a nutrient deficiency, particularly nitrogen, or a stress response to environmental factors such as drought or extreme temperatures.
It's also possible that the tree is experiencing some form of disease, although the symptoms you've described are not typical of any specific disease mentioned in the references provided.
To address the issue, you could consider a soil test to determine if there are any nutrient deficiencies. If the tree is under stress from drought or extreme temperatures, ensuring proper watering could help.
You might check into your rainfall amounts that have been recorded in your county, sometimes you thing you had a " good rain", but it is was not really a sufficient one. In my county
( Washington) the month of June was extremely hot and very dry. Our rainfall was only 1.4 inches in the entire month! ( It really pays to monitor this when you have new trees getting their roots established) Since you planted these in the fall, theoretically the roots only began a good growth from April until now.
Like most young trees, they will need at least one inch of water each week. Slowly pour water onto the soil below the dripline of the tree, allow the water to percolate into the soil, then pour a little more. Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the first year of establishing a tree.
If the issue persists, it might be worth consulting a local arborist.
I wish you success.
The yellowing/browning of the top of the Dawn Redwood could be due to a few different issues, but without a specific diagnosis from the photo, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact cause.
However, based on the symptoms you've described, it could be a sign of a nutrient deficiency, particularly nitrogen, or a stress response to environmental factors such as drought or extreme temperatures.
It's also possible that the tree is experiencing some form of disease, although the symptoms you've described are not typical of any specific disease mentioned in the references provided.
To address the issue, you could consider a soil test to determine if there are any nutrient deficiencies. If the tree is under stress from drought or extreme temperatures, ensuring proper watering could help.
You might check into your rainfall amounts that have been recorded in your county, sometimes you thing you had a " good rain", but it is was not really a sufficient one. In my county
( Washington) the month of June was extremely hot and very dry. Our rainfall was only 1.4 inches in the entire month! ( It really pays to monitor this when you have new trees getting their roots established) Since you planted these in the fall, theoretically the roots only began a good growth from April until now.
Like most young trees, they will need at least one inch of water each week. Slowly pour water onto the soil below the dripline of the tree, allow the water to percolate into the soil, then pour a little more. Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the first year of establishing a tree.
If the issue persists, it might be worth consulting a local arborist.
I wish you success.
