View Messages

Return to Trees & Shrubs

is my arbor vitae dead?

[Post a Follow Up] [Post to this category]
From: jane k City: Skokie, IL
Arbor vitae still green but branches snap off with small amount of pressure. Am I tearing off good branches? Or are they just slow to brown? These are full, mature trees that have been here for the entire 10 years that I have Lived in this hous . Last summer a tree guy told me they are dead but they still seem green. The branches that snap off have moisture under the bark but no green.
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
There are likely many thousands of Arborvitae showing signs you describe. If just winter burned, those needles will fall and new buds will generate growth for 2015. twigs should be pliable, dark wet looking green when scraped. By now new growth should be appearing. there may be some green color under the bark BUT should not snap off. You can wait a bit longer for new growth to appear, but by mid to late may if nothing is happening then they are likely dead.
[Post a Follow Up] [Post to this category]