What's eating my blue atlas cedar?

Blue Atlas Cedar has few serious pests overall, but deodar weevil and black scale are the most commonly documented problems. Spider mites can cause needle discolouration in hot summers. Stressed trees are more vulnerable to tip blight and root rot. Healthy, well-sited specimens rarely suffer significant damage.

Adults and larvae bore into terminals and lateral branches, causing dieback and canker-like symptoms; most damaging on young trees. Prune and destroy infested shoots below entry points; apply preventive pyrethroid spray to trunk and branches in spring; maintain tree vigour.

Rounded black scales on stems; honeydew leads to sooty mould; weakened foliage and branch dieback in heavy infestations. Horticultural oil applied at crawler emergence; systemic insecticide drench for persistent infestations; remove heavily colonised small branches.

Fine stippling and silvering of needles in summer heat; webbing on clusters of needles; premature needle drop. Apply miticide (e.g., abamectin); improve watering to reduce heat stress; avoid dusty conditions which favour mite build-up.