My Husband And I Landscaped Our Front Yard This Last…
Darlene Asked
My husband and I landscaped our front yard this last spring. We bordered our lawn with cedars and planted a variety of evergreen trees inside the perimeter. Recently, we have noticed that both the cedars and the evergreens are yellowing in the center of the trees. We have no idea what the cause is: could it be climatization, lack of an essential nutrient, or what?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hi, Darlene: It can be very alarming when we see our evergreens turn yellow/brown and if this were happening any other time of the year it would be cause for concern, but it is perfectly normal for evergreens, including cedars, to shed their older interior foliage at this time of year. This natural process is known as fall needle drop and as long as it is just the inner foliage of the plant turning there is nothing to be worried about. Before the winter arrives it is important to make sure the soil is not bone-dry. If evergreens do not have sufficient moisture before the ground freezes it will make them more susceptible to winter damage/burn. It is also important to apply a thin layer of mulch, no more than 2 inches thick, to help insulate the roots. If you have not already done so go ahead and mulch around all of your evergreens. Do not pile it up around the base of the trunk; instead, thin it evenly out to the drip line. We do not want to encourage new growth at this time of the year so avoid fertilizing until the spring.
