Douglas Fir Tree (only one) dying from the top down - Ask Extension
Hi there. I saw Caitlin's May 2015 question about this phenomenon occurring over in Lebanon where she lives. But I wasn't able to chime in with a comm...
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Douglas Fir Tree (only one) dying from the top down #361779
Asked September 11, 2016, 7:14 PM EDT
Hi there. I saw Caitlin's May 2015 question about this phenomenon occurring over in Lebanon where she lives. But I wasn't able to chime in with a comment, however, so I'm starting a new question.
I live between Siletz and Logsden in Lincoln County.
Your answer was that this is a result of drought stress from 2014. Well, if that's the case, then why is it we aren't seeing more trees suffering the same result? In fact, I live in the middle of a lot of large, old fir trees and it's only one single tree just off to the side of my carport that is suffering. And I am freaking out because this is such a beautiful 102 foot tree that I have watched grow over the course of my 35 years on this hill. I'm suspecting something else. Can you please tell me if this might be the result of my pouring glaze materials or just washing out glaze buckets from my production pottery studio. Or could it be caused from dumping 10 gallons of sea water out there after boiling crab over the course of at least the last 22 years? That's actually something I have been careful not to do right at the base of the tree, but root systems go out laterally as far as the tree is tall and I can assure you, I have dumped a lot of glaze materials and sea water within the 102 foot diameter. BUT NO OTHER TREES ARE SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER. I'm feeling really awful about the possibility that I have killed my jewel-in-the-crown favorite Doug fir.
Of note is the fact that I "shot" the height of the tree using some Pythagorus to come up with the 102 feet. And that took place on May 10th of this year. The top was either totally healthy at that time or so insignificant that I just couldn't see it yet. My point is, once I noticed the beginnings of the necrosis (either near the end of May or into the month of June), I have checked daily to see the needles turning progressively brown, progressively down. So sad.
ALSO -- is there any remedy for any of these possibilities (drought stress from 2014 or chemical poisoning)? Am I going to lose this tree completely?
Thanks so much for your time!
-- Jacob
I live between Siletz and Logsden in Lincoln County.
Your answer was that this is a result of drought stress from 2014. Well, if that's the case, then why is it we aren't seeing more trees suffering the same result? In fact, I live in the middle of a lot of large, old fir trees and it's only one single tree just off to the side of my carport that is suffering. And I am freaking out because this is such a beautiful 102 foot tree that I have watched grow over the course of my 35 years on this hill. I'm suspecting something else. Can you please tell me if this might be the result of my pouring glaze materials or just washing out glaze buckets from my production pottery studio. Or could it be caused from dumping 10 gallons of sea water out there after boiling crab over the course of at least the last 22 years? That's actually something I have been careful not to do right at the base of the tree, but root systems go out laterally as far as the tree is tall and I can assure you, I have dumped a lot of glaze materials and sea water within the 102 foot diameter. BUT NO OTHER TREES ARE SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER. I'm feeling really awful about the possibility that I have killed my jewel-in-the-crown favorite Doug fir.
Of note is the fact that I "shot" the height of the tree using some Pythagorus to come up with the 102 feet. And that took place on May 10th of this year. The top was either totally healthy at that time or so insignificant that I just couldn't see it yet. My point is, once I noticed the beginnings of the necrosis (either near the end of May or into the month of June), I have checked daily to see the needles turning progressively brown, progressively down. So sad.
ALSO -- is there any remedy for any of these possibilities (drought stress from 2014 or chemical poisoning)? Am I going to lose this tree completely?
Thanks so much for your time!
-- Jacob
Lincoln County Oregon
Expert Response
Jacob,
Thank you for your detailed description and photos regarding your tree. It is difficult to identify one cause. It sounds like a combination of what you listed may have contributed to the decline of the tree.
However, one benefit is this tree will serve as valuable wildlife habitat. A dead standing tree is called a snag. Dead/dying trees are standing habitat which provide spaces for species to feed, nest, perch, and roost. Wildlife such as Pileated woodpeckers Chickadee, Nuthatch, owls, ducks, other small animals and roosting bats may begin to use your tree.
Three resources for additional information include:
Watch and listen to this online tutorial. It is 26 minutes in
http://extensionweb.forestry.oregonstate.edu/sites/forestry-extension/files/presenter-zips/Nicole%20...
An International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborist can help with risks associated with the tree. See resources for home landscape trees:
http://extensionweb.forestry.oregonstate.edu/urban-and-yard-trees
For information regarding future disposal of the ceramic glazes, while not my specialty area, please refer to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Small Quantity Hazardous Waste Generator Handbook
How to Reduce, Identify, Store and Dispose of Hazardous Waste in Orego http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/hw/SQGHandbook/SQGHandbook.pdf
Collection events/contact information: http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/sw/hhw/events.htm
Please contact me directly for more information.
Valerie Grant
Forestry & Natural Resources
Serving Clatsop, Tillamook, and Lincoln Counties
Thank you for your detailed description and photos regarding your tree. It is difficult to identify one cause. It sounds like a combination of what you listed may have contributed to the decline of the tree.
However, one benefit is this tree will serve as valuable wildlife habitat. A dead standing tree is called a snag. Dead/dying trees are standing habitat which provide spaces for species to feed, nest, perch, and roost. Wildlife such as Pileated woodpeckers Chickadee, Nuthatch, owls, ducks, other small animals and roosting bats may begin to use your tree.
Three resources for additional information include:
Family Forests and Wildlife: What You Need to Know
http://westernforestry.org/WoodlandFishAndWildlife/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keystone-pub-v6.pdfWatch and listen to this online tutorial. It is 26 minutes in
http://extensionweb.forestry.oregonstate.edu/sites/forestry-extension/files/presenter-zips/Nicole%20...
An International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborist can help with risks associated with the tree. See resources for home landscape trees:
http://extensionweb.forestry.oregonstate.edu/urban-and-yard-trees
For information regarding future disposal of the ceramic glazes, while not my specialty area, please refer to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Small Quantity Hazardous Waste Generator Handbook
How to Reduce, Identify, Store and Dispose of Hazardous Waste in Orego http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/hw/SQGHandbook/SQGHandbook.pdf
Collection events/contact information: http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/sw/hhw/events.htm
Please contact me directly for more information.
Valerie Grant
Forestry & Natural Resources
Serving Clatsop, Tillamook, and Lincoln Counties
Oregon State University
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