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Northern White-cedar (Arborvitae) Health (IL)

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From: Michael Naus City: Rockton, IL
Last summer's draught turned about a dozen of my 16 foot arborvitae brown. this is late April and they are still brown. Branches are still flexible. Any chance of them coming back or do I just remove them?
	Extension Message From: Jay Hayek Extension Specialist, Forestry Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences jhayek@illinois.edu
Michael: Northern white-cedar, or arborvitae, trees took a big hit last year due to the drought and the excessive heat. Many northern white-cedar trees simply died. Be patient and keep the trees in place "if" the branches still show signs of life (scratch the twigs to determine if there is any fresh, green/white tissue just under the surface of the twigs). This spring's moisture surge should resurrect those trees that are still hanging on from last year's drought.
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