- Causes of brown cypress needles
- Too dry or too humid location
- Fungal diseases discolor the tips of the shoots brown
- Needle tan due to magnesium deficiency
Cypresses are evergreen conifers that are often kept as a privacy screen or as a single tree in the garden or in a tub. If the trees are missing something, the needles turn brown and sometimes yellow. What is the reason for the cypress turning brown?
Nutrient deficiencies are one of the possible causes of cypress browning
Causes of brown cypress needles
If the cypress gets brown needles inside the tree, this is usually a completely normal process. Not enough light gets to the trunk here, so the needles dry up and fall off.
If the tips of the cypress turn brown or if the whole tree is slowly turning brown, care mistakes are usually responsible. Causes can be:
- too humid or too dry location
- nutrient deficiency
- fungal diseases
- magnesium deficiency
Too dry or too humid location
Cypresses do not tolerate absolute drought but also no waterlogging. Especially in winter, drought can become a problem. The conifers must be watered even in the cold season so that they get enough moisture. Water them with slightly warmed water on frost-free days.
Waterlogging is just as harmful. She brings the roots in the rotten. You should create drainage before planting the cypresses, especially on heavy soils.
Cut off brown branches.
Fungal diseases discolor the tips of the shoots brown
A brown discoloration of the shoot tips that was not caused by dryness or moisture often indicates a fungal disease.
Cut off the shoot tips and dispose of them with household waste. Treat the trees with commercial fungicides.
You can prevent fungal diseases by only using clean tools for cutting. Unclean cutting blades can transfer fungal spores from other plants to the cypress.
Needle tan due to magnesium deficiency
In older cypresses, needle tan becomes noticeable because the plants lack magnesium. This is more common in loamy, heavy soils.
To remedy this, sprinkle Epsom salts under the trees. This is best done before budding in spring. Depending on the size of the cypress, you will need 150 to 250 grams of Epsom salt per tree.
tips
If the cypress shows brown tips after the hibernation, it is rarely a case of frost damage, even if cypresses are only conditionally hardy. The brown spots are usually caused by a lack of water in winter.