Browing needles on large Blue Atlas Cedar

[Jman]

Below are pictures of a large and old blue atlas cedar on a high school campus we maintain. The browning of the needles is very recent within a month (i just noticed it Friday). We have had some very warm temperatures locally above the 60 degree mark with cold night that are below freezing. Below are photos of the needles and the overall distribution of the browning needles.

My gut says winter damage because of the large change in temperatures but I would like to know of any blights to the needles I should be looking for. Out of all of those needles on the small branch I took there is 1 small hole on 1 of the needles.

The spotty nature of the overall damage concerns myself.

Thanks in advance for the help!







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[oldoakman]

You guys have had a lot of continuous cold this winter. I would suspect cold injury.

 

[JD3000]

I would second that, predicated on the acknowledgement that I'm not familiar with your recent weather history and I don't know the site or maintenance history, etc.
That said, you can still find them here at garden centers and the occasional wholesale nursery. Never seen one survive more than a few winters here.
Also consider salt impact given the plant's location.

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

@Jman which direction is the damage facing? I would venture to say west or southwest maybe? If so I would for sure go with the winter damage. We are already seeing this type of damage on several trees. The last two years have been brutal weather patterns for trees around here. Last winter we had 60’s, 70’s and 80’s in February and a hard freeze and snow the beginning of March. This year the temps just dropped out, warmed up for a few days and bottomed out again. Certainly not good conditions for tree tissue.

 

[marlinspiker]

Take samples and get them diagnosed by a lab. I have seen several cases of needlecast in Atlas Cedar the last two years.