Given how lush and healthy they usually look, Leylands turning brown can be alarming. These evergreens are notable for their rapid growth, feathery needles, and flat branches. When they reach their adult height, specimens have a noble, pyramid-like shape and provide attractive winter cover for various game and songbirds. Plus, the trees can be pruned regularly without adverse effects.
If they are turning brown, the first thing you need to do is identify the reason. Understanding what is ailing your Leyland cypress will help you pinpoint the solution. Read on for some of the possibilities you should consider.
Temperature Changes Can Harm Trees
Although Leylands are typically hardy in cold weather, sudden temperature shifts can be harmful. They don’t tolerate rapid fluctuations well, and extended periods of windy weather can dry them out. Since Leylands are commonly used to break wind gusts and protect against the elements, they are more susceptible to this type of damage.
Extreme temperature swings can kill off the water-conducting layer within the tree, contributing to browning over time. Dieback, when leaves begin to die from their tips inward, is another symptom of weather-based damage in Leylands.
Leylands and Canker Diseases
Your trees could also be changing color due to diseases such as cankers. Caused by a fungus, it can lead to branch dieback that eventually moves into the cypress’s main trunk if the issue isn’t handled. If this occurs, the entire tree can die, but you can avoid it by looking for signs of canker disease.
Symptoms can manifest as sunken patches on branches, usually dark brown. You might also notice small fungal growths within the cankers. The tips of impacted branches tend to turn brown or yellow.
Cypresses and the Blight
Blight is a plant disease that causes accelerated browning and death in leaves and branches. Kabatina tip blight is a variation of the affliction that causes Leyland shoots to turn brown and scarlet. Blight produces discolored needles that begin brown and turn gray before potentially falling early.
Blight damages branches and slows down a tree’s growth, but death can occur if the damage is extensive enough. Specimens could also die if their growth is overly stunted before the seasons change. Removing affected areas cleanly can help ease the disease’s severity.
How Do I Treat for Leylands Turning Brown?
If your Leyland cypress tree has browned, you can’t reverse the damage already there. Allow for new growth before pruning. If the branch has sustained damage too severely and you don’t see any, try pruning higher on the branch where you can still see green.
Talk to our friendly professionals at Engram’s Tree Service today for guidance on caring for your tree or answers regarding Leylands turning brown. We are here to answer your questions and provide the expert tree services you need.