Ellwood's Lawson cypress vs Sawara cypress

Lawson cypress is among the plants most susceptible to Phytophthora root and collar rot: the foliage slowly fades and then browns, and the plant usually dies. There is no cure, so avoid heavy, waterlogged soil and do not replant where one has already died this way. On limy soil the foliage yellows and growth is poor. In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe it suffers from heat and dry air unless watered, goes bare inside and does not resprout from old, leafless wood; in cold winters the sunny, windward side can scorch. As a member of the cypress family it can be attacked by the juniper jewel beetle (Lamprodila festiva) and cypress bark beetles, mainly when weakened by drought: the jewel beetle's larvae tunnel under the bark and whole branches die suddenly. The multi-stemmed column tends to fall open with age and wet snow can splay it, so tie it loosely together for winter.

In dry air and when short of water the foliage browns and dies from the trunk outwards until only the branch tips stay green; this is most common on Boulevard and is made worse by drought, recent planting, root disturbance and hot wind. Strong direct sun, drought, winter frost and mites can cause scorch-like browning, so in the hot, dry summers of Central Europe it needs regular watering, and Boulevard belongs in a more humid, part-shaded, sheltered spot. Root rot (Phytophthora) can strike in waterlogged soil, and it grows poorly on limy, alkaline soil.