9 sad blue arrow junipers

Question: Hello,

I have 9 blue arrow junipers that I have babied for about 7 years now.  I have tried to do a ton of research on my own but with no avail. I have been spraying them with fungicide for just about the whole time I have owned them.  One I got from a nursery and I had no issues with this one at all but the. I saw 8 others at Lowe’s and decided to add more to my landscape.  Since then I have had limbs brown out from the inside of the tree going outward.  Recently I have sap or a jelly like substance around some of the limbs where new branches intersect   I have been spraying with clearys 3336f fungicide but this year I really need help as I am seeing more damage than usual. I am begging for some help!   I don’t want to lose these trees.   I have more pictures but couldn’t attach any more.  Please contact me and I will provide you with my telephone number so we can hopefully chat.   Thanks Steven

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 03, 2023, 6:33 PM EDT
response: Hello,

I have 9 blue arrow Junipers that i have babied for about 7 years now...I have tried to do a ton of research on my own but with no luck.
I have been spraying them with Fungicide for just about the whole time I have owned them....one I got from a nursery and I had no issues with this one at all but then I saw 8 others at lowes and decided to add more to my landscape. since then I have had limbs brown out from the inside of the tree going outwards...recently I have seen sap or a jelly like substance around some limbs where new ones intersect. I have been spraying with cleary's 3336F fungicide but this year I really need help as I am seeing more damage that usual.  I am begging for some help!  I do not want to lose these tree's    I have lots of pics but i am unable to download them

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 04, 2023, 3:02 PM EDT
response: Hi,  Unfortunately native Juniper species (the blue arrow being a rocky mountain species)  and cultivars are susceptible to fungal infections which is what you are seeing as the orange 'ooze', Cedar Hawthorn Rust. You can try to prune out the dying branches and any that are infected with the rust, and the fungicide may help but really needs to be sprayed early and for about 5 weeks through the spring during wet weather. Generally fungicide isn't recommended as you need to be able to reach the entire surface of the plant - difficult to do with home owner equipment - and because of the fungal spores traveling through the air from various host plants when weather conditions are conducive for their growth, it is difficult to eliminate them. Usually the best management is removing the other host but if you are in a neighborhood, not knowing what your neigh has planted, and most likely they wont be willing to remove their tree or your plants, it is a losing battle.  Being that this is a cultivar of juniper that is grown in the western mountains, they usually don't adapt well to our typical mid Atlantic clay -potentially poor draining soils, and humid weather. These factors could also contribute to them not thriving. We also noticed the guard at the bottom of the tree looks a little tight around the trunk. You would want to make sure they are not cutting into the bark or girdling the trunk/roots to deprive the tree of nutrient exchange and can ultimately cause the tree to die.  There may not be a cure for saving these trees unfortunately, so you may want to consider replacement. If you don't have deer a common columnar tree used for screen is Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green', however if there is deer presence they will get eaten. There are a few different Holly varieties that are sharp leaved and evergreen, and will also stay in a tight columnar form - Ilex 'Dragon Lady' or Ilex 'Red Robin' . Hollies typically can handle pruning too should you want to reduce their size  or width as they mature.  We're sorry we don't have the best news to save your junipers. Let us know if you have further questions about them or potential replacements.  Emily