Emerald Green Arborvitae-a pig in a poke ?

[Dazed_Lily]

Probably 3 weeks ago I bought a 3.5 foot emerald green arborvitae from Home Depot. As you know, it has been markdown time and most plants are stressed. This one was no exception. One side of it was discolored--the branches were brown and as you delved more deeply toward the center they were blue green with a gray caste. The only thing that encouraged me was that I saw new green growth poking out of these otherwise icky looking stems. The Garden Center manager--ah, yes, I know, why would I trust him---said the damage was from the arborvitaes being too close together and the air didn't circulate, but that the dead would fall off in the winter and the green would grow. Made sense at the time. I'm starting to see some new brown--might be from being wacked with the sprinkler. When I shake the shrub, flying insects bale out(from what I read they might be sawflies) but I think they are secondary to something else going on.
So.......does anyone think that this shrub will revive or should I give it a one way ticket back to Home Depot ? I have read enough about fungal blights to scare me. Is there anyway that air circulation could cause this without there also being a fungal/disease scenario going on as well ?
Thanks ! :confused: :mad:

[Rebecca]

Cathy,

There are two wise old sayings that come to mind and one is "you get what you pay for", the other was was made imfamous by PT Barnum. . . .and I think you know the one I am thinking of.

Arborvitae are best left where they are found.


Cynical Me

[Tom]

A friend of mine in the nursery business tells her customers that her plants are healthy and if one dies she will replace it, but DO NOT bring the dead, or sick plant back. She doesn't want the problem brought in to infect the rest of the plants.

One of the first things that will cause me to reject any plant is poor health, especially if the problem cannot be identified. It is not a good practice to subject the rest of the landscape to difficult or perhaps fatal pests for a bargain price. End of season, 'last of the lot' clearance sales are OK, as long as you know they are pest free. The reason that plant is still there and 'On Sale' is that people like me have passed it by all season long. I seriously doubt that Home Depot hires plant pathologists to work in their discount nursery, so they are probably not your best source for diagnosis.

If you see insects, and cannot identify them, remove the plant from your property as soon as possible until you can learn what it is and how to treat it. You could end up spending a lot more than your "savings" in treatment or replacement costs.

This site may help:
http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/hcs/TMI/Plantlist/th_talis.html