If your western red cedar suddenly shows rusty brown sprays inside the canopy, it may be completely normal, or it may be a sign of something more serious.
Every fall, cedars shed older interior foliage in a process known as flagging. The brown shows up evenly on the inside of the tree while the outer tips stay green, and it drops within a few weeks. Arborvitae and incense cedar go through the same seasonal shedding, which catches many Sherwood homeowners off guard each October.
Western red cedars across the Willamette Valley have also been declining after repeated hot, dry summers. Those warning signs look different: thinning at the top, dead leaders, and browning that starts at the outer branch tips instead of the interior.
Knowing the difference matters. A drought-stressed cedar can often be helped with deep watering and mulch, while a tree with top dieback deserves a closer look from an arborist.
#WesternRedCedar #TreeHealth #SherwoodOR #PortlandMetro
A close-up comparison of normal interior flagging on a cedar next to a cedar with a thinning, dead top, ideally from local job sites. Real photos from the Portland metro are preferred over stock.
Canva text suggestion: "Cedar Flagging or Cedar Dieback?" or "Brown Inside, Green Outside Is Normal"