Our cedar trees are turning brown.. what should we do?

Question

We transplanted fifteen 5 foot high cedars two years ago. Some died before last summer and were replaced. Now quite a few are brownish again. We have had discussions about root watering, and I frankly feel they have never gotten quite enough. Is it too late to turn this around by adding nutrients or watering copiously now? What IS enough water? Would a soaking hose be the way to go?

Answer 1

a nice soaking hose is definately the way to go and at the same time pick up some miracid for feedings 2x per week.  pour onto the foliage as well as the root base.  trim some on the dead bottom branches and cross your fingers.

Answer 2

I always was told that they never turn brown.. they always stay green... but what i would do if that is happining is definitally try to keep them living. water them alot and try whatever you can to keep them alive.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

Did you plant them in their burlap and wire wraps?  I bet you did.  That used to be the recommendation.  However, the current horticultural advice is to remove the burlap and wire because what happens is the tree will do fine at first but since it can take YEARS for the burlap to decompose, the root system cannot expand.  The wire poses problems with the roots as well.  Additionally, the past advice was to modify the dirt in the hole in which the tree was being planted.  Now, the advice is to plant the tree in the exact same dirt you dug from the hole because the roots tend to stay in the modified dirt rather than root/branch out to the surrounding soil.  

If this is what has happened, I'm afraid you're most likely going to lose the trees.  

One thing you should do is carefully check the trees for insects and worms.  I have some that were getting hammered by Gypsy moths worms.  I had to meticulously pick the worms off each tree and now the damage seems to be halted.  

Good luck.  I know how sad it is to lose trees.  I lost 5 Firs last year.  I am passing the information along to you that I've learned since then.