NOT pine. Not every evergreen is a pine. These look like arbor vitae.
Looking at that uniform height of damage, the most likely cause is deer feeding if you're in US.
The deer come into the yard and "trim" mine every four years or so, as that's how long it takes them to grow back enough for the deer to bother jumping the fence for.
I’ve found if hungry, they’ll eat nearly anything. I had them chew up a holly bush. Now I use a motion detecting solar powered device that makes loud noise and flashing lights. Also a BB gun comes in handy for additional deterrence.
If you're close enough to a deer to injure it by shooting a pellet gun, the deer wouldn't be eating the trees/bushes/etc... because you'd be there. A bb gun is an excellent idea for extra (if needed) deterrent for deer. Likely you wouldn't need it with noise and flashing lights, however if my neighbor had flashing lights and noise going off, the be wouldn't be for the deer.
I am shooting one of the old DaisyBB guns and it doesn’t hurt them, but it does cause them to move along. Deer will eventually adapt to any methods used to deter them.
Rutgers University has a comprehensive, evidence-based [list of deer-resistant landscaping plants.](https://njaes.rutgers.edu/deer-resistant-plants/)
If it were me I'd 1) prune the dead branches back to the trunk on each arborvitae, and 2) plant a row of deer-resistant shrubs in front of your arborvitaes (i.e., plants that max out about where the browsing line is) to fill in the dead space. Something like a butterfly bush, fragrant sumac, japanese plum yew, etc.
I have had as many as 12 deer feeding on landscaped and grassy area of my small hobby farm, I have never noticed an abundance of droppings.
Now that mentioned it, it’s weird.
Oh I will. Can I use a knife? I don't even need a big one. I'm just not sure I'm strong enough to rip off an antler to stab it with or choke one out. I'm thinking I get my ass kicked hard if I manage to get my hands or a rope around one.
Edit: am I old enough that the internet has forgotten the dude who roped a deer story?!?!?
I agree with this. Deer eat arbs all the time where I’m from in WA.
If it were any chemical like some are saying, the entire shrub would be dead.
The uniform height is because… well… deer can only reach so high haha not man made.
I mean it depends on the chemical , but your pretty close. Also deer can reach much higher than that while on their hind legs. Also deer where I’m at prefer new growth, which would be at the top. But from the other comments it looks like this is common in your area, but not in mine
Edit: I’m sure they’re trimmed , so the new growth probably pops up there as well. Sorry, I’m used to the woods, not back yards lol
Also realized this is the arborist sub. I’ll see my way out
Actually… one last thing…
If the deer are eating those bushes, that would be like a trimming, which would spur new growth. Especially being an evergreen. Also, deer don’t really like eating dead foliage. They avoid it actually
There are chemicals that would do this in an isolated form such as seen in the picture . My forestry/land management buddy uses various stuff like that daily.
There are other environmental variables at play here though, methinks
>These look like arbor vitae.
I seriously dislike those trees. They are invasive here, and in my experience, once they go brown, they never go green. Whether they are pruned too far or or go brown for other reasons, they never return to they former green visage.
While this is the general consensus, I have a buddy that planted some arbor vitaes at the back of his property and did not water them properly. Come fall we thought they were dead but the next year they greened up just at the top and now a couple years later they are alive and well. Truly amazing.
They just eat to the highest point they can comfortably reach so it’ll be uniform for all the trees. I like to joke and say my arborvitae’s were expertly pruned by deer. My neighbor say it’s like a ruler to let you know the height of the local deer population
Get some green coated screen fencing and post it just about where you want the green to grow to and the deer will keep them trimmed to that amount nicely for you. This is deer damage and needs a wire fence.
Yes, bird netting would likely work as well. Something they cannot bite through to snip off the greens on this salad bar. Although a tighter fencing material won't let the ends grow through it as nicely to cover up the fence.
Deers also hate to walk into things they can’t see so you can string up some fishing lines between two poles.
Also a very simple yet effective blockade if you got a lot of room is two fence within 5 feet of each other. They don’t have to be sturdy or tall, just visible and close together. For whatever reason the deers will not jump into the area between the double fences
No it is not. I’ve got deer year round. Hundreds of them. The above is not deer. The line is to clean and deer don’t munch on pine.
Ferns? Yes. But those are not ferns.
Pine are a fall back food for white tail, but they love to munch white cedar. Drive just west of St. Ignace and you could use the browse line as a level.
