Cypress (?) Disease - Adelaide

tivoenator

Hi,

We recently moved into a house in the Adelaide foothills, our back garden has a tree which provides us an immense amount of privacy. In past 2~3 weeks I've noticed it has started to brown off and is getting progressively worse. There doesn't appear to be any other symptoms or damage on the main trunk.

The tree is about 4m high and I think may be a cypress. Really after some advice as I'd hate to lose it. Wondering whether anyone would have any ideas or suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Dave

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Eric Frei

Jeeez, I'm miles away but whenever I see that happening to cypress up here it spells one of two things.

fungal infection

drought symptom

Look over the stems very carefully, look for any sap, whether it be beading little blobs, weeping, tiny lesions.... also look for tiny pinholes.

Look around the base of the tree for any mushroom looking things but they're rare.

Normally I'd say these trees are also shallow rooted, check soil moisture out to drip line.

In the drought here lots dropped dead but there was also a fungi nailing them before the drought maybe year 2000 to 2004 .... the fungi problem was controlled with copper based fungicide very early in the piece, once a tree was like 30% brown they were close to toast. Seemed the fungi and the borers worked in unison to kill them.

Even get a magnifying glass and look over those stems close to the brown areas.

Also, pays to check, do a soil pH test, few spots make sure all is OK.

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Urban Treecare NZ

It looks to be Cypress canker to me. We have a big problem with it here in Nz. Check for bleeding stems as Ekka has suggested and sap flow near the dead branches.

Knotahippie

Leyland cypress?

May be disease.

IMO doesn't look like seiridium or bot canker.

Can't really tell by the pics.

Needle shed is common during summer or fall.

We get alot of calls for "sick" pines and redwoods every year.

Proper cultural conditions may be key here...

newguy18

I would say if it is drought ymptoms,but i have no idea how mch rain you guys have been getting.Please enlighten me on this.

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old schooler

tivoenator

Its been pretty dry here...no decent rain for months.

newguy18

Well there you go,add some mulch around the tree and water it[if your allowed]and it will definatly help the tree.

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old schooler

Garry Brockley

Iv'e got 2 cubic meters of cypress mulch just sitting here cant sell it for love nor money.

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Knotahippie

Had some Diador Cedar mulch that was bad stuff for a while...

Slow goin', like a year.

Probably how I was composting it.

Alot of wood chips, had more shade on that pile...

Ended up spreadin' most em' out under same sp. tree.