Deodar Cedar Needle Drop

[hedgehog79]

We have a very large deodar cedar in our front garden which is dropping a lot of needles. The amount of needles is about 1 wheelie bin full (so I supposed about 2 to 3 cubic meters worth) a month.

 

The tree looked quite healthy last year but this year I've noticed the tips of the branchlets at the top of the tree are all browning and this does extend downwards throughout some but not all parts of the tree. It also seems to be carrying a lot more deadwood.

 

I understand that these trees routinely drop needles but what is a healthy sort of level? Is there any way that I can reduce the quantity of needle drop? I'd really appreciate some guidance.

[RobArb]

And shows why it's always important to get the site history:thumbup:

 

Sent from my Galaxy S2

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

And shows why it's always important to get the site history:thumbup:

 

Sent from my Galaxy S2

 

nah, some of us get it right cos were THAT good:lol:

[hedgehog79]

Great, thanks for your time. A good job lifting slabs for my husband this bank holiday weekend!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Great, thanks for your time. A good job lifting slabs for my husband this bank holiday weekend!

 

ha ha ha we will be getting the blame then! he is going to love arbtalkers!

 

on a serious note youll save this tree, almost certainly the effects will be seen within a couple of years, get a good mulch down on the soil too.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

almost forgot, some tea leafs (broken teabags) and a few bits of cardoard will help the soil biology along a treat. Worms love the fish oils in the cardboard glues and the teas

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

a good sprinkle of blood fish and bone meal too if you can. (garden centres)

[hedgehog79]

Awesome, thanks so much.

[Mr. Bish]

I had an old yew to deal with once in almost the same condition. Cleared all the (railway sleepers in that instance) and builders sand put in 10 years previously. Overdosed the soil with fish blood and bone Then left a hose pipe on it foe an unreasonable amount of time. That was four years ago.

The tree started showing marked improvement after about 2.5 years. As everyone has said The tree should survive but you will have to be very patient and it may not look better straight away.

 

Then in abouut 4 or five years come back and pay one of us to go through and clear out the deadwood and you should once again have an absolute beauty of a tree there :-) Nice to see someone who is actually trying to help the tree for a change :-) *thumbs up*

 

The usual customer we would speak to about that tree would be something more like "I love trees but I just cant handle the needles, nothing will grow underneath and we get no light in our kitchen. It's got to go."

[Lee Winger]

the slabs are its biggest problem, changes like laying a non permeable soil covering take at least ten years to show up

 

 

Not always the case Tony I've some trees, Oaks especially show signs of distress within a 2 years

[Lee Winger]

I had an old yew to deal with once in almost the same condition. Cleared all the (railway sleepers in that instance) and builders sand put in 10 years previously. Overdosed the soil with fish blood and bone Then left a hose pipe on it foe an unreasonable amount of time. That was four years ago.

The tree started showing marked improvement after about 2.5 years. As everyone has said The tree should survive but you will have to be very patient and it may not look better straight away.

 

Then in abouut 4 or five years come back and pay one of us to go through and clear out the deadwood and you should once again have an absolute beauty of a tree there :-) Nice to see someone who is actually trying to help the tree for a change :-) *thumbs up*

 

The usual customer we would speak to about that tree would be something more like "I love trees but I just cant handle the needles, nothing will grow underneath and we get no light in our kitchen. It's got to go.''

 

I don't always think soaking the root zone with a hose is always advisable, its ok if you've used a decompator to fracture the soil first

 

Using a decompaction tool improvements, can be seen the following year, with leaf colour and or extension growth