Why Are My Blue Spruce Trees Dying?
- 1. Needle Cast This disease is exceedingly widespread in conifers and manifests itself in various ways in trees. Needle cast can quickly develop and spread to neighboring trees planted on your property if not addressed. ...
- 2. Rusts The illness is named for the brilliantly colored orange to rusty brown spores that are visible when this family of fungi’s “raised blisters” break apart. ...
- 3. Environmental Factors
...
All of these diseases are caused by fungal pathogens and each produce specific symptoms that can be useful in diagnosing the problem.
- Needlecasts. ...
- Tip blights. ...
- Canker diseases.
How do you save a dying blue spruce?
Consider making a tough choice—remove the most severely affected trees. This opens up space, increases air flow around the trees (which can reduce disease pressure) and reduces competition for moisture and nutrients for the remaining trees. Blue spruce have a thin canopy and look see-through. Only upper branches have live buds and new growth.
What are the diseases of blue spruce trees?
There are three principle types of diseases that affect blue spruce trees: needlecasts, tip blights and canker diseases. All of these diseases are caused by fungal pathogens and each produce specific symptoms that can be useful in diagnosing the problem. 1. Needlecasts. As the name implies, trees with needlecast diseases shed needles.
What is Killing my Colorado blue spruce trees?
Identifying Pests. Dying branches (branch dieback) or branches that are shedding needles are common symptoms of Colorado blue spruce trees and often attributed to either of two insect pests: aphids or the Cooley spruce gall adelgid.
How do you get rid of blue spruce mites?
They remove the silvery-blue pigment that gives blue spruce its color. A safer option is to spray spruce trees weekly with a forceful jet of water to dislodge mites from the branches. This will keep mite numbers low enough to prevent significant damage.
What kills spruce trees?
Probably the most common problem affecting spruce trees is a fungal disease known as Rhizosphaera Needle Cast. This disease can affect most species of spruce, but is especially problematic on Colorado Blue Spruce.
Why are my blue spruce turning brown?
Spruce trees can show brown needles starting from the lower limbs and progressing up the tree. One common needle disease in Minnesota, Rhizosphaera needle cast, is caused by the fungus Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii. Blue spruce varieties are very susceptible to Rhizosphaera.
Will dead blue spruce branches grow back?
Evergreens end up looking like tall stalks of celery. Dead limbs won't regrow, so they should be cut off. That can be done at any time of year. Winter dormant season is as good as any.
How do you treat blue spruce disease?
Currently the only chemical treatment for Cytospora canker on blue spruce in the landscape is an injected fungicide that must be applied by a certified applicator. Yearly fungicide treatments can help with needlecast but appropriate timing and good coverage are essential to reduce needle loss.
How do you save a dying spruce?
Tips for reviving ailing spruce trees Provide deep watering at least once a week; the water should reach down to at least 12 or 15 inches. For soil with a high clay content, the watering should be every two weeks. Avoid light watering, as this could encourage roots to grow too near to the surface.
How do you keep a blue spruce healthy?
How to Plant and Care for a Blue SpruceBlue spruce prefer acidic, moist, well-draining soils. ... Plant your blue spruce so that the beginning of the root flare is evident. ... Blue spruce should always be planted in full sun.Maintain good air circulation around the plant.More items...•
How do you know when a blue spruce is dying?
Needles Turn Yellow or Brown and Drop Off It's easy to tell whether your blue spruce trees are healthy or not. When you see that needles on many branches on the tree are turning yellow or brown, you should know that your tree is not well. The needles may eventually drop-off.
How long do blue spruce trees live?
Growth and Yield- Blue spruce is apparently a long-lived tree, surviving up to 600 years or more. Diameter growth is slow; trees 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5 in) in d.b.h. may be 125 to 135 years old; at 46 to 56 cm (18 to 22 in), they may be 275 to 350 years of age (84).
Should you trim bottom branches of blue spruce?
Eliminate branches growing in an undesirable direction by cutting them close to the trunk. Trimming bottom branches of blue spruce creates a neater appearance, and makes it easier to reach underneath the tree to rake or apply mulch.
