I recently repotted a cypress tree and noticed today it's going brown from the top down. What could this mean?
No dogs or cats. Just pigeons. They do like to perch above. Could their droppings have affected the acidity of the soil? It's on a south-facing balcony but fairly secluded from the wind.
Dieback, but not dead. It has a good chance of recovery if given good conditions. It looks like one of the semi-juvenile cultivars of Monterey Cypress Cupressus macrocarpa, perhaps 'Goldcrest'. These are not overly hardy, so I'd suspect it may well be frost damage you have there, given the cold winter that Vancouver has been reported on this forum as having.
Long-established seedling of typical green wild parent and smallish but established specimen of a golden form both discolored by this winter's cold on Camano Island. However, appearance of specimen shown makes me think it may be transplanting shock. Or maybe both. When you disturb roots at planting (bare-rooting and examination of roots at planting a good idea due to pandemic occurrence of rootbound nursery stock) you may have to provide special watering and protection for awhile afterward to compensate.
Thanks all. Would you elaborate, Ron B? Have to admit I didn't bareroot it when transplanting. Also, I had to carry it on my bike which must have been stressful, I suppose.