Asked on Aug 02, 2021

How to take care of this Tree & Bush?

Percy Pinto
by Percy Pinto

They say...ignorance is bliss, who is kidding who? Help me go past ignorance here. I have this tree and few bushes, they seem to have their leaves constantly turning brown. I live in Zone 8 - North Texas. Question 1: What plant species are these? 2. How do I make them healthy? Thank you for shedding light into my ignorance.

This is a bush, how do i solve the browning of leaves?

This is a tree, how do i solve the browning of leaves and make the trunk of the tree stronger, healthier?

  18 answers
  • Dee Dee on Aug 02, 2021

    Right now in Texas everything is growing badly. First the February freeze and then the 40+ days of rain, and now the heat. Have you tried feeding with a balanced 10 10 10 fertilizer? I lost trees and bushes, but when i fed the rest all came back.

    • See 1 previous
    • Dee Dee on Aug 07, 2021

      yes it is an all purpose fertilizer. Just remember to water in well.

  • Em Em on Aug 02, 2021

    It looks like a cypress. Water it more often. I have a really large one that the inside by the trunk gets 'cleaned out' once a year. The outer tips of branches are green but the pieces close to the trunk are brown. I clip them out (just the brown) once a year. Fertilizer once every 4 months. Pull all weeds from below and around as they drink up what the tree/shrub needs to stay healthy.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Aug 02, 2021

    It looks like you have some weeds growing into it. From this photo, I'm thinking drought & high heat.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Aug 02, 2021

    the two are growing together it looks like so pull out the shrub or bush whatever it is and cut back the cypress type plant and clean out from around it and water well and it should be fine


  • Mogie Mogie on Aug 02, 2021

    Pull the weed that is growing in the middle of this bush. Take a cutting and go to your local nursery and show them. This is the best thing to do unless you have an app that will id the plant a picture.

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Aug 02, 2021

    Treat them with a fungicide and spray them with Neem Oil. Water deeply. Apply Epsom Salt 1 tbs. to the bush, 2 tbs. to the tree. Give them Miracle Gro Evergreen Spikes.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Aug 02, 2021

    Pull out the weeds, this is usually easier after rain or watering. Trim out the dead brown branches, they will not come back to life.

    Since TX is in the middle of a drought , you'll have to water your trees preferably in the early morning. Also tree stakes to fertilize it work well to replace missing nutrients, get a specific stake for best results. Remember trees are slow growers so an immediate response by them should not be expected.

    They look to be somewhere in the Cypress family of trees. Take a photo and a sample branch to a local nursery and ask what can be done other than what has been suggested.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Aug 02, 2021

    the smaller plant/bush looks like privet which is an evasive plant that spreads and should be pulled up


  • Just cut these brown leaves. It's fine to pluck dead leaves or stems with your hands when possible, by ensuring that you are not pulling too hard or you may damage the healthy part of your plant. And also check to make sure the plant is getting enough water.

  • They seem to be very distressed - probably from weather. I would check with a local nursery for their advice, but sometimes, they just need to be replaced.

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Aug 02, 2021

    After the fall trim down old pieces and next year will come back twice as big

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Aug 03, 2021

    Hello. For the best local professional advice I would highly suggest contacting your cooperative extension. These offices are manned by volunteer master gardeners on site there waiting to answer the communities questions that know your local situation quite well.

    Master gardeners are required to volunteer back designated hours ( plus continuing education) each year to maintain MG certification -this community outreach and education is their goal.


    Most plants success depend on their hardness to geographic planting zones. presenting weather conditions and local soil and sunlight exposure.

    Your local experts should have the ideal suggestions for improving your plant health.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Aug 04, 2021

    Hello,

    Looks like a conifer. Buy yourself a cheap book on them (eBay)? and read up all you can on there care and right conditions for them to thrive, or go to a garden centre and take a picture with you and ask for advice. Best wishes

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Aug 06, 2021

    Just pull weeds there maintenances free

  • Sharon Sharon on Aug 08, 2021

    That thing looks like its long past its prime, and its right up against the house - nothing good ever comes from that. I would chop it all out. Go to the nursery and get something nice for your area..... like a bouganvillea.

  • It sounds like you've gotten a lot of great advice here. I am not a gardener, so I always go to the local nursery and ask when I run into trouble, since they always know what's local, what the issues are and how to remedy them. I wish you luck!