If the cypress in the garden turns yellow or the hedge develops yellow needles, it is almost always a care error. Cypress trees require more care than other hedge plants. How to prevent needles from turning yellow.
Why does a cypress tree turn yellow and how to treat it?
If a cypress tree gets yellow needles, there may be causes such as lack of water, waterlogging, nutrient-poor soil, incorrect fertilizer or frost damage. Regular watering, well-drained soil, Epsom s alt fertilization and frost protection measures can help.
Causes why a cypress tree turns yellow
Brown or yellow needles are always a sign of improper cypress care. A brown discoloration inside is a normal process that is usually hardly noticeable. Simply shake off the needles. Sometimes it makes sense to cut the cypress so that more light can reach the inside of the tree.
It's different with yellow and brown needles at the tips. They indicate that the tree is missing something. Causes can be:
- too little water
- Waterlogging
- Soil too poor in nutrients
- wrong fertilizer
- Frost Damage
Never let cypress trees dry out
Cypresses don't like waterlogging at all, but the roots shouldn't dry out completely. You need to water a cypress tree regularly, preferably with rainwater. This is especially true for cypresses in pots.
To avoid waterlogging, the soil must be well-drained so that rainwater can drain away. You should definitely put a drainage layer in a bucket.
Fertilize cypress properly
It is often recommended to fertilize cypress trees with blue grain. This is not recommended because, on the one hand, blue grain is poisonous to animals and, on the other hand, it promotes the yellowing of cypresses.
If the cypress gets yellow needles, you should fertilize it with Epsom s alt (€9.00 on Amazon). Dissolve the s alt in water and water the cypress with it. This ensures that the fast-growing tree receives sufficient nutrients.
Avoid frost damage
Cypresses are only partially hardy. They can only tolerate sub-zero temperatures for a short period of time. If the tree has had too much frost, the needles will also turn yellow.
Water shortage is even worse in winter. Cypress trees need regular watering, even during the cold season. Pour some warmed water on frost-free days.
Tip
Cypress trees come in very different shades. The color palette ranges from lush and bright green to blue and yellow. The golden cypress forms yellow needles and therefore looks particularly good as a single tree.
