Western Red Cedar growth habit

[ine stine]

Hello peeps

Have just signed up as I am hoping to find out the best approach to a Western Red Cedar i've been asked to look at. It is a beautiful specimen - had enough space to develop those large looping branches on all sides of the base which have grown to around half the height of the central leader. However, the central leader has been sparse for the past 2 years althoug the surrounding foliage supported by the offshootsfrom around the base is in perfect health so looks like a seperate tree. Do these trees have a habit of withdrawing energy from the main stem to continue living through the surrounding stems....I know they can live for centuries! At the moment I am considering reducing the leader. Can anyone help please?

[nepia]

Hello peeps

Have just signed up as I am hoping to find out the best approach to a Western Red Cedar i've been asked to look at. It is a beautiful specimen - had enough space to develop those large looping branches on all sides of the base which have grown to around half the height of the central leader. However, the central leader has been sparse for the past 2 years althoug the surrounding foliage supported by the offshootsfrom around the base is in perfect health so looks like a seperate tree. Do these trees have a habit of withdrawing energy from the main stem to continue living through the surrounding stems....I know they can live for centuries! At the moment I am considering reducing the leader. Can anyone help please?

 

1) Welcome to the forum.

2) I know a very similar tree, dbh perhaps 60". The leader took a lightning strike 10+ years ago that split one of the stems, travelled though the roots and threw a brick over a 20' high greenhouse next to the tree.

The leader isn't dead yet but it's been in decline since the strike but, as I say, that was 10 years ago or more.

Could your tree have suffered similarly at some stage?

 

Jon

[ine stine]

Thanks Jon - your my first reply!...i didn't see any sign of possible lightning hit. The main stem looked fine, was just the foliage looking ropey.