Brown foliage inside a western red cedar in fall is usually normal shedding, not a dying tree. Across Snohomish and King County, cedars drop older interior foliage every autumn in a process called seasonal flagging.
The pattern tells the story. Normal flagging is spread evenly through the inner crown while the branch tips stay green. Browning that starts at the top, thinning across the whole crown, or dead tops on several cedars in a row usually point to drought stress built up over several dry summers, and sometimes to root problems.
Western red cedars have struggled in the lowlands of western Washington, and a cedar with a dying top can drop dead wood onto roofs, driveways, and play areas. Arbor Vet Tree Service gives homeowners an honest read on which cedars are simply shedding and which ones need attention. In many yards, the right answer is to leave a healthy cedar alone.
#WesternRedCedar #PNWTrees #SnohomishCounty #TreeHealth
A real close-up of a western red cedar on a client property showing rusty, brown interior foliage with green branch tips, paired with a wider shot of the full tree. If available, a contrasting photo of a cedar with a thinning or dead top helps show the difference. Authentic photos strongly outperform stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Brown Inside, Green Tips: Usually Normal" or "Watch the Top of Your Cedar"