Why Does My Red Cedar Tree Look Unhealthy?

Do the branches have large galls on them?

Is the plant defoliated, branches might bear cocoon-like bags on them?

Are the leaves wrinkled and discolored?

Are the leaves yellow, stems and leaves are covered by small bumps?

are the leaves yellow and the whole plant is weakened?

Are the leaves stippled with yellow and the foliage is webbed?

Are the branch tips browned?

Are there any insects or larvae present on your red cedar tree?

Are the branch tips webbed together?

Several fungal diseases spend part of their lifecycle on red cedar trees. Those diseases are Cedar-apple rust, cedar-hawthorn rust, and cedar-quince rust. Cut off and destroy or dispose of galls before early spring. Avoid planting Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and its cultivars, which are very susceptible to rusts.

Bagworms are causing these symptoms. They are small, brown caterpillars that feed inside the silky, white bags they create. Handpick and destroy all the bags. If you notice crawling caterpillars you may have to use insecticide as they can be difficult to get rid of.

Wrinkled and discolored leaves on red cedar trees usually indicate aphids. Several kinds of aphids feed on junipers. These tiny insects can vary in color, green, pink, black, gray and white. Leaves become distorted and later drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Introducing ladybugs will keep their number low. Insecticidal soap or neem oil should be used with severe infestations.

Scales can often be seen infesting junipers. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance with yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying dormant oil just before the growing season.

Juniper mealybugs are known to cause problems to red cedar trees. Their tiny, powdery white adults congregate on the trunks and interior branches, which makes them hard to see until the plant shows symptoms. Control juniper mealybugs by spraying superior oil or repeated application of insecticidal soap.

Leaves stippled with yellow are caused by mites. These tiny, spider-like pests feed by sucking sap from the underside of the plants leaves causing yellow flecking on the upper leaf surfaces. You can control spider mites by spraying plants thoroughly with water 2-3 times a day for several days. For severe infestations, spray plants with insecticidal soap.

Cedar bark beetles may have attacked your plant. The white larvae of this tiny black beetle tunnel under the bark, sometimes killing weakened trees. The adult beetles chew holes in twig crotches, often causing shoot tips to dangle from the branch. Since cedar bark beetles attack only weakened trees, the best control is to keep your plants healthy by watering during dry spells and fertilizing regularly. Pyrethrin spray will deal with invading beetles.

Some fungal blights may have attacked your red cedar. These diseases spread progressively, killing branches or entire plants. Control them by pruning and destroying affected branches on a dry day.

Juniper webworms are caterpillars that create silky strands that web branch tips together. Remove and destroy the nests, and spray with BTK or pyrethrin as a last resort.

If the needle bases are blistered and the tips of the shoots are dead, the most likely culprit is a Juniper midge. The tiny yellow larvae of this pest feed on the bases of needles, damaging shoot tips. Prune off infested parts, then spray the whole plant with insecticidal soap. Clean up debris around the base of the tree to reduce the pest population.