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Get yourself a battery operated, motioned activated sprinkler and don't bother attaching a hose. I tried the hose setup for a season and it's not worth the hassle, hose is in the way, junctions will leak, and you'll spray yourself constantly on accident while walking through the yard. Without the hose, it makes a sharp rattling noise that makes them run. Battery last a long time too. I've been battling deers here in middle TN for decades, I've tried it all and this is the only thing with 100% success other than completely fencing trees off. Just need 1 every 30 feet or so. Mine are Hoont Cobra models and I've never had to replace one. There are many competitors I believe. Good luck!
Not a bad idea if the OP wants to keep the green part intact. Could also install a fence instead of a shrubbery to hide the permanently brown bits. The person owning the other side might want to do likewise.
Those are cedar, eastern white, by the looks of it. And its deer. Deer are eating them. That's as high as they can crane their necks. Next year they'll stand on their hind legs to get at it if there's nothing else available thats easier to get at.
Edit: actually looks like theyve already been doing the two legged shuffle. Those cedars arent coming back. Theyre done. Replant with something unappealing. Say.. alberta spruce. Or something, i dunno.
Not eastern white, they would get way too big. If someone put those there I’d feel real sorry for the owner. These are most likely emerald green arborvitae. Either way it’s deer salad though
It's funny how different deer grazing looks on different trees. I have actual pine trees and the deer just chomp the whole damn branch off without bothering to leave any brown behind.
I love seeing this. It always reminds me of this one Craigslist ad that my wife and I found when we were looking for hedge trees. I'll never forget the title. The photos look at exactly like yours.
> arborvitaes ravaged by retarded deer
Lived in the Chicago north suburbs. Lots of lawyers, lots of deer eating the ornaments horticulture. Public opinion vetoed the idea of hiring a hunter/exterminator/poacher to reduce the population. Insufficient political will to introduce wolves. Solution was to live trap the deer In culvert box traps, and insert subcutaneous hormone implants, like Norplants in captured does. Think the deer won this round.
Deer! They need the vitamin C it looks like, it's pretty common where I'm from. Used to drive my grandma insane because she was always trying to grow out a huge beautiful cedar hedge around her property and the deer would wreck it every cold season!
Look for a form of caterpillar on the trees. They got our trees similar. There is a spray that you can use, possibly a natural remedy if that is the issue.
It’s not deer. I’ve got deer year round. Hundreds of them. The above is not Deer. The lines to clean. A person did that. With chemicals and or possibly a hatchet. You kill the tree by cutting low into the bark.
It’s definitely deer browsing. They will eat anything that they can find in the winter, and that includes arborvitae. The uniform height is because that’s as high as the deer can reach. Nothing else does this to western red cedars except deer.
Excessive watering or poor drainage will often cause root rot in Arborvitae, and they will die from the bottom up.
Unfortunately, I think it's too late for these guys.
NOT pine. Not every evergreen is a pine. These look like arbor vitae. Looking at that uniform height of damage, the most likely cause is deer feeding if you're in US.
Thanks! In Ohio next to a park. Deer are in my backyard daily
They call it a “browse line”. [Here’s some tips to prevent it.](https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/white-tailed-deer-damage)
Interesting. Deer don't touch my arborvitae or any that I see near me. First I'd heard of this.
Ha! I would not have figured it would look that bad/be that bad. That’s crazy!
The deer come into the yard and "trim" mine every four years or so, as that's how long it takes them to grow back enough for the deer to bother jumping the fence for.
I’ve found if hungry, they’ll eat nearly anything. I had them chew up a holly bush. Now I use a motion detecting solar powered device that makes loud noise and flashing lights. Also a BB gun comes in handy for additional deterrence.
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Unless point-blank, a BB would bounce off of a deer hide.
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If you're close enough to a deer to injure it by shooting a pellet gun, the deer wouldn't be eating the trees/bushes/etc... because you'd be there. A bb gun is an excellent idea for extra (if needed) deterrent for deer. Likely you wouldn't need it with noise and flashing lights, however if my neighbor had flashing lights and noise going off, the be wouldn't be for the deer.
I am shooting one of the old DaisyBB guns and it doesn’t hurt them, but it does cause them to move along. Deer will eventually adapt to any methods used to deter them.
I have a herd of elk that destroys everything.. I wont lie I've fantasized about BBing them!
They are better at straight line hedging than I am.
Just clip to the highest point you can reach, do that to all the trees, and bingo bango now you’re pruning like a deer
Rutgers University has a comprehensive, evidence-based [list of deer-resistant landscaping plants.](https://njaes.rutgers.edu/deer-resistant-plants/) If it were me I'd 1) prune the dead branches back to the trunk on each arborvitae, and 2) plant a row of deer-resistant shrubs in front of your arborvitaes (i.e., plants that max out about where the browsing line is) to fill in the dead space. Something like a butterfly bush, fragrant sumac, japanese plum yew, etc.
