my spruce trees are dying, help !! - Ask Extension
Hello; I have several mature spruce trees that over the past few years have been dropping needles and small branches. It seems to start from the cen...
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my spruce trees are dying, help !! #393610
Asked April 14, 2017, 9:03 AM EDT
Hello; I have several mature spruce trees that over the past few years have been dropping needles and small branches. It seems to start from the center of the tree and work it's way out until all needles turn brown, drop and tree dies. I have attached a few pics, any ideas on what it is and how to treat would be appreciated.
thank you for your help,
Karl Felsheim
Dauphin County Pennsylvania
Expert Response
Hi:
Your tree is a Douglas fir. It has a fungal disease called Rhabdocline needle cast. It may also have another called Swiss needle cast. Your tree has lost a lot of foliage (needles) and I don't think it will recover. However, you could hire a landscape company to spray for the pathogen. The first treatment needs to be applied now.
http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/douglasfirneedlecasts.pdf
Your tree is a Douglas fir. It has a fungal disease called Rhabdocline needle cast. It may also have another called Swiss needle cast. Your tree has lost a lot of foliage (needles) and I don't think it will recover. However, you could hire a landscape company to spray for the pathogen. The first treatment needs to be applied now.
http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/douglasfirneedlecasts.pdf
