Blue Spruce turning brown - Ask Extension
My 16 year old blue spruce has begun to turn brown on the lower 1/2 of the branches. A couple of events which MAY be a factor: 1. I sprayed Roun...
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Blue Spruce turning brown #725740
Asked September 21, 2020, 12:08 PM EDT
My 16 year old blue spruce has begun to turn brown on the lower 1/2 of the branches. A couple of events which MAY be a factor: 1. I sprayed Roundup around the landscaping perimeter for grass control. I assumed an adult tree would not be affected. 2. I drained my hot tub in the vicinity of the tree a couple of months ago. BUT I am wondering if this browning is a fungus. Can you look at the pictures and give me your impression of what may be going on? Thanks so much.
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello,
No, it likely wasn't the Roundup or your hot tub. If you notice, the needles are on the inner canopy and not on the outside. This is normal needle loss and I suspect we'll have a lot greater needle drop this fall from our evergreens due to the late spring freezes, drought, and heat from the season. Trees will shed needles they don't need or use for photosynthesis.
Just keep on maintaining the tree as you normally would. Spruce love water, so be sure to provide supplemental irrigation in the fall and winter once you drain your sprinkler system.
No, it likely wasn't the Roundup or your hot tub. If you notice, the needles are on the inner canopy and not on the outside. This is normal needle loss and I suspect we'll have a lot greater needle drop this fall from our evergreens due to the late spring freezes, drought, and heat from the season. Trees will shed needles they don't need or use for photosynthesis.
Just keep on maintaining the tree as you normally would. Spruce love water, so be sure to provide supplemental irrigation in the fall and winter once you drain your sprinkler system.
Just a sanity check. I honestly haven’t seen this in prior years and the yard is well irrigated throughout summer. What would a fungal infestation look like? More widespread? Thanks again.
To be honest, I haven't seen fungal infections on needles. The tree as a whole might get something like cytospora, but this type of needle damage is almost always abiotic (cultural).
And while you run your sprinklers in the summer, our dry winters are tough on evergreen trees that lose water from needles all year. So that's why fall and winter watering is key.
And while you run your sprinklers in the summer, our dry winters are tough on evergreen trees that lose water from needles all year. So that's why fall and winter watering is key.
Thanks so much. I appreciate your time and expertise!
Thanks so much. I appreciate your time and expertise!
