Help Needed Re:conifers!

[Guest *Ice*]

Why do my conifers keep turning brown and dying off so quickly? Someone mentioned 'wind-burn'? I water them regularly through their leaves/branches but they all seem to just dry up. Any ideas as i dont want to buy some more for this to happen again? (they are in big planters,bought like that).

[Methuselah]

Are they Leylandii, SDI?

[Guest *Ice*]

Are they Leylandii, SDI?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Theyre about 2-3 feet high and 'were' light green.......dont know if that helps!

[Methuselah]

Well, mine (conifers) used to turn brown in early summer every year. I could never decide whether they'd been damaged by cold, dry weather in spring -or, whether the summer was doing it...I pulled 'em up in the end...

[Roo]

Theyre about 2-3 feet high and 'were' light green.......dont know if that helps!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think there is a non-hardy conifer which is light yellowy/green and that size so it maybe that it's not enjoying the british winters.

Sorry, not sure what type, just know we used to have a prticular one which always used to keel over in an exposed spot, but was OK when we put it somewhere more sheltered

[Guest *Ice*]

Well they're on my patio in direct sunlight. Should i then try to relocate them maybe?

[Roo]

I gues that might be it....but ours were never in direct sunlight, it was the winter that did for them...

Might be worth a try moving them though...

[Methuselah]

Are they potted ones?

[Guest *Ice*]

Yeah,in big planters.

[Methuselah]

Roo could well be right then? Try giving them some shelter...

[soggy wales]

Yeah,in big planters.

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Have you tried the water holding pellets, just in case they are getting dried out and thats whats causing it?? just a thought hope it helps

[soggy wales]

Yeah,in big planters.

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BTW are they plastic planters as they do dry out very very quickly

[Guest *Ice*]

Yes SW,they are plastic. Ive just given the garden a 'changing places' make-over. I'll see how they go now.

[Scribbler]

Hi all

It can take a conifer several years to show that it isn't happy. When the leaves all start turning brown then it's usually too late.

The chances are that they were a) frosted or dried out during the winter. Unfortunately a partly browned conifer seldom recovers to look good again.

Pull them up and start again.

[Guest *Ice*]

Good point!

[Methuselah]

Mine were meant to be a hedge...They were useless!

[flagpole]

You said you water them through their branches. You're not getting water on the actual branches/leaves are you? If you are, you could be scorching the plant.

[Guest *Ice*]

You said you water them through their branches. You're not getting water on the actual  branches/leaves are you? If you are, you could be scorching the plant.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Erm,yes i do water them from ontop aswell as into the soil itself.....oooops!

[Terminal Moraine]

Scribbler is correct in saying that a conifer can take a long time to show that it doesn't like its conditions.

The most likely causes of conifers in pots turning brown are;

The pots became waterlogged or froze during the winter

The soil has dried out at some time

An alternation between too wet and too dry.

There are a few conifers/evergreens which will make a recovery from turning brown ie Yew, Thuja, some Cypresses, Juniper as these species are able to send new shoots from old wood.

The majority however will either never recover or will take a very long time for the green and living part to fill in and cover the brown and dead.

If the brown and dead covers more than 30% of the plant I'd give up and start again unless they belong to the first list of species mentioned above.

Generally speaking plastic pots are better for water retention than clay as the latter lose water via evaporation through the pot itself. Try standing the pots in a pot saucer in summer, if you forget to water there will be enough retained in the saucer to keep the plant going for a day or two. If you use pot saucers, remember to remove them during the winter or the plant is likely to become waterlogged.

As mentioned in previous posts, some conifers will turn brown due to cold, dry winds in winter. Green Cupressus are not particularly susceptible but the gold varieties are. The only answer is to plant or position the trees/shrubs in an area sheltered from the north, north east and east.

Watering through the foliage won't cause conifers to turn brown but a late frost on new growth will. Scorching due to watering over the foliage is more likely on soft leaved plants such as Begonias or Dahlias and it's best not to water any flowers (as opposed to leaves) in direct sunlight.

Let's hope your plants recover.

T.M

[Osbourne One-Nil]

They sounds like dwarf false-Cypresses to me, in which case you should count your blessings that they appear to be dying, because it'll free the pots up for something nice.

[Scribbler]

Hi Folks

OON – what a good comment. The Government are actually doing their best to stamp the bloody things out, aren’t they? (Well, as hedging, anyway!)

TM – excellent! Do you want a job at our local Garden Centre ‘cos the monkeys there all need shooting!

[Portland Paul]

Hi Folks

OON – what a good comment.  The Government are actually doing their best to stamp the bloody things out, aren’t they? (Well, as hedging, anyway!)  :lol:

TM – excellent!  Do you want a job at our local Garden Centre ‘cos the monkeys there all need shooting! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agreed!

I'd much rather grow a nice Acer, Camellia or a Hosta in a pot in the shade, and pots of Lavender in the sun.

The only heging conifer I like is the western red cedar, for it's delicious apple scent and shiny green leaflets. As a specimen conifer, I'd go for the deciduous larch for it's awesome autumn hues.

[Guest *Ice*]

Agreed!

I'd much rather grow a nice Acer, Camellia or a Hosta in a pot in the shade, and pots of Lavender in the sun.

The only heging conifer I like is the western red cedar, for it's delicious apple scent and shiny green leaflets. As a specimen conifer, I'd go for the deciduous larch for it's awesome autumn hues.

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Yeah,like im gonna know what they are! :lol:

[Portland Paul]

Yeah,like im gonna know what they are!    

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I'll give you some descriptions when time permits, over the weekend.

[SP1986]

I's love to give advice, but I hate conifers, they are one of the more boring species in my opinion