new growth on balsam fir - Ask Extension
these are new branches on young balsam firs (and some other conifers) ..there was a spell of very dry weather earlier in the season ( all of May &...
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new growth on balsam fir #661465
Asked July 08, 2020, 1:18 PM EDT
these are new branches on young balsam firs (and some other conifers) ..there was a spell of very dry weather earlier in the season ( all of May & most of June)
I have noticed that the new growth had these brown tips on them as a result .It seems to be on most of the young conifers I planted 7-8 years ago .. is this a result of the dry weather or some infestation .. it's recent (during the dry spell) & only on the new growth.
the trees apart from these dry stunted dark brown dry tips seem healthy
any info on what might be the cause of this condition would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
I have noticed that the new growth had these brown tips on them as a result .It seems to be on most of the young conifers I planted 7-8 years ago .. is this a result of the dry weather or some infestation .. it's recent (during the dry spell) & only on the new growth.
the trees apart from these dry stunted dark brown dry tips seem healthy
any info on what might be the cause of this condition would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
County New York
Expert Response
Hello and thank you for contacting us about your balsam firs. Tip death can be caused by root damage. More often, the cause is environmental. The tree puts out new growth in the spring, but when hot weather hits, it is unable to support the new tips and they wither and die.
Fir, in addition to Colorado Blue spruce and Norwegian spruce, are not well adapted to hot, dry weather. You may be able to mitigate the effect by place 2 to 3-inches of woodchip mulch across the root zone of the trees, and irrigating them regularly. Trees require 2 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter weekly.
Fir, in addition to Colorado Blue spruce and Norwegian spruce, are not well adapted to hot, dry weather. You may be able to mitigate the effect by place 2 to 3-inches of woodchip mulch across the root zone of the trees, and irrigating them regularly. Trees require 2 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter weekly.
thank you for your time and input..I suspect that the drought we have been experiencing is the cause...I shall water them during this dry weather ,, the trees have been mulched yearly with cedar chips since they were planted 8 years ago.. they seem to be healthy ..the growth pattern seemed to only have one part of the new shoots be affected at the beginning of the season
