Q. Because of the wind the other night the tops of two
Italian Cypress trees broke off about 11 feet off the ground. Do you think this was caused
by lack of water?
We have 18 of
these trees by the back fence. We planted them in 2005 and we have been watering
them for nine minutes, three times a day, six days a week in summer.
As they
grew I didn’t increase the watered until about 3 years ago when I found out
they needed more water. So now I use a hose and water each one about 15 minutes
every 3 weeks in Summer. I’m hoping you
can see by the picture, there seems to be a growth around the area where it
broke off. Do you think this was caused
by lack of water?
grew I didn’t increase the watered until about 3 years ago when I found out
they needed more water. So now I use a hose and water each one about 15 minutes
every 3 weeks in Summer. I’m hoping you
can see by the picture, there seems to be a growth around the area where it
broke off. Do you think this was caused
by lack of water?
 |
| Italian cypress with possible borer damage. Borer weakened the limb and it snapped easily. |
A. I can see the picture quite well, thank you. I don’t
need to know the watering schedule or amounts. Other people have told me that
they think they had borers in Italian cypress. I had never seen borer damage in
Italian cypress in my 30 years in Las Vegas.
need to know the watering schedule or amounts. Other people have told me that
they think they had borers in Italian cypress. I had never seen borer damage in
Italian cypress in my 30 years in Las Vegas.
Well, I
think you have it. This growth you are pointing out in the picture, I think is
growth we typically see AFTER borer damage has occurred. Borers don’t typically
kill a plant overnight, or even in one season, unless the plant is very young
and the damage is extensive. Usually plant decline from borer damage can take
several years.
think you have it. This growth you are pointing out in the picture, I think is
growth we typically see AFTER borer damage has occurred. Borers don’t typically
kill a plant overnight, or even in one season, unless the plant is very young
and the damage is extensive. Usually plant decline from borer damage can take
several years.
Plants can
survive and look like nothing is wrong for several years during annual borer
attacks. Having borer damage depends on a lot of things; how healthy the plant
is, how fast it begins recovery after the attack, how heavily it was attacked,
etc.
survive and look like nothing is wrong for several years during annual borer
attacks. Having borer damage depends on a lot of things; how healthy the plant
is, how fast it begins recovery after the attack, how heavily it was attacked,
etc.
In short,
it is possible that your plants were more susceptible to borer attacks because
of a lack of water during the summer.
it is possible that your plants were more susceptible to borer attacks because
of a lack of water during the summer.
There is
a product for borer control but it would have to be applied once, annually, to
protect the trees. It is a good product and you can find it at your local
nursery.
a product for borer control but it would have to be applied once, annually, to
protect the trees. It is a good product and you can find it at your local
nursery.
In the
meantime, if the disproportionate sizes bother you I would go ahead and lower
them all so they are the same height. They should do just fine if they are
pruned all the same way and I don’t think it will be very noticeable after a
season of growth.
meantime, if the disproportionate sizes bother you I would go ahead and lower
them all so they are the same height. They should do just fine if they are
pruned all the same way and I don’t think it will be very noticeable after a
season of growth.
.jpg) |
| 25 year old Italian cypress with the top removed |