Browning of Arborvitaes (evergreens)



Specks on paper are Spider Mites



After viewing some pictures a client brought in I was pretty certain of what I was seeing but really needed to make certain.  The eleven year old hedge of Arborvitae was impressive but at a glance you could see the off color nature of the plants.  Arborvitae are generally a nice green color but some of these were exhibiting a very off green to brown appearance.  Upon a visit and a simple paper test (where I place a piece of white paper under the limb then tap the limb) I discovered a large spider mite population.  The paper was covered with tiny black specks that begin to move around. It turns out that these particular ones are the Spruce Spider Mite and affect a ton of different evergreens in the landscape.  For control methods see the UK publication Spider Mites on Landscape Plants.

Notice the Discoloration of the forward plant versus the on in the rear of the picture

Theodore Klein award winning plants

Crytomeria japonica 'Yoshino'

In the state of Kentucky we are lucky to have a committee of very qualified individuals review many plants over the years and provide us with a list that would make any landscape proud.  These award winners are selected based on the selectors practical experience with these plants and the plants qualitites being proven in various parts of the state.  In other words we know the plants work and provide lots of good attributes.  The following is a list of the 2012 award winners but by clicking on Theodore Klein you can see all the winners since 1999. 

• Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘Blue Ice’
• Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ 
• Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’ 
• Hypericum x ‘Blue Velvet’ 
• Lagerstromia indica x faueri hydrids. Examples: ‘Acoma’, ‘Hopi’, 'Nachez'