How to revive browning conifer?

[Mark270481]

Wondering if anyone here can tell me what’s happening with my plants and if I can do anything to save them /this is normal 

so I planted these about 3 months ago but noticed that since the onset of winter they seem to be browning ..is there anything I can do to save them ? We water them daily in the evenings.

These are Thuja Smaragd

I am new to gardening so any help will be appreciated 

 

 

[bergs]

Hi @Mark270481

I see the plants are still in pots, unless that is only a rim to keep the mulch off the trunk, but it looks like it is getting too big for a pot that size.

They may be root bound, so they may need bigger pots, or go into the ground.

You maybe watering too much, as most plants only need watering about twice a week and less in Winter. 

Also if  that's fresh mulch it may be robbing the plant from nitrogen as it rots down.

I would put some well rotted compost, or sugar cane, bamboo mulch.

Always check the soil before watering.

It only needs to be moist.

Plants don't like to be in wet or soggy soil, so make sure the soil drains away when you water.

Depending on the plant (it looks like some sort of cypress pine) some do go a browny coppery colour during winter.

I hope this help some,

Good luck,

Cheers bergs🍻

[JacobZ]

Hi @Mark270481,

It's great to see @bergs has already jumped in with some fantastic advice.

Firstly, some seasonal browning is natural. Thuja can develop patches of bronzing or brown foliage in winter, particularly on the inner parts of the plant. This is called winter bronzing, and it is common with evergreen trees. Most times, the plant will bounce back in spring, however from your description, there is likely more to it than just winter bronzing.

I agree with Berg that the issue is almost certainly related to overwatering and potentially the roots being cramped for space.

If that is a pot, then it would be in your best interests to remove it and replant your tree in the ground, as there is a chance the tree has outgrown the space within the pot. If the roots have run out of room, they will be starved of oxygen and will be unable to dry out, which can lead to stress and eventually death.  

I think the key issue could be overwatering. Since you mentioned you're watering daily in the evenings, that might be too frequent, especially in colder months when the soil retains moisture longer and the plant's water needs are lower. Constantly damp soil can lead to root rot or fungal issues. As a general rule, Thujas prefer moist but well-drained soil. In winter, you can usually cut back watering to once every 5 days or even less, depending on rainfall and soil drainage. Before watering, stick your index finger into the soil around 5-7cm deep. If the ground is still moist, there is no need to water; wait a day and check again. When the soil is dry, you can then water again.

Additionally, watering in the evening can be problematic in cold weather. Water that sits overnight without being absorbed may chill the roots or promote fungal growth. It's generally better to water in the morning, which gives the plants time to absorb moisture and dry off excess before nightfall.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[Mark270481]

Thanks @bergs  and @JacobZ  for your valuable inputs …I read your post when you posted and immediately stopped watering ..hopefully I was able to save it in time ..let’s see 

the plants are in the ground and not in pots ,the ring is just to prevent mulch spilling over ..there is also no mulch around the plant 

Now that spring is here is there any particular fertilizer you would recommend for this plant ? I read that it needs fertilizer in early spring and if the slow release kind ..thanks again for your help 

[JacobZ]

Hi @Mark270481,

I'm glad to hear you took the advice, and I hope that your conifer has bounced back since.

I'd suggest using a balanced general-purpose slow-release fertiliser such as this Scotts Osmocote All Purpose Controlled Release Fertiliser. It will have a balanced mix of nutrients to help promote healthy growth during the warmer months.

If you have not already, you should resume watering, just on a less frequent schedule. Deep watering 1-2 times a week is better than every day. By watering deeply, it encourages the tree's roots to dig deeper to chase after the water that sits lower in the soil.

Just remember to check the soil is no longer damp before watering again.

Good luck and keep us updated if anything changes.

Jacob

[Mark270481]

Just wanted to share an update on this …I added the slow release Osmocote fertilizer as well as resumed watering (mostly doing it when the soil is dry, which I check by putting a knife into the soil to check if it’s wet inside ) 

While the plants  look brown when viewed from a distance,since the  start of spring I can see green on the inside which I hope will take over the entire plant .I am also thinking that this is a sign that the plant is still alive ..thoughts ? 

 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @Mark270481,

The green growth is certainly a good sign that your tree is, firstly, still alive and secondly, on the mend.

I would keep up with watering and consider pruning back the dead growth in a month or so, once the green growth has filled out a bit more.

Allow me to tag our resident horticultural expert @Noelle to see what she thinks.

Thank you for the update.

Jacob

[Noelle]

Hi @Mark270481 

Unfortunately I don't share Jacob's optimism about the future of your conifer. 😪

Conifers grow from the tips of the 'fronds' or branches only, and all the tips on yours seem to be brown indicating they're fairly dead. The green areas are 'old growth', not new growth forging its way outwards. In my humble opinion, the damage has been done and it's unlikely to improve no matter how much TLC you give it.
The cause may be due to how it was cared for and watered in the past, or it could be disease (eg cypress canker, from which there is no recovery at all). Either way, if it was mine, I'd replace it with a healthy specimen now and follow the care recommendations provided by @JacobZ  and @bergs previously in this conversation.

[Mark270481]

Thanks Noelle ..I might wait this summer to see what happens before I rip it out of the ground (guess I share Jacob’s optimism,LOL) …the green gives me a little hope especially the smaller ones you’ll see in the new pics I have attached..these are not there all of Winter and only started showing up now,and maybe it’s dead already but one season of summer won’t hurt