Evergreen tree problems - Ask Extension
We have 2 evergreen trees we planted last spring, and they seem to be unhealthy, with leaves turning brown and dropping and ‘spots’ at the ends of...
Knowledgebase
Evergreen tree problems #928301
Asked April 13, 2026, 5:39 PM EDT
We have 2 evergreen trees we planted last spring, and they seem to be unhealthy, with leaves turning brown and dropping and ‘spots’ at the ends of some of the branches. We noticed this around February/March as things were thawing out. Now it is very noticeable. We took some tree branches to our gardening center, and they thought it might be a fungus but weren’t 100% sure, they said we should check with you.
but said to check with you to be surgeon.We’re attaching a few pictures
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
With new transplants, problems often arise when the planting depth is not correct, if the plant is mulched too high, or if the plant is not watered sufficiently especially in the first year or two. One of the photos above show a lot of mulch piled around the trunk of the tree. That can cause many problems, including the tree dying from the top down as you are seeing. I cannot tell if the tree will survive, but if it does, it will create multiple leaders, which you will need to handle properly (see article: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-457/430-457.html) if you do not want a bush-shaped tree. (See the paragraph where they discuss creating a central leader.)
I recommend pulling that mulch away from the tree's trunks and making sure that there is no twine or burlap visible around the roots and lower trunk. Mulch should be 2-3 inches deep and not touching the trunk of the tree. When the mulch is pulled away, you should check that the depth of the tree seems correct. You should be able to see a widening of the tree trunk at ground level. This is called the root flare, and sits on top of the root system. Trees planted too deeply often have problems a year or more after planting. This is an informative article about problems from over-mulching: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs099/.
These trees will need to be watered throughout the growing season, but avoid fertilizing for a year or two. Fertilizers applied to struggling new transplants can burn roots and compound the problems. Hopefully these trees will make a come-back after this set-back.
With new transplants, problems often arise when the planting depth is not correct, if the plant is mulched too high, or if the plant is not watered sufficiently especially in the first year or two. One of the photos above show a lot of mulch piled around the trunk of the tree. That can cause many problems, including the tree dying from the top down as you are seeing. I cannot tell if the tree will survive, but if it does, it will create multiple leaders, which you will need to handle properly (see article: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-457/430-457.html) if you do not want a bush-shaped tree. (See the paragraph where they discuss creating a central leader.)
I recommend pulling that mulch away from the tree's trunks and making sure that there is no twine or burlap visible around the roots and lower trunk. Mulch should be 2-3 inches deep and not touching the trunk of the tree. When the mulch is pulled away, you should check that the depth of the tree seems correct. You should be able to see a widening of the tree trunk at ground level. This is called the root flare, and sits on top of the root system. Trees planted too deeply often have problems a year or more after planting. This is an informative article about problems from over-mulching: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs099/.
These trees will need to be watered throughout the growing season, but avoid fertilizing for a year or two. Fertilizers applied to struggling new transplants can burn roots and compound the problems. Hopefully these trees will make a come-back after this set-back.
