Arborvitae Health Problems and How To Prevent Them

As a Northeast Ohio homeowner favorite, arborvitae are a dense, year-round greenery option. 

People tend to plant arborvitae to create beautiful privacy screens and lush backdrops for other plantings. They are certainly a valued part of the home landscape. 

Since they are so admired and provide so much great screening, you might be concerned when arborvitae problems crop up in your yard.

Whether you have an arborvitae that’s turning yellow or brown or one that’s experiencing other issues, you might be looking to understand how to care for arborvitae to prevent problems, such as:

• Scale (jump to section below)
• Spider Mites (jump to section below)
• Bagworms (jump to section below)
• Lack of Adequate Nutrition (jump to section below)
• Watering Inaccuracies (jump to section below)
• Winter Burn (jump to section below)
• Sunscald (jump to section below)
• Heavy Snowfall Damage (jump to section below)

Let’s dive into common arborvitae bugs and arborvitae diseases, so you can keep your arborvitae healthy and strong.

Common Arborvitae Problems in Northeast Ohio

There are multiple reasons arborvitae problems could crop up on your Northeast Ohio property. 

Here are some of the more common ones we see on home landscapes and how you can combat them. 

Scale

Scale insects like to feed on the sap of your arborvitae with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. 

This activity drains essential fluids from your plants. What you’ll notice is your normally green arborvitae turning yellow in areas from the actions of this arborvitae insect. You may also notice beneath the tree that you see a black soot develop. This comes from the honeydew substance these scale insects excrete that turns to black sooty mold fungus on the plants or items you have near or beneath your tree. 

Scale can linger on your tree. Boosting your tree’s heath with plant health care services in Northeast Ohio and using dormant oil at a specific time of year to fight the scale can help get rid of them. 

Spider Mites

Another arborvitae insect you can find on your trees is spider mites. Although they aren’t actually insects, mites are arachnids, like spiders. 

These tiny pests are tough to see. But you may notice your plant’s color fading before you actually see the mites. Spider mites can create webs in the tree’s needles. This occurs with high populations and will damage affected growth. 

Battling this one can take a specialized product and multiple applications. Consistent warm and dry weather conditions and over pruning shrubs can increase mite populations. Stressed plants are more prone to mite activity. 

Bagworms

You might love your arborvitae, but so do quite a few arborvitae insects, including bagworms. 

These pests make “bags” out of needles to lay their eggs. When the larvae emerge in May through June, they can feed on your tree. These insects will strip branches of needles leaving a twiggy appearance. 

Targeted applications by a professional during and after egg hatch can help reduce pest populations. 

Lack of Adequate Nutrition

Another big issue with arborvitae that can lead to arborvitae problems is malnutrition. 

If your arborvitae is losing color and vigor, it could be due to a lack of nutrients. If your trees aren’t getting the nutrition they need from the soil, fertilizer could be necessary to keep them well-nourished and avoid discoloration and improve health.

Watering Inaccuracies

Watering your arborvitae too much or too little can also cause arborvitae problems. 

This can lead to discoloration, weakening, and other issues that encourage pest and disease infestations. 

Water deeply but infrequently to ensure the soil remains moist but not soggy. Arborvitae should be planted higher than the natural soil so roots are not saturated, which can lead to root rot disease and cause branches to die back.  

Winter Burn

Winter burn can be a common arborvitae problem during colder months. 

This happens when plants lose more water than they can absorb from the frozen ground, causing the leaves to turn brown or die. 

To combat this, you want to water your arborvitae thoroughly in the fall before the first frost and make sure to mulch annually to ensure the soil can retain moisture and the roots are insulated. 

A professional can apply a protective application of anti-desiccants in fall to reduce moisture loss and protect the needles from winter burning. 

Sunscald 

While winter can bring cold days, the sun still comes out. 

This sun can wreak havoc on arborvitae while water freezes under the tree’s bark and then the direct sunlight thaws it, splitting that bark. This can weaken trees and make them more susceptible to arborvitae insects and arborvitae diseases. 

Younger trees are usually more susceptible to sunscald. You’ll likely see browning spots or needle drop as signs it’s happening.

Maintaining proper hydration helps, as well as proper plant location to avoid that afternoon sun. 

Heavy Snowfall Damage

While snow may look light as it’s falling, heavy snow and ice can add up as it accumulates. 

This can cause branch breakage on arborvitae. 

To avoid this arborvitae problem, remember to gently remove snow regularly, especially after 2 inches of accumulation. Lightly wrapping the tree or branches when big storms are imminent can also help. 

Need Plant Health Care Services in Northeast Ohio? Trust Turf Pride

At Turf Pride, we know you have a lot invested in your trees and shrubs. Don’t let the wrath of winter create arborvitae problems for you. We hope this list of common issues helps you keep your trees strong and healthy. 

Need help with winter tree and shrub care in Northeast Ohio? Give us a call. Then you can rest easily by the fireplace inside. 

Want to improve your tree health and prevent common arborvitae problems? Turf Pride can help. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we’ll customize a plan that gives you the most attractive property on the block, protecting your favorite plants and landscape assets.