Expert: Jim Hyland - 5/17/2006

Question
I have a few 15' Leland Cypress that were planted about two months ago.  They seem to be turning brown from the inside out.  Overall the pines look fairly healthy until you look at them closer.  The outer part of the branches are green, but the inside are brown and very dry.  Is this an indicating they are dying?  Please help.  
Thanks, Debra Murphy

Answer
Conifers shed their leaves from the older first(these are the ones on the inner part of the foliage). The stress of planting the tree more than likely triggered the premature shedding.  If the outer is green and healthy and you can see new growht at the ends of the branches there is no problem.  Sounds normal to me.