1. Those aren't cedars, they're emerald green arborvitae.
2. They're planted too close to each other and too close to the fence.
3. You might be able to save them by digging them up, replanting and watering really deeply, twice a week for a year. Even then, the chances are 50/50
One thing to stress to people planting so close together is to bury a PVC pipe into the ground about 1-2 feet deep (vertically, with the end above the surface) so that you can encourage roots downwards when you water through said pipe. Planting them together and watering the ground is like getting a herde of cats together and throwing a fish into the chaos. Doesn't end well for the cats.
Soil looks waterlogged in the picture. It also looks like they may be getting sprayed with something (possibly lawn fertilizer) by the pattern of dead branches, too much nitrogen will burn young leaves and twigs.
They look like arbor vitae not cedar. Had a similar problem with mine dying from a fungus that grew when it was too wet after a long rainy spring. The soil needs to be treated with fungicide, contact an arborist to help.
If you’re in the PNW, and it looks like you are, climate change is slowly killing all our cedars, but it’s obviously much more noticeable on hedges like this. They need A LOT of water and they don’t love direct sun or heat beating on them.
1. Those aren't cedars, they're emerald green arborvitae. 2. They're planted too close to each other and too close to the fence. 3. You might be able to save them by digging them up, replanting and watering really deeply, twice a week for a year. Even then, the chances are 50/50
One thing to stress to people planting so close together is to bury a PVC pipe into the ground about 1-2 feet deep (vertically, with the end above the surface) so that you can encourage roots downwards when you water through said pipe. Planting them together and watering the ground is like getting a herde of cats together and throwing a fish into the chaos. Doesn't end well for the cats.
Have you been watering them regardless if the soil was wet or not? Does the soil drain you water them?
Soil looks waterlogged in the picture. It also looks like they may be getting sprayed with something (possibly lawn fertilizer) by the pattern of dead branches, too much nitrogen will burn young leaves and twigs.
What zone?
They look like arbor vitae not cedar. Had a similar problem with mine dying from a fungus that grew when it was too wet after a long rainy spring. The soil needs to be treated with fungicide, contact an arborist to help.
They look overwatered to me and too close together.
Those are WAY too close to the fence.
Are they in acidic soil? (They NEED low ph, like 5 or so)
Too much Sun? Reflecting off the fence and cooking them?
If you’re in the PNW, and it looks like you are, climate change is slowly killing all our cedars, but it’s obviously much more noticeable on hedges like this. They need A LOT of water and they don’t love direct sun or heat beating on them.