Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil 3 inches deep to check for dryness.
- Inspect the bark for sunken lesions or sap oozing.
- Check if the browning is isolated to one branch or spread throughout the tree.
Likely causes
Drought stress
Most likelyHow to tell: The needles feel dry and brittle to the touch. This usually happens during hot, dry spells if the tree has not been watered in over 30 days.
What to do: Give the tree a deep soak. Apply 10 to 15 gallons of water slowly around the base to ensure it reaches the deep roots.
Cypress canker
PossibleHow to tell: You will see localized browning on specific branches rather than the whole tree. Look for sunken or cracked areas on the bark near the brown needles.
What to do: Prune out the infected branches 6 inches below the visible damage. Sterilize your pruning shears with rubbing alcohol between each cut to prevent spreading the fungus.
Find out what's wrong with your arizona cypress
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the browning spreads to the main trunk or affects more than half the tree, the plant is in serious trouble. Minor tip browning after a heat wave is often just the tree protecting itself.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule of every 14 to 30 days during dry months. Keep the area around the base clear of debris to improve airflow.
Arizona cypress: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your arizona cypress and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
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Questions people ask
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, once the needles turn brown and dry out, they will not recover. You can prune them off for a tidier look.
- Should I fertilize to help the brown tips?
- Avoid fertilizing a stressed tree. Focus on correcting the water or pruning out the disease first.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Arizona cypress
Back to the Arizona cypress guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.