Your fir is reacting to transplanting and the heat we have had recently does not help.  As far as watering, the soil should still be loose.  Put you index finger into the soil up to the second knuckle.  If the soil is dry at the end of your finger, the tree needs water.  When you water, do so slowly and allow the water to trickle deeply in the soil.

Thanks for your reply,. I've really been trying to give my Tyler blue fir the TLC it needs however it still appears to be declining. Here are some recent pictures. 

Do you still suspect transplant shock or could there be another issue going on?

Fortunately I do have a replacement warranty at the garden center i purchased it from should it not survive. 

Thanks for your advice. 

- Ryan 

That is the strangest combination of straight and curled branches I have ever seen, unless it is just the angle of the photos.  It looked healthier in the earlier photos.  It is too late to be putting in a replacement this year but hang on to your warranty.  I think you will need it.  A second thought, perhaps you may want to visit the nursery where you purchased this fir and take a look at others there to see if they look the same.  That way you have something to compare.

Hello,  and thank you for your response.  Unfortunately the Tyler blue balsam fir was the only one left in stock when I purchased it in August. It looked healthy at the nursery but had started to take a turn for the worse by the end of the month. 

I agree,  the branching structure is a bit peculiar. 

I was hoping there was something to be done to revive the tree you are right i may need the warranty for next spring. 

I don't have too many blue conifers in my yard and it creates a nice balance between all the green and yellow varieties of conifers i have.  Additionally it is my only fir and located in an area that gets shade for about half a day.

I'll probably replace it next spring with another Tyler blue and hopefully the same thing won't happen. 

Does it appear to be some sort of disease to you?

Thanks!

Hello,  and thank you for your response.  Unfortunately the Tyler blue balsam fir was the only one left in stock when I purchased it in August. It looked healthy at the nursery but had started to take a turn for the worse by the end of the month. 

I agree,  the branching structure is a bit peculiar. 

I was hoping there was something to be done to revive the tree you are right i may need the warranty for next spring. 

I don't have too many blue conifers in my yard and it creates a nice balance between all the green and yellow varieties of conifers i have.  Additionally it is my only fir and located in an area that gets shade for about half a day.

I'll probably replace it next spring with another Tyler blue and hopefully the same thing won't happen. 

Does it appear to be some sort of disease to you?

I was thinking possibly spider mite damage as I did find some webbing across some of the branches in the middle of the tree However I hadn't seen any spider mits yet although I know that they are small.

Thanks!

I don't think it is a disease but more a matter of the roots...something just isn't right there. Consider taking a soil test and mark that you are planting this fir.  http://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/