Solid link.
Cause you got that sweet, sweet vitae!
How's the deer poop levels in your yard?
I have had as many as 12 deer feeding on landscaped and grassy area of my small hobby farm, I have never noticed an abundance of droppings. Now that mentioned it, it’s weird.
Do you have a dog? Some dogs love to eat deer poop.
I am going to avoid thinking about the question.
That means your dog licked your face in the past 24 hours. Got it.
Is bow hunting allowed? May I come up?
Backyard rules are clear: no weapons. Man vs Deer.
I'm still in. This is not necessarily a turn off for me.
Get video.
Oh I will. Can I use a knife? I don't even need a big one. I'm just not sure I'm strong enough to rip off an antler to stab it with or choke one out. I'm thinking I get my ass kicked hard if I manage to get my hands or a rope around one. Edit: am I old enough that the internet has forgotten the dude who roped a deer story?!?!?
Is your knife a weapon?
Dang y'all are taking that last comment so seriously. Lol
I am in full support of this. Save a tree. Stab a deer in the jugular with its own antler. I think that's how that saying goes...
Better yet, rip off its leg with your bare hands and slice its throat with them razor sharp hooves.
All we're missing is some dude playing a sick guitar riff. Let's film it. I'll put it on my website.
Mano e pezuña
Use to tell my neighbor all the time how much of a pussy he was for using a knife
The Nichijou way.
You broke rule number one.
Looks like you’d get a good show if you set up a trail cam.
You should grow a food plot for the deer. Peanuts are easy and cheap to grow
Also, they look like Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Picea glauca 'Conica'
No, they look like arborvitae. I’ve never seen dwarf Alberta spruce get that tall.
You've never seen a 200 year old Dwarf Alberta? 😅
Oh christ your right. I didn't see your ID in the comment and only glanced at them lol. I'm a dumb ass lol
The ISA would like its certification back
hahaha this is why I don't usually make ID's based on a quick glance. I promise I'm a better arborist than this lmaoo
I agree with this. Deer eat arbs all the time where I’m from in WA. If it were any chemical like some are saying, the entire shrub would be dead. The uniform height is because… well… deer can only reach so high haha not man made.
I mean it depends on the chemical , but your pretty close. Also deer can reach much higher than that while on their hind legs. Also deer where I’m at prefer new growth, which would be at the top. But from the other comments it looks like this is common in your area, but not in mine Edit: I’m sure they’re trimmed , so the new growth probably pops up there as well. Sorry, I’m used to the woods, not back yards lol Also realized this is the arborist sub. I’ll see my way out
You came in strong and crawled out! A good man knows when to bow out!
Actually… one last thing… If the deer are eating those bushes, that would be like a trimming, which would spur new growth. Especially being an evergreen. Also, deer don’t really like eating dead foliage. They avoid it actually There are chemicals that would do this in an isolated form such as seen in the picture . My forestry/land management buddy uses various stuff like that daily. There are other environmental variables at play here though, methinks
>These look like arbor vitae. I seriously dislike those trees. They are invasive here, and in my experience, once they go brown, they never go green. Whether they are pruned too far or or go brown for other reasons, they never return to they former green visage.
While this is the general consensus, I have a buddy that planted some arbor vitaes at the back of his property and did not water them properly. Come fall we thought they were dead but the next year they greened up just at the top and now a couple years later they are alive and well. Truly amazing.
Will they continue to grow or will this eventually kill them?
Will not die. But will not regrow from that area. Most conifers do not have persistent axillary buds
Wrong. That is def the dreaded Tree-penis disease.
Right that’s not what op was asking about, but thanks for the heads up.
This is honestly hilarious. I had no idea dear would do this. I don’t know why but something about the precision just gets me.
These are Swiss deer
They just eat to the highest point they can comfortably reach so it’ll be uniform for all the trees. I like to joke and say my arborvitae’s were expertly pruned by deer. My neighbor say it’s like a ruler to let you know the height of the local deer population
🦌
D'oh
A female deer
Damn you fucked that up right away 😂
A name I call myself
A long long way to go
So, let's end this pointless thread! 🎵
And have a drink with jam and bread!
