My Poor Cypress

gosalh · 22nd July 2007, 12:09 PM

Hi,

I've got a Cypress (not sure what type of Cypress it is). It's currently about 15ft tall. I've noticed this year the bottom section has blotches where it has gone brown and the little fronds have died. But the top section of the tree seems ok and green. In between the dead brown blotches there's new green fronds coming out. Any idea whats going on? Im worried that it may die for some reason? Can anyone help please??? I've attached some images of the tree.

Hili · 22nd July 2007, 06:30 PM

Is the stems damaged at all? Is there any discoloured or disformed legions on the stems? If so is there any ooze from the legions?

If so it may be 'Cypress canker' a fungus which is spread by wind-blown spores. The spores can also be spread by rain splash and birds and insects. The cambium tissue is attacked, leading to cankers or splits in the bark. Resin then oozes from the fissures.

If the tree is large enough it may be able to be treated by infecting a fungicide. Be careful with pruning hygiene, as secondary infection may be your biggest risk.

Hard to ID the tree from the pictures provided but my thought is it may be a 'Leyland cypress' X Cupressocyparis leylandii
Do you have any pictures or can you describe the cones on it?

Sean Freeman · 22nd July 2007, 09:50 PM

Hili, could be right there re the cypress canker read the attached pdf and see if the pics included match what you find on your tree.

Cypresscanker2004_013.pdf

If it is canker don't dispair just yet, remove the affected branches dipping your cutters in a solution of bleach between cuts, then treat the tree with a spray of copper silicate.

TrevMcRev · 23rd July 2007, 04:19 AM

As covered by Hili & boa, look for signs of Cypress Canker. With canker you usually see whole twigs die off at once where you seem to have a mix of leaves that are live and dead on the same twigs. If no signs of canker then it looks like you may have just got a bit too "keen" with the hedge trimmer perhaps and exposed the interior leaves that naturally die off.

Whats the foliage like higher up in the tree where it hasnt been trimmed as much?

Is this a single example of the species you have?

Are there any others nearby or even in neighboring properties with similar symptoms?

Ekka · 23rd July 2007, 04:58 AM

Hmmm

Looks like Thuja

Many up here looking like that, drought related, they're shallow rooters.

Once those guys get stressed it becomes bug bait fast.

If you are going to use fungicide use copper based not sulphur, I'd do a soil drench along with wetting agent and not tell Boa.

See, he'll get up me for killing all the good fungi too, but hey, like an operating table you need to steralize and then reculture the soil.

Heck I'd even perhaps add confidor to the drench to knock out any little bugs.

gosalh · 23rd July 2007, 12:24 PM

Hi guys thanks for the messages. I've attached a picture of the whole tree. Not sure what species it is.

gosalh · 23rd July 2007, 12:29 PM

Also the twigs are dead and dry and crumble when you touch them. But some twigs that are dead have new green twigs emerging from them. Is Cypress Canker a serious problem i need to be worried about? If it is that?

treeseer · 28th July 2007, 02:52 PM

for a dramatized look at the canker see the attached. I think Electra Klein use to live in Sydney.

It does not look like seridium. I think it looks like malpruning is a factor--if you shear the lower branches and leave the upper branches wide, they can shade out the lower ones.

I would prescribe an overall thinning/reduction/"dropcotching" and cleaning out all the dead stuff to get some light and air moving in there. Then look for the sticky streaks on the stem.

Betcha a nickel they aren't there to any signficant extent.

22nd July 2007, 09:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,671	Hili, could be right there re the cypress canker read the attached pdf and see if the pics included match what you find on your tree. Cypresscanker2004_013.pdf If it is canker don't dispair just yet, remove the affected branches dipping your cutters in a solution of bleach between cuts, then treat the tree with a spray of copper silicate. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

23rd July 2007, 04:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
TrevMcRev Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 734	As covered by Hili & boa, look for signs of Cypress Canker. With canker you usually see whole twigs die off at once where you seem to have a mix of leaves that are live and dead on the same twigs. If no signs of canker then it looks like you may have just got a bit too "keen" with the hedge trimmer perhaps and exposed the interior leaves that naturally die off. Whats the foliage like higher up in the tree where it hasnt been trimmed as much? Is this a single example of the species you have? Are there any others nearby or even in neighboring properties with similar symptoms? __________________ Melbourne Arborist, Total Tree Care, Pruning, Tree and Stump Removal

23rd July 2007, 04:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,932	Hmmm Looks like Thuja Many up here looking like that, drought related, they're shallow rooters. Once those guys get stressed it becomes bug bait fast. If you are going to use fungicide use copper based not sulphur, I'd do a soil drench along with wetting agent and not tell Boa. See, he'll get up me for killing all the good fungi too, but hey, like an operating table you need to steralize and then reculture the soil. Heck I'd even perhaps add confidor to the drench to knock out any little bugs. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

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22nd July 2007, 06:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
Hili Sappling Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 47	Is the stems damaged at all? Is there any discoloured or disformed legions on the stems? If so is there any ooze from the legions? If so it may be 'Cypress canker' a fungus which is spread by wind-blown spores. The spores can also be spread by rain splash and birds and insects. The cambium tissue is attacked, leading to cankers or splits in the bark. Resin then oozes from the fissures. If the tree is large enough it may be able to be treated by infecting a fungicide. Be careful with pruning hygiene, as secondary infection may be your biggest risk. Hard to ID the tree from the pictures provided but my thought is it may be a 'Leyland cypress' X Cupressocyparis leylandii Do you have any pictures or can you describe the cones on it?

23rd July 2007, 12:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
gosalh I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3	Also the twigs are dead and dry and crumble when you touch them. But some twigs that are dead have new green twigs emerging from them. Is Cypress Canker a serious problem i need to be worried about? If it is that?