Question
I have two Pyramid Cedars about 3 feet tall that my girlfriend planted 2 years ago. She lives in Mississauga Ontario.
On the inside of the cedars there are dry leaves (dead patches) and turning brown almost like a "rust colour". The trees were not wrapped in burlap during the winter. If I were to cut the branches off at the base will new growth appear??
I do know from past experiance that cedars like a higher acidic/ ph balance could this be the problem??
Thank you...
Russ

Answer
Hi Russ, Most cedars will not re-sprout from old wood. Internal browning is a normal process. The oldest foliage on the inside is shed each year. Sections dying out can be caused by disease, insufficient sun or ice/snow damage which bends the limbs and damages the cambium layer.
They need 8+ hours of sun, so often the side against a house or another plant shades out.
If they look ugly, I'd replace them.  Jim