HelpfulGardener.com

Hi, All! Kim here.

I recently moved to the KC area and am having troubling with two large evergreens in the backyard (west side). I have a pair of these trees. They both have an excessive amount of dead branches (dry, brittle, break easily) in their centers, but only the one I have photos of has the parasitic-like vine growing up its center and out the top. Can anyone tell me what kind of trees they are, what's wrong, and whether or not they can be saved?

[img]https://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/Luv2dig/sicktree002.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/Luv2dig/sicktree005.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/Luv2dig/sicktree006.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/Luv2dig/sicktree008.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/Luv2dig/sicktree010.jpg[/img]

The tree in the picture is definitely an arborvitae (also called Thuja). What variety I can't say, but I can tell you it doesn't look terribly unhealthy. Remove all of the "parasitic" vine and as much of its roots as possible and check every year to make sure it doesn't come back. Likewise, remove any dead Thuja branches. What is your water and fertilizer schedule like?