Question

tree   QUESTION: Hello i have some arborvitaes trees that are 10 years old they have just started to brown. Pictures are attached pleas e help

ANSWER: Paul:
Thanks for the photo. I would suspect that the yellowing is probably related to a root or soil related stress.  Consider examining the base of the main stem- look for any injury to the bark.  Check for any digging that might injure the roots.. Water, excess or lack of could be an issue.  These are some ideas to start with.  Spider mites to the leaves can cause yellowing, especially if it has been unusually hot and dry.

Check those things- they may be a good start.  Always consider contacting your local county Extension office (in the white pages for govt. offices)and arrange for someone to com out and see the trees in person.

You may also consider contacting the local garden center or nursery for some advise also.  Seeing the tree can be very valuable in diagnosis.

Steve

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QUESTION: Im in the northeast and we had a very wet spring and the month of June also then August was dry. Should i left them alone ,use fertilize? Any suggestions

ANSWER: Paul:
I would probably hold off on any fertilizer right now since fall and winter are just around the corner. You could use this time to have a soil sample checked for nutrition as well as pH. Just contact your local county Extension office and they can give you instructions for collecting/submitting.  Your local garden center may help with this also. By getting a sample evaluated (usually it is free through Extension office), you will have a baseline to start with in the spring- that is you will know from the results/recommendations what needs to be added to the soil and what to use if anything is necessary. This is much better than "shooting in the dark".

If you strike out with finding your Extension office location and telephone number, let me know and I can look up that information.  I would need to know your state and county of residence to look it up.

Regards
Steve

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QUESTION: Can you help me get a number for my local extenstion office? im in Newport county Rhode Island

Answer
Paul:
I contacted the Extension service in your state just a few minutes ago and was told that there are no individual county Extension offices. There is a plant "Hot Line" you can call and talk with a "real" person about your plants. That number is 1-800-448-1011 (Mon.- Thurs. 9- 2 pm).  Another number available to try is 1-401-874-2900 if the other is unsuccessful.

Hope this helps!

Steve