Italian Cypress

[Blackrat]

I planted three about a year ago, two are doing well but the third has lost all the foliage from the bottom 12inches, the trees are about 6' tall. Will it recover or am I doing something wrong?

[landscaper2]

Italian Cypress dont like an exposed site. Are all three in a similar position and planted in similar ground? If so then I has possibly dried out a little during the summer. It's easily done, as the trees would have been grown in ideal conditions, with drip feed irrigation. When planting, it's imeprative that the rootball is soaked prior to planting and then watered regularly to avoid drying out. If the rootball does dry out, it will not absord water efficiently in spite of your best efforts. Probably wont re-grow unfortunately.

[Thunderbird+]

I agree with landscaper,
Regular watering is esential in the early stages of developement and once they are established, they are quite drought tollerant.
A foot of dead foliage up from the ground dont sound like a lot and will seem less as the tree grows but I think it would be good practice to cut off and destroy any dead material, just to be on the safe side.

[landscaper2]

Thnx for that vote of confidence T/bird! I wonder, could it be an animal peeing up their favourite tree?

[Thunderbird+]

You know what landscaper ? I had the very same thought and almost put it down but changed my mind. It seems highly probable to me that a dog might do that or even maybe a cat or fox doing some scent marking ?
Never a security camera when you need one. Cheers Tbird+

[Robinia]

yep, another vote for foxes spraying too...once they've done it they (& any others) keep on doing it....unless you have a dog Blackrat?