Shedding of branches part of red cedars’ life cycle

Q. Earlier this year I moved into a neighbourhood where native red cedars grow. I’ve notice recently that the trees have developed numerous brown, dry sections. Are they dying?
A. Browning  and shedding of three- to four-year-old branches in autumn is part of the Western red cedar’s normal life cycle. It’s how the trees renew themselves. A term for the process is “flagging.”
Dry years produce the most flagging, and the last few years have brought long, hot, dry