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Cedars are low-maintenance conifers popular for adding winter interest and acting as windbreakerprivacy hedges.
Given cedars aretypes of evergreen trees, it can be panic-inducing to see the needles discoloring.
Fortunately, not all reasons for your cedar tree turning brown are ones to worry about.
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Being able to distinguish between natural needle-dropping and environmental stressors can help you prevent any problems from worsening.
Seasonal Needle Drop
There’s a perfectly natural reason your cedar tree could be turning brown.
Cedar flagging is when your tree uniformly sheds older inner needles.
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Watering Errors
Shallow-rooted cedars are prone to stress when conditions are too hot and dry.
This is especially true for newly transplanted trees.
Water slowly and deeply until the soil is moist but not soggy a few feet down.
Too much water can also cause cedar tree needles to turn brown in random, spreading spots.
If the roots are left to stand in constantly soggy soil, it can lead to rot.
Slow watering and good soil drainage can help prevent this issue.
Conducting a soil test can help you identify whatsoil amendmentsmay be beneficial if you suspect this is the cause.
Chemical Issues
Be careful where you spray herbicides in your yard.
If theres enough buildup over time, it can eventually kill your tree.
The same is true of excessive applications of fertilizer.
The cedar bark beetle (Phloeosinus sequoiae) is another culprit for browning needles.
When a trees already stressed, an uncontrolled infestation can lead to the death of your cedar specimen.
Treatment once the beetles have infested the bark is not effective.
To reduce the chance of problems, ensure your tree receives adequate moisture.
Keithia first results in small, circular black or brown bodies appearing on the leaves.
you’ve got the option to manage these with fungicides and pruning of affected branches.
When cedars experience browning needles from environmental stressors, they can bounce back if you address the problem promptly.
Unhealthy trees can also experience loosening bark, a thinning canopy, and brittle, weak branches.
Utah Pests Factsheet - Bark Beetles.
Utah State University Cooperative Extension.