Why is my blue spruce losing its needles?
The Colorado Blue Spruce often loses its rigid needles after wet seasons. The Rhizosphaera fungus, which thrives in the wet conditions, leads to the needle loss as it takes hold of the spruce.
Can a blue spruce recover from needle cast?
Two years of treatment usually restores moderately affected trees to full foliage. Severely affected trees may require more years of treatment. Homeowners who have blue spruce trees that are losing needles can contact their pest control person to inspect their trees and spray if appropriate.
What do you spray on a needle cast?
Begin needlecast treatments in spring when new needles are 1/2-2 inches long. In the Northeast and Northcentral states, start spraying for Lophodermium needlecast in mid-July and early August. Once treatments begin, reapply Daconil® fungicide every three to four weeks until dry weather stabilizes.
What causes a spruce tree to turn brown?
In many cases winter-burn is the cause for needle tips or entire needles turning brown. Winter-burn normally occurs in late winter and early spring when temperatures rise above freezing and warm winds and sunny days prevail.
Can a brown evergreen come back?
Whether needled or broadleafed, both evergreen trees and shrubs can look sickly and brown in spring, especially after a particularly cold or dry winter. Though there may be some branch loss, most brown evergreens do come back as spring progresses.
Can a blue spruce recover from needle cast?
Two years of treatment usually restores moderately affected trees to full foliage. Severely affected trees may require more years of treatment. Homeowners who have blue spruce trees that are losing needles can contact their pest control person to inspect their trees and spray if appropriate.
How often do you water a blue spruce tree?
Watering Needs: Needs regular watering – weekly, or more often in extreme heat. Average landscape size: Reaches 10-12 ft.
Why does my blue spruce tree die?
The Blue Spruce tree dies from the bottom up when it’s infected by Cytospera canker disease. This is a fungal disease.
When should I spray blue spruce?
I advise you to spray your Blue Spruce in the spring season. Apply once in 3-4 weeks for the best results. Make sure you cover all the needles well.
Why do Blue Spruce needles turn brown?
Blue Spruce needles turn brown due to Cytospora canker disease. Blue Spruce needles also turn brown when the tree is infected by Rhizosphaera needle cast. Stigmina needle cast disease also causes the same damage to the victim plant.
Why is my Blue Spruce yellowing?
Blue Spruce turns yellow when it gets more water than needed. The roots get stressed when the Blue Spruce is overwatered. Blue Spruce also turns yellow in the initial stages of needle cast disease.
What is the disease that can be found on a blue spruce tree?
Rhizosphaera and Stigmina are both different types of fungi that can infect the Blue Spruce tree. Microscopic diagnosis is the only way to differentiate these diseases.
How long does it take for a blue spruce to recover from needle cast disease?
Infected Blue Spruce takes up to 2 years to recover from needle cast disease. Severely infected trees take even more time to recover.
Why are blue spruce trees prone to needle cast diseases?
Blue Spruce trees that are stressed from drought, poor planting practices, or other improper care practices are more prone to needle cast diseases.
Why are my blue spruce trees dying?
Bare or dying branches on a Colorado blue spruce tree are commonly caused by a few different insect pests or one or more diseases. All of these problems can be exacerbated by drought stress, poor soil conditions, mechanical damage, and climatic conditions such as high humidity.
What are the symptoms of a Colorado blue spruce tree dying?
Dying branches (branch dieback) or branches that are shedding needles are common symptoms of Colorado blue spruce trees and often attributed to either of two insect pests: aphids or the Cooley spruce gall adelgid. These two insect pests look similar, so accurate identification requires a close look. The best way to tell if you have an infestation of Cooley spruce gall adelgid is to look for a cotton-like substance on tree branches. These are the insects' egg sacs. Generally, gall infestations will not damage the health of tree, though they may cause more aesthetic damage. 1
How to tell if a Cooley spruce tree has gall adelgid?
