Wichita Blue Problem

[Xayla]

Hi,

I have 4 Wichita Blues. 2 are over 5', in the ground and 2 are about 2' and are in pots (they were in the spots where the big ones are now). I live in southern Nevada and these are supposed to be great for my area. I bought the larger ones to replace the smaller because I was having problems getting them to be nice and bushy as in the pictures. I really love these junipers because of their blue color and they are the main feature along my front walkway.

However, just as with the smaller ones, I'm having a problem with browning and skimpyness. They look very sad, but all 4 are currently showing new growth throughout the plant...even on twigs that I thought might be dead, but I'm not sure that it will be enough to keep them or if this is a last gasp. I hate replacing them yet again as they were rather pricey. I have 2 Italian Cypress in the same area and they are doing fine.

Any ideas on if they can be perked up and encouraged to bush out?

I have tried to look online to see what the problem may be(fungus, mites, iron deficiency, etc.), but I hesitate because it's difficult to know for sure. Also my local nursery doesn't know what the problem is.

( I just had a disaster and lost 2 1/2 years of honeysuckle because I listened to someone at the nursery, when I showed them leaves... I pulled it all off thinking it was chokeweed and now have to start all over again. Sad, but I got some more mature plants and they will cover the trellis fairly quickly. That person is gone & someone else there was able to help with the honeysuckle problem, but she doesn't know about the wichita blues.)

Sorry for the long post. I can post pics if you want.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

[The Helpful Gardener]

Hot dry always suggests mites to me for evergreens, but phomopsis (juniper twig blight) is more an issue for us here and a regular problem for these plants. Does the foliage look stippled (tiny spots)? Is the tip all right but the plant is browning from the center? That would be mites. Oil sprays are the norm, but NOT in full sun; it will burn the plant. I like neem oil as it also has miticidial properties as well as the oil (suffocating) effect on mites...

Scott

[Xayla]

Yes, the tips mostly seem fine and the browning is closest to the trunks, but the new growth is throughout. I also noticed something that might be described as stippling. And, yes, they are in full sun.

[The Helpful Gardener]

I'm betting on the mites thing; try the neem oil...

[Xayla]

OK, will do. Thank you so very much!

[The Helpful Gardener]

No problemo

[disgruntledgardner]

I too have browning wichita blues. I have 2, they are planted in full sun, on a crest of an incline in our pasture, so good drainage. They are about 6 years old, but still only barely 5 foot. Four years ago, they developed bag worms, we dealt with that problem, by picking them off, spraying and fertilizing, with tree spikes. They have new growth, but 50% are still brown. I read your previous post about if they are turning brown from the inside to the branch tips, it could be mites? I am going to spray with Neem( love that stuff). Had not sprayed again, thinking it was not pest related. Do you have any other suggestions? Could we have fertilized them too much.? My husband put 2 large fertilizing spikes on each, last year. Could that have burned them?
Thank you for any help.
Cathy

[DDMcKenna]

Wow, almost ten years! Welcome DG