Question
Our Leland Cypress Trees are getting yellow on the tips and from the bottom up.  Upon our research, we believe it to be Cercospora Needle Blight.  It was suggested to get Kocide to apply.  We live in the northwest suburb of Atlanta, GA. What is your suggestion on this and do you know the rate to which apply this product?
As a side not, there is a line of 14 trees and recently I made a rock border about 4 feet down the front of the trees and filled it in heavily with mulch to help keep in mositure during the hottest part of summer. After seeing the trees  start to brown, I removed the mulch thinking they were not getting enough water afterall.  Do you think that may have caused them not to get enough water and start drying out?  I've had one tree in particular that for over a year I've tried to bring back with heavy fertilizing.  I've drilled holes all around the base of the trees and fertilized heavily also.  Do you think it is the bottoms up disease or the cercospora needle blight?  Do you agree to try the Kocide?  Any information you could provide would be very helpful.  Thanks in advance for your time.  Looking forward to hearing from you soon.


Answer
Sounds like Needle Blight. I would use the Kocide --the rate of application will be on the label of the product. Make sure it gets on all the foliage. Usually this treatment is done in the spring but with the symthoms you discribe I would go ahead and use it now. I would stop the fertilizing until the tree recovers and put the mulch back (the mulch will help hold the water for the roots. Mulch should not be deeper than 3 inches to keep down compaction from the mulch.