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You can bring back a brown arborvitae, but it depends entirely on what caused the browning in the first place.
If the damage is from environmental stress, pests, or improper care, you can absolutely bring back a brown arborvitae with the right steps.
However, if the browning is due to root rot or a dead plant, you cannot bring back a brown arborvitae no matter what you try.
In this post we’ll explore why you can bring back a brown arborvitae in many situations and walk through the exact methods to revive it.
We’ll also cover when you should stop trying and accept that you cannot bring back a brown arborvitae that is truly dead.
Let’s save your arborvitae together.
Why You Can Bring Back A Brown Arborvitae
The main reason you can bring back a brown arborvitae is that arborvitae are remarkably resilient evergreens.
When their foliage turns brown, it’s often the tree’s way of protecting itself during stress rather than a sign of death.
Here’s why bringing back a brown arborvitae is often possible:
1. Arborvitae Have Dormant Buds Along Their Stems
Even when the outer needles turn brown, the branches still contain dormant buds that can sprout new growth.
If you trim or prune the dead sections, you can bring back a brown arborvitae by encouraging those buds to wake up.
This is especially true when the browning comes from winter burn or drought stress.
2. The Root System May Still Be Healthy
A brown arborvitae above ground does not always mean the roots have died.
If the roots are alive and the soil conditions improve, you can bring back a brown arborvitae with proper watering and fertilization.
Check for flexible branches near the base — if they snap, the wood is dead; if they bend, there is hope to bring back a brown arborvitae.
3. Browning Is Often Temporary
Many arborvitae naturally shed older inner needles that turn brown and drop off each year.
If the browning is only on the inside of the plant, you can bring back a brown arborvitae simply by waiting for new growth.
Seasonal color changes also happen during cold snaps — once warmth returns, you can bring back a brown arborvitae to its green self.
Common Causes of Browning That Allow You To Bring Back A Brown Arborvitae
Before you start reviving, identify the cause because only specific problems let you bring back a brown arborvitae successfully.
1. Winter Burn or Frost Damage
Winter winds dry out the foliage faster than the roots can replace moisture, causing browning on the windward side.
You can bring back a brown arborvitae with winter burn by watering deeply before the ground freezes and protecting it with burlap.
New growth will emerge in spring from the unaffected parts, helping you bring back a brown arborvitae to full health.
2. Drought Stress
When arborvitae don’t get enough water, the needles turn brown from the tips inward.
You can bring back a brown arborvitae suffering from drought by watering slowly and deeply once a week during dry spells.
Mulching around the base retains moisture and gives you the best chance to bring back a brown arborvitae.
3. Spider Mites or Bagworms
Tiny pests suck the sap out of needles, causing them to turn brown and fall off.
You can bring back a brown arborvitae infested with pests by applying horticultural oil or insecticidal soap.
Prune off heavily infected branches, then treat the plant — this will help you bring back a brown arborvitae quickly.
4. Dog Urine or Salt Damage
Concentrated urine or de‑icing salt burns the roots and turns foliage brown.
You can bring back a brown arborvitae damaged by salt by flushing the soil with plenty of fresh water.
Then surround the base with a physical barrier to prevent re‑exposure and watch it slowly recover.
Steps To Bring Back A Brown Arborvitae
Follow these steps carefully to bring back a brown arborvitae and restore its vibrant green color.
1. Assess the Living Tissue
Scrape a small piece of bark from a brown branch — if you see green underneath, the branch is alive.
This tells you that you can still bring back a brown arborvitae from that point.
If the branch is completely dry and brittle, prune it back to the main trunk.
2. Prune Out Dead Growth
Using clean, sharp pruners, remove all brown, dead branches down to a healthy green part or a side branch.
Do not cut into the bare brown center of the trunk — arborvitae do not regrow from old wood, so you cannot bring back a brown arborvitae by cutting too deep.
Stick to removing only the truly dead material.
3. Water Correctly
Give your arborvitae a deep soak (about one inch of water per week) during the growing season.
In dry climates, you may need to water twice a week to bring back a brown arborvitae that is dehydrated.
Avoid overhead watering as wet foliage encourages fungal diseases that make it harder to bring back a brown arborvitae.
4. Apply a Balanced Fertilizer
Once you see new growth, use a slow‑release fertilizer formulated for evergreens.
This gives the plant energy to push out fresh foliage and helps you bring back a brown arborvitae faster.
Don’t over‑fertilize — too much nitrogen can burn roots and reverse your progress.
5. Provide Winter Protection
If winter burn caused the browning, wrap your arborvitae in burlap or install a windbreak next fall.
This prevents further browning and makes it easier to bring back a brown arborvitae year after year.
Water deeply before the ground freezes to keep roots hydrated.
When You Cannot Bring Back A Brown Arborvitae
Sadly, there are times when you cannot bring back a brown arborvitae no matter how hard you try.
1. Root Rot from Overwatering or Poor Drainage
If the soil is constantly wet and the roots have turned mushy and black, the plant is dying.
Once root rot has destroyed the root system, you cannot bring back a brown arborvitae because there is nothing to absorb water.
You’ll need to dig it out and replace it and improve drainage before planting a new one.
2. Complete Dieback from Severe Drought or Pests
If every branch is brown and brittle from the top to the bottom, and no green remains anywhere, the tree is dead.
When the entire crown is dead, you cannot bring back a brown arborvitae — it’s time to remove it.
3. Old‑Age Decline
Arborvitae have a natural lifespan of 50–150 years depending on the species.
An old tree that turns brown gradually from the inside out may be reaching the end of its life and you cannot bring back a brown arborvitae at that stage.
So, Can You Bring Back A Brown Arborvitae?
You can bring back a brown arborvitae as long as the damage is not from root rot, complete dieback, or old age.
Most cases of browning from winter burn, drought, pests, or salt damage are reversible with proper care.
By pruning dead wood, watering deeply, fertilizing, and protecting from future stress, you can successfully bring back a brown arborvitae to its lush green glory.
Hope this guide helps you assess your tree and take the right steps to bring back a brown arborvitae.