View Messages

Return to Tree Planting

Yellowing Foliage of Northern White-Cedar

[Post a Follow Up] [Post to this category]
From: JOHN GRABOWICZ City: YONKERS, NY
You said that the yellowing needles on these shrubs would bounce back after they were established. If I cut the branches that were yellowed, would they grow back? This would be done strictly for appearance sake. Is it a good idea to do this, or do I just leave them alone? I have very little patience, the dying (for lack of better words) needles don't have eye appeal.
	Extension Message From: Jay Hayek Extension Specialist, Forestry Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences jhayek@illinois.edu
Seeing that trees are long-lived perennial plants, one must be patient. Seeing that these particular trees were recently planted, I would avoid any aggressive pruning as the foliage is the photosynthetic engine of your tree. Just because the foliage is yellow doesn't mean that particular branch is dead. Keep your pruning shears in the garage, give your tree some TLC, and allow your tree and its stressed roots acclimate to its new environment.
[Post a Follow Up] [Post to this category]