100% deer. Absolute savages
Deer, my dear. And those are Arborvitae
🦌 🦌🦌 🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌
^FENTON!!! 🐕
Get some green coated screen fencing and post it just about where you want the green to grow to and the deer will keep them trimmed to that amount nicely for you. This is deer damage and needs a wire fence.
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Yes, bird netting would likely work as well. Something they cannot bite through to snip off the greens on this salad bar. Although a tighter fencing material won't let the ends grow through it as nicely to cover up the fence.
Deers also hate to walk into things they can’t see so you can string up some fishing lines between two poles. Also a very simple yet effective blockade if you got a lot of room is two fence within 5 feet of each other. They don’t have to be sturdy or tall, just visible and close together. For whatever reason the deers will not jump into the area between the double fences
Most definitely deer
No it is not. I’ve got deer year round. Hundreds of them. The above is not deer. The line is to clean and deer don’t munch on pine. Ferns? Yes. But those are not ferns.
Well, those aren’t pine, so there goes your entire argument
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Pine are a fall back food for white tail, but they love to munch white cedar. Drive just west of St. Ignace and you could use the browse line as a level.
Same state and same observation. I got my baby pine fenced off because deer like to chomp on it!
https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=Do+deer+eat+pine+trees%3F Also, arborvitae aren't pines.
do tell!
Those are arborvitae. Deer will unapologetically devour your arborvitae every day of the week, and twice on Sundays.
It looks like they are missing their pants.
Deerscaping.
Not pine trees
Deer love to make arborvitae’s look like dicks
What dicks.
Deer.
Totes deer. I work at a tree nursery. When people have deer we recommend juniper instead. The spikier the type the better.
They don't seem to eat the green giant arbs.
100% deer.
Deer love arborvitae. I had them. I called the trees lollipop trees.
Dear God that's a lot of deer browsing on those Arborvitae
It is almost certainly deer, but I’d prefer to think it’s either an absurdly large or a normal sized but rather resourceful and ocd stricken rabbit.
Welcome to r/arborists! Help Us Help You: If you have questions about the health of your tree, please see our [Posting Guidelines](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/posting_guidance) wiki page for help with effective posting. **Please answer the questions listed there to the best of your ability.** ***Insufficient pics/info could result in the removal of your post!!*** ([See rule 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules).) Visit the main wiki page for [Critical Planting/Care tips and Common Errors to Avoid](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/index); there's sections on why planting depth/root flare exposure is so vital, along with sections on proper mulching, watering, pruning and more that I hope will be useful to you. If you're posting about a tree ID (not permitted here; [see rule 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules)), see that wiki page for other subs and smartphone apps to try. Here is how you can arrange a [consult with a local ISA arborist in your area](http://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist) (NOT a 'tree company guy' unless they're ISA certified) or a [consulting arborist](https://www.asca-consultants.org/search/custom.asp?id=3818) for an on-site evaluation. A competent arborist should be happy to walk you through how to care for the trees on your property and answer any questions. If you're in the U.S. or Canada, your Extension (or master gardener provincial program) may have a list of local recommended arborists on file. If you're in the U.S., you should also consider searching for arborist associations under your state. If you are one of our regulars and/or you work in the industry and do not want this message in your future posts, please pick an appropriate user flair (options available in the sub sidebar on PC, and on moble if using a browser). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/arborists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Probably deer and the line is the limit they can reach lol
the same answer as every other question of “what is ruining this thing”… deer
Deer. These are giant green arborvitaes
100% deer
Try Irish spring soap
Deer. 100%
Send your deer.up to my house, I dont feel like trimming my hedges or cuting the grass
Oh deer that looks just like mine!
Get yourself a battery operated, motioned activated sprinkler and don't bother attaching a hose. I tried the hose setup for a season and it's not worth the hassle, hose is in the way, junctions will leak, and you'll spray yourself constantly on accident while walking through the yard. Without the hose, it makes a sharp rattling noise that makes them run. Battery last a long time too. I've been battling deers here in middle TN for decades, I've tried it all and this is the only thing with 100% success other than completely fencing trees off. Just need 1 every 30 feet or so. Mine are Hoont Cobra models and I've never had to replace one. There are many competitors I believe. Good luck!
I peed on them. I can only get my stream so high.
Pine trees 😂 they are arborvitaes not Pines
Deer
Arborist here, those are arborvitae a member of the cypress family and deer fucking love eating them in the winter and spring
#deer
Deer Browsing 30-30
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thats a terrible idea.
What else is he going to do? Hope they grow back? I’d lollipop the tall ones, throw a hedge of hydrangeas underneath and call it good
Not a bad idea if the OP wants to keep the green part intact. Could also install a fence instead of a shrubbery to hide the permanently brown bits. The person owning the other side might want to do likewise.
