Dying Fir crown - Ask Extension
I have a very tall set of three fir trees on the South side of my property. The crown of the center tree is dying. Can you tell me why this would ...
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Dying Fir crown #351280
Asked August 08, 2016, 3:06 PM EDT
I have a very tall set of three fir trees on the South side of my property. The crown of the center tree is dying. Can you tell me why this would be happening? The neighbor directly to the North of me list a similar tree last year, about 20' tall. I thought it was lack of water. Given that I lost a Port Orford cedar to disease also last summer West of these three, I am not sure what to think, or how long my tree has to live.
Thanks,
Sid
Thanks,
Sid
Linn County Oregon
Expert Response
appears to me there isn't enough top kill for it to be drought stress, but I could be wrong. It looks more like a squirrel or possibly (but I doubt) a porcupine. Get a pair of binoculars and look up and see if you can see any damage on the stem of the tree. The PO cedar kill has nothing to do with Doug-firs. Take a look and see what you find.
I took a look at the top of the tree. I could not see any distinct color or texture differences between the trunk above and below the dead growth. The very top where the growth is the tiniest, though, looked brown. It looked like it was either dead or stripped.
I'm gonna stick with animal damage because that short dead top doesn't correlate with any diseases I can imagine. Check around the base of he tree for animal scat.
I will do that. Can you tell me long term prognosis?
I haven't thought of anything any better. Check with our forest health specialist, Dave Shaw .... <personal data hidden>