The best way to tell if you have an infestation of Cooley spruce gall adelgid is to look for a cotton-like substance on tree branches. These are the insects' egg sacs. Generally, gall infestations will not damage the health of tree, though they may cause more aesthetic damage. 1 .
How big are aphids on a spruce tree?
They are about 1/16 inch long and can be found in great numbers on the needles of the tree. Mature spruce aphids have olive-green bodies (young aphids are a lighter green) and two sets of wings. 2 .
What causes a spruce tree to have brown needles?
Cytospora canker : A fungal disease that affects older spruce trees, most commonly those more than 15 years old. Symptoms include branches with brown needles that fall off or may stay on the branch as well as a white residue that looks like bird droppings. 3 The residue is caused be resin oozing from infected parts of the tree.
When to spray for aphids?
For ongoing problems with these insect pests, you can take preventive measures—but it requires good timing. For aphids, you can spray in January, when their life cycle begins. For Cooley spruce gall adelgid, apply a dormant oil spray in late-October and early-November.
Is the spruce a peer reviewed study?
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cooley Spruce Galls. Colorado State University Extension. Spruce: Spruce Aphid.
What is a spruce tree?
Spruce trees are a type of conifer with extremely deep roots that make them difficult to kill. This causes an unsightly tree and runs the risk of passing diseases and infection to other trees on your property.
How to cut a tree with a chainsaw?
Use your chainsaw to cut a notch in the trunk of the tree , facing the way you want the tree to fall. Make a downward cut at a 45-degree angle to the center of the tree, then an upward cut at a 45-degree angle so the two cuts meet at the center point of the tree. Remove the leftover wedge.
How long does it take for a tree stump to decay?
Remove the layer of dirt from the stump after four weeks. The stump will now be dead, and may even have begun to decay.
How to cut a tree in the opposite direction?
Make a straight cut from the opposite side of the tree toward the center of your wedge cut. Be prepared to run in the opposite direction of the wedge cut the moment your tree begins to fall. Run quickly and run far.
How long does it take for a stump to fall off?
Remove the layer of dirt from the stump after four weeks. The stump will now be dead, and may even have begun to decay. Use a stump grinder (available for rent at your local home improvement store) to grind down the stump as far as possible.
Can spruce trees be killed?
Unfortunately, spruce are susceptible to a wide range of diseases and insects that can kill parts of the tree and leave other parts healthy.
Do you need to kill a spruce tree after cutting it down?
But even after you have cut it down, you still need to kill and remove the stump, or the roots will attempt to sprout again. Estimate the height of your tree. Take your time and be generous in your estimation, as you do not want the top of your tree crashing through your roof or a neighbor's. Spruce trees are a type of conifer with extremely deep ...
What are the pathogens that can be found on blue spruce?
As previously mentioned, there are several potential pathogens that can affect blue spruce. Rhizosphaera and Stigmina are commonly found on spruce needles in landscapes throughout Michigan.
What causes needlecast on spruce trees?
Rhizosphaera causes needlecast of spruce, the impact of Stigmina is not well understood but it is consistently found on declining spruce needles. Rhizosphaera infects spruce needles as they develop in the spring. The following year, the infected needles turn brown and begin to drop off the tree, hence the reference to needlecast. Fungicides can be used to help manage Rhizosphaera needlecast, but there are limitations. We strongly urge well-meaning tree owners to understand what is involved in effectively using fungicides for disease control.
How do spruce trees produce new shoots?
Each spring, spruce trees produce new shoots and needles from buds (needlecast pathogens enter the spruce through this young succulent tissue) that were formed the previous year. These buds are only produced on the ends of live branches.
Why do cytosporas have white spots on their branches?
Cankers caused by Cytospora may cause sap to ooze from the branch, creating a white layer on the branch surface. Photo by Michael Kangas, NDSU - North Dakota Forest Service, Bugwood.org.
What type of spruce grows in Michigan?
To be more specific, there are many different types of spruce, however, Colorado blue ( Picea pungens) spruce growing in Michigan have the largest array of potential problems.
