Don’t worry! They’ll be just fine!
Chances are your cedars are fine! While most everyone knows that deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall, what isn’t as well known perhaps is that conifers lose some of their needles too. Of course, there is the Tamarack which lose all of their needles but they’re classified as deciduous conifers!
It’s known as ‘flagging’ or ‘seasonal foliage loss’. If it’s late summer/early fall and the older foliage of your cedars have turned a brown-orange colour, chances are it’s due to a natural and normal process! These are dropped so that water and other resources can reach and support the new growth.
While your cedars may appear unhealthy in the fall, they should look better come spring. The older, brown foliage will fall to the ground with fall and winter weather. In the spring you should see new growth. If, however, the top third of your cedars are brown and there isn’t any new growth, this could indicate another issue that may need more attention.
Some degree of flagging will occur each year, with some years experiencing more than others. You can help your cedars by watering them during dry summer conditions and by minimizing disturbance to the soil around your cedars and to their roots.
