Unlike those worrying brown needles you might see on an Arborvitae, finding brown buds on your tree is actually no big deal. These are just dried-up seed pods, and you can prune them off without a second thought. If you time your trimming right, you can even prevent them from showing up in the first place!
Why is my Arborvitae growing brown buds?
If you see brown tips on your Thuja, it’s usually a red flag for a care mistake or, occasionally, a disease. That’s when you need to jump into action. Brown buds, on the other hand, aren’t a sign of pests or poor gardening. They’re simply seed pods that the tree didn’t have the energy to fully ripen after the blooming season.
Most of us propagate Arborvitae using cuttings rather than seeds anyway. Since we aren’t usually looking to harvest the seeds, these dried buds are really just a minor cosmetic issue. If they don’t bother you, feel free to just leave them right where they are.
How do I get rid of brown buds on my Thuja?
Arborvitae are pretty tough and handle pruning well, as long as you don’t cut back into the old wood. You can simply snip off those unsightly brown buds whenever you like. Just a pro-tip: always use clean, sharp shears. Dirty garden tools are the fastest way to spread fungal diseases all over your yard.
Can I prevent brown buds from forming?
If you’d rather not deal with them at all, you can get ahead of the game by pruning at the right time. You’ve got three main options:
- Prune the tree back before the blooming season starts.
- Snip off the flower clusters as they appear.
- Pick off the seeds by hand.
If your Arborvitae is part of a hedge, try to time your regular maintenance trim right before the blooming season—it’ll save you from doing the work twice! Just make sure to prune on a dry, overcast day. Too much moisture on fresh cuts is an open invitation for fungi, while direct, scorching sun on a fresh trim can cause the foliage to turn brown.
