Apex die back in white fir trees - Ask Extension
I have 3 thirty foot Concolor for trees that are quickly losing the top nodes -- needles browning, even those that opened green 3 weeks ago. Is this ...
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Apex die back in white fir trees #755921
Asked June 13, 2021, 5:19 PM EDT
I have 3 thirty foot Concolor for trees that are quickly losing the top nodes -- needles browning, even those that opened green 3 weeks ago. Is this a systemic disease? Why all 3 neighboring trees at the same time? What do I do? Can I stop this and save the trees? I live at 8000 feet near Estes Park.
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi John,
I am having trouble seeing what you're seeing. What I see from your photos is great new growth at the terminal tips, but I don't see any browning. Could the browning be the bud scales being shed?
But if all three are showing the same symptoms, then it's more than likely something cultural, not disease. Maybe heat stress? Drought stress? Adjusting from a wet spring to hot temperatures overnight?
I would wait and see how it goes. It might be worth calling the Estes Park forester...or even the National Park...to see if they are noticing anything unusual. I have not heard of anything through my channels.
