blue spruce trouble
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I do not know, but mine are doing the same thing, once they get about 5-6 m high (maybe 20').
The native white spruce immediately adjacent are fine.
I have noticed that in my climate (New Brunswick, acidic soil, acid rain) the blue spruce generally do not seem to thrive once they get to 6 m or so.
They were popular ornamentals here 30-40 years ago, but it does seem to work out well.
The native white spruce immediately adjacent are fine.
I have noticed that in my climate (New Brunswick, acidic soil, acid rain) the blue spruce generally do not seem to thrive once they get to 6 m or so.
They were popular ornamentals here 30-40 years ago, but it does seem to work out well.
LLigetfa
Minister of Fire
Did you notice any small "worms" rappelling on silk threads? The Spruce Budworm does that kind of damage.
Dakotas Dad
Minister of Fire
our problem was deer thrashing them when they got about 10' tall. tore the bottom branches all to heck, they never did recover. we planted 6 when the house was built in '96, cut the last one down last week after watching it slowly die over the last two years.
Didn't see any worms or insects on the tree. It is around 20' tall. First year I've noticed it. Not deer some of it is high up. The other species of pine in the yard look fine.
Any chance you had a drought last summer? I've seen this happen to spruce during drought conditions.
No drought for me either, and it seems to be progressive. I took down one 2 years ago; its neighbour is hanging on.
My parents had some big spruce trees on the south side of their house. They were about 25 years old and 30 or 40 feet high when the same thing started happening. I believe they were told it was some kind of fungus. It started with one tree and eventually got most of them. They've taken some down. The trees that are left don't look to healthy......
Wood Duck
Minister of Fire
smokinj
Minister of Fire
Looks to be Aphids to me take a white piece of paper and hold under the limb shake the limb so that it fall onto the paper, then take your hand and run it across the paper and if it leaves red streaks across the paper you have Aphids damage and is very common! (in conifers.) Ahids are to small to see and the only way to tell is by the blood trail they leave on paper.
Looks to me like the result of last years bagworm damage, you will know in a few months if it is covered again with them, although I dont see any in the pics :-O
Mine are on a town lot, so not too far from the street, but they have a thriving hedge of white spruce between the street and dying blue spruce.
Interesting aphid idea, I will check that. The chickadees are active in these trees, so they must be eating something.
Doug
Interesting aphid idea, I will check that. The chickadees are active in these trees, so they must be eating something.
Doug
Looks like Saw Flies have been eating them. They are real thin green worms that point at you if you get close.
My trees looked just like yours do. Sprayed them with Seven real well they were all dead the next day.
Might be a good idea to cut off the dead parts, good luck.
My trees looked just like yours do. Sprayed them with Seven real well they were all dead the next day.
Might be a good idea to cut off the dead parts, good luck.
Mine is fairly close to the road but I live on a back street that don't see much salt. could be possible though. I'll have to try the aphid test tommarow.
Well here's an update. The stuff I thought was dead all has new growth on it. looks nice and healthy. Must have been a groth spurt ? None of the smaller blue spruce did it and it was the first year I seen the larger one do that.
A friend said that its normal.
A friend said that its normal.
smokinj
Minister of Fire
woodsmaster said:
A growth spurt could/would follow an insect/fungal defoliation.
Or despite one.
I'd bet you have a fungus that affects spruce in your area, causing a needle drop, which can be sudden and/or occur over the Winter with a Spring repair or regrowth.
Search online or county extension for needle drop in your area and type of tree.
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