Native Plants

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Monday - May 11, 2009

From: San antonio, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders, Trees
Title: Why are my Junipers turning brown in San Antonio?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

My Texas mountain cedars (junipers, I know) are turning brown, limb by limb. What is the problem and how do I save what looks like a dying tree.

ANSWER:

I am afraid I don't know what is ailing your junipers. From the symptoms that you described, it could be:

too much water
too little water
juniper scale (an insect disease)
spider mites
juniper twig blight ( fungal disease)

The key to the answer is careful observation of the sick trees. I've included some websites that will help you interpret what you find.

Kansas State Research and Extension has a down-loadable publication titled "Juniper Diseases" that covers fungal diseases of Juniper.

Clemson Extension has an article titled "Juniper Diseases and Insect pests".

New Mexico State University Extension has a nice discussion of spidermites.

A source of help closer to home of course is the Bexar County office of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service which can put you in touch with the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.