Blue Spruce needles turning brown - Ask Extension
Our approximately 6 year old Blue Spruce has lost a lot of needles and the inside lower to mid level needles are all brown. The top 1/3 of the tree s...
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Blue Spruce needles turning brown #608015
Asked December 06, 2019, 3:31 PM EST
Our approximately 6 year old Blue Spruce has lost a lot of needles and the inside lower to mid level needles are all brown. The top 1/3 of the tree seems fine. Is there something we should do to treat this?
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
Unfortunately, it is not likely that your tree will recover it's former loveliness and there is nothing we recommend to fix it.
Blue spruce are not really well suited to our climate here and especially lately have been having disease and insect issues that are taking mature ones out.
The fact that yours is so young suggests perhaps an environmental or cultural problem- that is maybe a root issue related to planting or care.
For instance being planted or mulched too deeply, or having a problem with drainage or drought.
Here is a recent blog post from our Maryland Grows page about two diseases that can affect them: https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/2018/01/08/whats-wrong-with-my-blue-spruce-tree/
Christine
Blue spruce are not really well suited to our climate here and especially lately have been having disease and insect issues that are taking mature ones out.
The fact that yours is so young suggests perhaps an environmental or cultural problem- that is maybe a root issue related to planting or care.
For instance being planted or mulched too deeply, or having a problem with drainage or drought.
Here is a recent blog post from our Maryland Grows page about two diseases that can affect them: https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/2018/01/08/whats-wrong-with-my-blue-spruce-tree/
Christine
