Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the soil is bone dry.
- Examine the bark for sunken lesions or cracks.
- Prune off one brown branch to inspect the wood inside.
Likely causes
Drought Stress
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown, especially during hot or dry summer months.
What to do: Water the tree deeply once the top 3 inches of soil feel dry. Ensure you soak the ground slowly so the water 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 foliage.
What to do: Prune out the affected branches at least 6 inches below the visible damage. Sterilize your pruning shears with alcohol between every cut to prevent spreading the fungus.
When to worry
If you see sunken lesions on the main trunk, the tree is in serious danger. Brown tips on the very outer edges are often just a sign of minor dehydration.
Stopping it coming back
Avoid wounding the tree with lawn equipment and maintain a consistent watering schedule to keep the tree resilient.
Not sure which one it is? Photograph your italian cypress.
This page lists the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at your actual leaf and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Is brown tip the same as Cypress Canker?
- Not always. Brown tips are often caused by dry soil, while Cypress Canker is a specific fungal disease that causes branch dieback.
- Should I fertilize a tree with brown tips?
- No, avoid fertilizing a stressed tree. Focus on correcting the water and pruning away the dead parts first.
More problems with Italian Cypress
Back to the Italian Cypress guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.