Top of trees browning out

SBJ

I read a previous thread regarding cryptomeria trees browning, but not sure I saw the answer to what i'm looking for, so thanks in advance for any replies to this. I planted the trees 2 summers ago, 6 of them, at a bout 7 ft tall initially. They have grown like crazy the first 2 years, and are full and green all the way around - except that 5 of the 6 trees have some serious browning at the top. The trees are probably 12 feet tall which I assume is solid growth in 2 years for these trees, but the top 2 feet of each of the 5 are pretty brown. The 1 that isn't has a tiny bit of brown on top but not much to worry about. Outside of the top 2 feet on these though, they look great all around, very green and full.

So my question - is this sort of top browning fairly normal for these trees? I spent some decent money and a lot of work getting things in, so if I'm being a little paranoid forgive me.

I live in Georgia, USA. I'll take some photos and repost in a few minutse.

Thanks.

SBJ

SBJ

The first photos are the right 3 trees - with the middle one there the one that's not brown at all really at the top. Here are the left 3 trees:

Garry Brockley

It looks like conifer aphids they attack the new growth, you can buy a systemic insecticide to kill them, unfortunately the brown patches will not grow back as leylandii dont easily grow from brown wood you will have to let the outside branches cover the patch.

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SBJ

Thanks for the reply. But I don't see any sort of insect population. I know they are small but I looked pretty close at the top. And wouldn't it be strange for 5 of the 6 trees to get infested all at the same spot at the top of each, and considering there is a ton of new growth all around these trees, not just at the top?

I have to imagine it's something else - but i could be wrong. Does anybody find this normal with cryptos? Could there be something with the soil that's not allowing the nutrients / water to reach all the way up?

pcarborist

According to Dirr (who lives in SE USA) Cryptomeria spp have several fungi that cause branch dieback, in particular Pestalotia spp and Phyllosticta spp.

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parkcityarborist

treejames64

I would check the roots at the base of the tree for roots strangelling the base. Also check the small fiberous roots to see if they are turning black and slimy, etc I know a lot of Ga was under drought conditions for quite awile so are the getting enough water?

SBJ

Tree - I watered them very well until the winter. Just a couple of months ago they started browning at the top, so maybe i just need to soak em at the base. I didn't think i needed to start watering again until about this time, but maybe i should have been giving them some H20 a couple of months ago to start the season. I'll let you guys know how it goes - thanks for all the input.

Garry Brockley

if its suffering from drought it will most likely die from the base first

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pcarborist

This is a sign of overwatering not underwatering.

Don't water unless the tree needs to be watered (feel the soil with your hand). A typical reaction from homeowners is to soak their trees when they start to decline.

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parkcityarborist

SBJ

Right on both points about watering - and honestly, the last 60 days we've been getting more than enough rain. I have them dug into a bowl shaped mound for each one when we planted them, and even put a thin piece of brown tin 1/2 way around each in the front to prevent the water from flowing out of the base down hill when it rains. So I'm pretty confident that they aren't under watered, but I will feel down into the soil and let you guys know what it's like.

But ya, the browning would start at the bottom if it were underwatered anyway, right? I don't know - it's just strange. The entire tree on all 5 of them is about as healthy as you can get one - super green, new growth, very full - growing better than I could have expected. Just the top 2 feet on each one that is browned out - and as I said the 6th tree is fine all the way up with just a tiny bit of brown near the top.