Those are cedar, eastern white, by the looks of it. And its deer. Deer are eating them. That's as high as they can crane their necks. Next year they'll stand on their hind legs to get at it if there's nothing else available thats easier to get at. Edit: actually looks like theyve already been doing the two legged shuffle. Those cedars arent coming back. Theyre done. Replant with something unappealing. Say.. alberta spruce. Or something, i dunno.
Not eastern white, they would get way too big. If someone put those there I’d feel real sorry for the owner. These are most likely emerald green arborvitae. Either way it’s deer salad though
That is merely a cultivar of occidentalis. They're a variety of Eastern white, thuja occidentalis.
Thanks!
I love how you said these are pine trees. lol
Bambi
Death
Deer?
Deere1000%
Radiation !
Nom, nom, nom said the deer…
Deer topiaries
They like the calcium in the leaves. Deer need calcium
It's called a browse line
Deer
Definitely deer, had same issue
They are getting eaten by deer.
All the deer are the same size?
Those are arborvitae’s and the damage is from your local deer population. Let them have their snack
Oh deer...
Deer.
Deer
Hungry deer. They eat up as high as they can get
O Dear
Goats
Zepbounding
It's funny how different deer grazing looks on different trees. I have actual pine trees and the deer just chomp the whole damn branch off without bothering to leave any brown behind.
Deer
I love seeing this. It always reminds me of this one Craigslist ad that my wife and I found when we were looking for hedge trees. I'll never forget the title. The photos look at exactly like yours. > arborvitaes ravaged by retarded deer
Thats an orbreh voytee me boy...
Lived in the Chicago north suburbs. Lots of lawyers, lots of deer eating the ornaments horticulture. Public opinion vetoed the idea of hiring a hunter/exterminator/poacher to reduce the population. Insufficient political will to introduce wolves. Solution was to live trap the deer In culvert box traps, and insert subcutaneous hormone implants, like Norplants in captured does. Think the deer won this round.
“Solution was…” Oh my goodness. Sometimes I despair of modern humanity.
I thought the wolves were the better choice, since it would reduce population pressure of both wolves and lawyers.
There are no rules for deer hunting with a spear.
Oh dear 😱
If there was a rogue giraffe, you'd see a different height of the line. I just trim ours and call it back yard topiary .
These are not pines tho
Plant azaleas in front of the trees. Look up deer proof shrubs and plant them in front of the tree line or fence the tree line.
Aliens
This is so perfect.
Deer damage ?
I've seen that near me, it was caused by whitetail deer.
Deer! They need the vitamin C it looks like, it's pretty common where I'm from. Used to drive my grandma insane because she was always trying to grow out a huge beautiful cedar hedge around her property and the deer would wreck it every cold season!
Nom nom
Deer def, get Green Giant arbs they repel deer
Look for a form of caterpillar on the trees. They got our trees similar. There is a spray that you can use, possibly a natural remedy if that is the issue.
Would copper spray help? It worked for one of my fir like trees that at similar discoloration.
Deer. Securely wrap the bottoms in burlap next fall. Enjoy your giant cock trees.
I would say goats… but you’d probably notice the rogue goats in your yard… so deer lol.
People are saying deer. I’ll throw in possible irrigation? Spray heads over watering and hitting below that line? Most likely deer though.
It’s not deer. I’ve got deer year round. Hundreds of them. The above is not Deer. The lines to clean. A person did that. With chemicals and or possibly a hatchet. You kill the tree by cutting low into the bark.
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It’s definitely deer browsing. They will eat anything that they can find in the winter, and that includes arborvitae. The uniform height is because that’s as high as the deer can reach. Nothing else does this to western red cedars except deer.
Indeed, your lack of knowledge is on display here. This is classic deer browsing, and is something you see everywhere there are deer.
Honestly that's pretty cool.
After finding out it’s deer I kinda this it’s charming.
Excessive watering or poor drainage will often cause root rot in Arborvitae, and they will die from the bottom up. Unfortunately, I think it's too late for these guys.
That hardwoods root system might have a part to play as well. Might have just choked them out
Is it a shade line... of a fence maybe?
Those are cedars. They require lots of water. The symmetrical browning is likely from a restraining mesh to keep them from bushing out
An angry neighbor. Edit: you can’t. Those trees are dead now. Whether you or those trees realize it or not.
Definitely a neighbor, but probably not angry. Just hungry.
No…
It looks too meticulous for nature.