hello everyone, I have seven italian cypresses six to seven ft. apart, I planted them six years ago one suddenly died last year and I replaced it with one the same size as the rest, now they're aprox. 8 to 9 ft. tall. they were all nice and green during and after winter time, now I noticed that two are turning brownish and dry but at the same time there's tiny little green branches popping out from the trunk, they look bad, green in some parts and really dry in others. I don't water these trees with dripping lines, they get the water from the sprinkle system 5 mins. in the morning and 5mins. in the evening, the weird thing is that last year it happened exactly the same thing but only with one of these two during summer time last year and slowly turning green when we were getting close to fall-winter, I really don't have a clue if I'm watering to much or not. and why the other trees look green from the outside and when I stick my hands through the branches they look dryish from the inside, it's getting hard for me to understand these trees. I had a dream long time ago that I had these 7 or 8 italian cypresses lined up tall and green, it would be so sad that now that they're 8 to 9 ft. tall I'll have to chop them down because I let them die. please HELP !!! oh !! and by the way last year I started using this liquid food from Miracle Grow every 2 weeks and it seems it was working good now I started to use it again two weeks ago, should I keep using it, should I stop using it, what kind of food or fertilizer is good for these trees ? thx. Rudy.

Yes, should make some recovery before winter. But you will not have any bloom from cut parts for a time. Note: currently accepted name of plant is easier to say 'Frades'.

Based on the photos, it looks like you are just east of Twin Cities near the St Croix river. You will have more options than most other areas of the state because it is warmer and wetter (it's all relative!) Couple of things to consider: 1) rural MN in that area is going to be overrun with antlered forest rodents. Anything you care about you should fence unless it is noxious to deer or possibly close to your house. Protect your seedlings! 2) 3 acres is a pretty good sized lot. As long as the trees aren't close to your house, I wouldn't worry too much about taking things out. Folks are right about EAB and all, but you have lots of other land to work with, and in the mean time, you get the shade from ash trees! You will have lots of time to replant that area if/when the ash do die. 3) Not sure where you are from, but watch for ticks from about spring green up until just after 4th of July. I hate those buggers and they are endemic in eastern MN. It helps to keep walking areas well mowed. 4) underbrush is most likely buckthorn. It is rampant around here. Look for clumps of small black berries on the growth. Also, if you strip off the bark, it will be yellowish underneath. If it is, you have lots of work ahead of you. The only positive is buckthorn is weak rooted, and smaller plants can be removed fairly easily by hand or with a shovel, or with a tree puller like a weed wrench. Google "buckthorn removal" and you will find a TONS of stuff. 5) Common native trees in that area are: - oak: burr, white, northern pin are very common - green ash - maple: sugar, silver and some red. Also boxelder, but don't plant this - basswood - hackberry - willow - american elm (DED problems) - black locust - black cherry - white pine and other conifers (red pine, red cedar, spruce) - but I am not partial to them, so don't worry about THOSE 6) I could suggest a ton on non-natives that would do well in your area, but not sure what you are looking for. 7) Someone mentioned local extension. Check with your county, for example: http://www.mnwcd.org/land/trees/. Lots counties sell small seedlings very cheaply to landowners. They are small, generally always a small selection, native, and have large minimums (25 or 50 tree minimum is not uncommon).

They are all yours Frani..they probably will look better in a set of three anyways! Glad to give them a good home. I have down that I am also bringing you Lemon Thyme, Pineapple Mint, Lamiums pink and white, Pink Panda and fox glove babies. I also have down that you are bringing for me Blue Corydalis, Trillium, creeping Phlox and if you could keep me in mind for any hydrangea or clematis rootings that would be great. Oh, I just saw the anemones..if you have any left. Thanks! Suzy