Emerald Green Arborvitae Branches Drooping From Lots Of Cones

Question From: L. Monte - St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, United States
Q: Hi Nancy, We planted the Emerald Green Arborvitae last spring (28 in all) and they are heavily laden with cones that are creating the branches to bend outward including the tops and droop. They look very unkept and shaggy. There are hundreds of these packed on the tips of the branches. Will these eventually fall off or do I need to be concerned about damage to the trees. I think it would be quite impossible to hand pick them all off.

A: They will eventually fall from the tree. As a result of the stress trees experienced last year, they are producing a record amount of seed - pinecones. It's mother nature's way of continuing the specie. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy.