Cedar Insect problem?

Hello All,

One of my customers has 5 cedars of about 10 years old that have some die back (but still show some new growth). There is woodpecker evidence that indicates some sort of insects but I'm unable to see or id any insects.

Last fall I tried some Espoma dried blood and through waterings. This spring I cleaned out the lower branches (mostly dead) and noticed many "berries".

I know some trees will produce more seeds when stressed. Anyway I've been told by the owner that basically for 10 years nothing was done but a very rare pruning to get the branches out of the driveway.

Again, this spring there are some fresh woodpecker holes and there is some new growth but overall the trees are fading.

Is there anything can we spray to eliminate an insect problem ?

What can I do to save these trees?

Thanks,
Steve

 

Definitely not cedars, they look more like junipers or cypresses of some sort.

The damage may be by sapsuckers, a species of woodpecker that makes holes in the bark and then drinks the sap that comes out, and eats insects also attracted to the sap. The damage doesn't look severe. But don't try plugging the holes with anything, that risks disrupting the tree's natural wound occlusion growth.

 

Don't know about bark but geographic location and foliage appearance suggest eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana). Any crown decline being seen probably due to confinement of roots by planter. Pattern of holes in trunk definitely like that made by sapsuckers.

 

I thought they were eastern redcedar. There are a lot of Sapsucker holes.

 

If there are bugs damaging the foliage what needs to be done first is finding out what kind of bugs they are. You might try New York Cooperative Extension for help with that.

 

It is not all that common for insects to damage the older lower growth when there is such tender fresh growth farther up. Besides Aphids and possible Cypress Tip Moth, I'm not to sure what other pests even do that type of damage to those trees.

How much light do those lower branches get, tailpipe fumes from automobiles. Soil packed up several inches above the root crown causing stress? Amount of water available, salt from ice melter? These kind of factors also look similar to the damage shown as well as insect possibilities.