Redwood Interior Needle Drop: Normal Aging, Not Pests

Brown Needles Inside Your Redwood Crown? That's Normal

An 80-ft redwood with "twice more brown leaves" but green tips is shedding older interior needles – a natural annual process.

How Evergreen Needle Retention Works

• Redwoods keep needles 2–4 years.
• Each fall, the oldest cohort (closest to trunk) turns brown and drops.
• New growth at branch tips stays green.
• This "inside-out" shedding is often mistaken for disease.

When to Worry

• Green tips browning: Drought, root damage, or disease.
• Whole branches dying: Canker or root rot.
• Excessive thinning: Check for spider mites (stippled needles) or cypress canker (sunken lesions).

No Treatment Needed

If outer 12–18 inches of each branch are green and vigorous, the tree is healthy. Rake up fallen needles for fire safety; no sprays or fertilizers required.