Q.Dying hinoki cypress
I live in zone 7 just north of Atlanta. We had a 6-ft Hinoki cypress installed in the spring on the front corner of our house that faces northeast. We fertilized the small tree spring and fall with fertilizer stakes and watered it throughout an unusually hot and dry summer. Now the inside needles from about 2 inches out from the trunk have turned yellow brown. I have a photo if there is an email address I can send it to. Is there any way to save this tree? Any help appreciated.
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
I suspect that it may be dying from stress or from a fungus, but should be able to tell more if I can see how the problem is affecting it. Please go ahead and send the picture to questions@gardeningknowhow.com.
The interior foliage may be dying back due to a lack of light, but it may also be a fungus that is attacking the interior due to a lack of air circulation. The lack of light issue is somewhat normal, but it is not normally that abrupt and severe. Has something happened that may have limited the light to the plant recently? As a precaution, I would recommend treating the plant with a fungicide. If the interior die off is due to a fungus, this will help to clear it up.
