If you have an evergreen turning brown, you might be concerned about what’s going on. The last thing that you want is a dying evergreen tree. You don’t want to lose precious plant material or have a hole in your landscape.
There are actually a number of different reasons why an evergreen may be turning brown and we’ll dive into all of the potential culprits. Not all scenarios mean that your evergreen will die.
We will cover:
Why is My Evergreen Turning Brown?
What to do When Evergreens Turn Brown
Protecting Your Landscape with Tree Care in New England
We know your landscape is important to you and that you want to take steps to protect it. This guide from our certified arborists is here to help you make the best decisions for your landscape.
Why is My Evergreen Turning Brown?
Let’s look at some of the common reasons for an evergreen turning brown. Sometimes, there’s more than one problem occurring at once.
Pest or Disease Problems
There are both diseases and pests lurking in the landscape that can lead to trouble for your evergreens.
For instance, Needle Cast Disease is a common culprit for an evergreen turning brown. Needle Cast is a collective term used to describe a variety of diseases caused by various fungi that can infect the needles of pines, spruce, Douglas fir, and true fir trees. These types of trees are common in New England, and we see these diseases frequently.
Pests like scale insects and spider mites can also cause trouble for your evergreens. They use their piercing mouthparts to suck sap from your plants, which will eventually cause them to turn brown.
Environmental Conditions
There can also be problems in the immediate environment that are contributing to your evergreen turning brown. This can include extreme temperature conditions, drought, or even accidents affecting the soil (like chlorinated pool water getting dumped near your evergreen shrubs).
Desiccation (also called “winter burn”) can also cause a tree or shrub to turn brown. This occurs when the ground is frozen and the tree or shrub cannot absorb water from the soil.
Planting Mistakes
Another common reason for an evergreen turning brown is that it’s been installed in a poor location. There’s a saying in our industry that goes “right plant, right place.” It means that in order to thrive, you must select a plant that’s going to perform well in the location you’re installing it.
In the case of evergreens, they tend to thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. If you’ve installed your evergreen shrubs in a location where it’s always wet and soggy (maybe a low point where water tends to drain), this might be the reason why they’re turning brown.
Watering Mistakes
The way in which you water your evergreen trees and shrubs can also have an impact on their health. Both overwatering and underwatering can lead to an evergreen turning brown. Most likely, an evergreen that has been improperly watered will turn yellow or start to decline before it eventually turns brown.
You can also look for these other signs:
Early signs of an underwatered shrub:
- Dry or cracked soil
- Yellowing of the foliage
- Leaf or needle drop
Early signs of an overwatered shrub:
- Soil around the evergreen is soggy
- Yellowing of the foliage
- Moss, algae, or mushrooms growing around the base of the plant
What to do When Evergreens Turn Brown
First and foremost, you must determine why your evergreen is turning brown. The cause of the problem will help dictate the solution.
As you might have imagined, some problems can be corrected while others cannot.
For instance, if it’s determined that your tree has a disease, there are some evergreen disease treatment options, including fungicides. A tree health care expert can determine if this is necessary. In many cases, a tree will bounce back from disease on its own. It depends on how severely ravaged the tree is.
There are also treatments for many tree pests that are common in New England.
While environmental concerns are out of your control, your watering habits can be corrected if it’s determined that’s what is leading to an evergreen turning brown.
One problem that can be hard to correct is a planting error. If you’ve installed your plants in a location where they are struggling to get what they need to perform their best, it will be a never-ending battle.
Protecting Your Landscape With Tree Care in New England
Figuring out what’s wrong with your landscape can be a challenge if you’re on your own. That’s why partnering with a tree care professional can help set you up for success.
A tree care professional can implement plant health care services that incorporate things like fertilization, disease, and pest control. This will not only help remedy problems but can prevent them from occurring in the first place.
An added benefit of having a professional performing tree care in New England is that they’ll also be scouting for signs of a problem while they are on your property. The earlier that you notice something is wrong, the better.
Along with all that, a professional can implement preventative measures to protect your trees before issues arise. It’s important to recognize that trees can be subject to a number of problems and you want to do what you can to protect them.
Ready for safer and healthier trees at your Southern NH, Southern ME, or Massachusetts home? Request your consultation and get a free quote for tree pruning services. We service properties in and around Stratham, NH, Kittery, ME, and Haverhill, MA. By making a wise choice, you’ll know your trees are in good hands.
Images Sources: needle cast disease
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