Hello and thank you for contacting us!

Unless you are seeing signs of mechanical or insect damage, I suspect it’s a combination of transplant shock and lack of winter water, and with this year’s abundant rain it now may have too much water. The tree had enough stored resources to push out new growth, but it's now responding to stress.

Spruce trees have a moderate to high water need. That translates to 10 gallons of water per inch of trunk caliper per watering. The frequency of watering depends on the weather\ precipitation\etc.   The safest method is to just check the soil around the plant regularly and water when the top few inches are dry.

All trees need winter water, and new spruce trees need even more monitoring and care. We had a dry winter. Unless we get 1” precipitation per winter month, we need to supplement by watering on days that it’s warm enough for water to penetrate the soil.

All that said, you can give it lots of care to give it a chance. It does not need any fertilization or root stimulator at this point. If it continues to go downhill, it might be worth checking into whether or not it has a warranty (keep an eye on the purchase date). If you end up having to replant, we recommend planting spruces in the spring because of its moderate to high water need.

I’m including links with information that you might find helpful, and answer more of your questions about the area under the tree (appropriate mulching will help hold moisture in).

Evergreen trees: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07403.html

Fall and winter watering: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07211.html

Care of recently planted trees: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/Gardennotes/635.html

Hope your “Colorado” tree pulls through! Please don’t hesitate to contact us with further questions.

Karin