How to reduce disease pressure on trees?
Consider making a tough choice—remove the most severely affected trees. This opens up space, increases air flow around the trees (which can reduce disease pressure) and reduces competition for moisture and nutrients for the remaining trees.
How does poor planting practices affect trees?
The impacts of poor planting practices may go unnoticed until trees are considerably larger and are stressed by limited root development, predisposing them to pest and pathogens.
What kind of diseases affect blue spruce trees?
There are three principle types of diseases that affect blue spruce trees: needlecasts, tip blights and canker diseases. All of these diseases are caused by fungal pathogens and each produce specific symptoms that can be useful in diagnosing the problem.
Why are we seeing increased decline in blue spruce trees?
There are a number of factors contributing to the decline we see in blue spruce trees, including environmental changes, poor site conditions and new pathogens. Colorado blue spruce is native to arid regions in the Rocky Mountains. Michigan’s climate is generally more humid, especially in the summer, which is ideal for fungal pathogens to thrive. In landscapes, Colorado blue spruces have been planted on some sites that are marginal for their success. As a result, they are stressed and more susceptible to fungal pathogens.
Should we continue to plant blue spruce trees?
Blue spruce does best on exposed sites with good soil drainage. Photo credit: Bert Cregg, MSU
What are the pests that live on spruce trees in Michigan?
Numerous insect pests can impact spruces in Michigan’s landscape, but the two most common are gall adelgids and spruce spider mites. In both cases, the insect pests are tiny and you may need a hand lens to see them. Often times, people are more likely to see the damage as opposed to the insect pests themselves.
Why are spruce trees declining in Michigan?
The rapid decline of many spruce trees in Michigan and surrounding states appears to be related to an increase of canker diseases coupled with other disease and insect problems that plague the species . Photo 2.
What causes tip blight on pine trees?
Tip blights are most common on pines, especially Austrian pines, but can also occur on spruces. 3. Canker diseases. Canker diseases are caused by fungi that infect branches or the main stem of trees. Typical symptoms of cankers are sunken areas along a stem that may ooze resin (Photo 5).
Why are blue spruce trees so popular?
Blue spruce trees are widely planted due to their good growth rate, stately form and, of course, their blue foliage. Unfortunately, blue spruce trees are subject to a wide range of insect and disease problems that can impact their growth and aesthetic appeal. The prevalence of diseases on blue spruce trees has intensified in recent years ...
What are the mites on a blue spruce tree?
Mites on Blue Spruce Tree. Blue spruce (Picea pungens) is a hardy and resilient evergreen tree. But like any landscape plant, it can still be susceptible to certain pests. One such pest is the spruce spider mite, a tiny arachnid that causes damage to spruces as well as to fir, juniper, arborvitae and hemlock trees.
How to get rid of spider mites on spruce?
They remove the silvery-blue pigment that gives blue spruce its color. A safer option is to spray spruce trees weekly with a forceful jet of water to dislodge mites from the branches.
How do spider mites damage spruce?
Spruce spider mites damage blue spruce by sucking the juices out of its foliage. In spring, they feed on the previous year's growth until the new foliage matures. They typically feed less or become dormant in summer, then resume feeding in fall. Spider mite damage often appears in the form of discolored foliage.
What is the pest that eats spruce trees?
One such pest is the spruce spider mite, a tiny arachnid that causes damage to spruces as well as to fir, juniper, arborvitae and hemlock trees. Spruce spider mites can be found in areas across the United States.
How to tell if a tree has mites?
You can detect mites by holding a sheet of white paper under the tree, then shaking the branches. Mites that fall on the paper will quickly start moving around.
Can spider mites be killed?
Treating with broad-spectrum insecticides should be avoided, however, because these chemicals also kill spider mites' natural predators, which can actually increase mite populations in the long run.
Can you see spider mites on a tree?
You may also be able to see mites and eggs on the branches with the aid of a magnifying glass. Be sure to confirm spider mites' presence before you begin treatment; in some cases, the mites will be gone by the time tree damage becomes apparent.
