Blue Spruce Disease in Mn - Ask Extension
Is a Blue Spruce “Fat Albert” safe from disease in Mn? We recently removed 2-30 foot Colorado Blue Spruce because of disease. I’ve attached the...
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Blue Spruce Disease in Mn #789057
Asked May 03, 2022, 10:05 AM EDT
Is a Blue Spruce “Fat Albert” safe from disease in Mn? We recently removed 2-30 foot Colorado Blue Spruce because of disease. I’ve attached the specifics about this tree. Ignore the highlighted line. I’m not by power lines. I would appreciate any other suggestions of pines that will work in Mn.
Thanks,
Maureen
Dakota County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Maureen,
I'm consulting with an educator at the UofM about the 'Fat Albert' cultivar and how it does in Minnesota landscapes...stay tuned!
In the meanwhile, this might be a helpful resource if you're open to different options: https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/choosing-evergreens-your-landscape
What tree does best in your yard will depend on a few different factors, including amount of sun you get in the specific site, type of soil, pH level, etc. There are recommendations for different conifers based on your growing conditions.
Will get back to you on 'Fat Albert'!
I'm consulting with an educator at the UofM about the 'Fat Albert' cultivar and how it does in Minnesota landscapes...stay tuned!
In the meanwhile, this might be a helpful resource if you're open to different options: https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/choosing-evergreens-your-landscape
What tree does best in your yard will depend on a few different factors, including amount of sun you get in the specific site, type of soil, pH level, etc. There are recommendations for different conifers based on your growing conditions.
Will get back to you on 'Fat Albert'!
Hi again, Maureen
Julie, one of our wonderful Extension Educators got back to me with the following insight on disease and 'Fat Albert':
"Needle cast disease on spruce - including Colorado Blue spruce (Picea pungens) - are affecting more spruce including white spruce (P. glauca) and Norway spruce (P. abies). Even Black Hills spruce (P. glauca 'Densata') which we all thought to be pretty resilient, is showing signs of needle cast diseases. Rhizosphaera is the needle cast disease that took P. pungens off the market in Minnesota. The plant is native to Colorado (hence the common name) where it is dry. Like many fungal diseases, rhizosphaera is made worse in humid conditions (like Minnesota summers and not Colorado). Spruce is also a common plant used for windbreaks and living fences between properties. In these two cases, they are purposely planted close together, increasing the humidity in the tree canopy and thus the disease. The disease also starts with lower branches. When used in home landscapes, spruce are often crammed into spaces where air circulation is reduced such as along buildings and fences. This lack of airflow fosters the growth of the needle cast disease as well.
As for Fat Albert and other dwarf spruce: these are still susceptible to needle cast diseases. However, they are more likely to be purchased as single accent plants in landscapes and thus will have better airflow and sunlight, fungal diseases may be reduced.
Spacing plants for the mature size in full sun, mulching and eliminating overhead watering will help reduce the severity of needle cast diseases, but there's nothing that states they are more disease resistant. They are just used differently and being smaller trees, they usually have more room / airflow and light than the larger specimens."
Here's an additional resource on blue spruce: https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/blue-spruce/#care-knowledge
Hope that helps, please let us know if you have any other questions!
Julie, one of our wonderful Extension Educators got back to me with the following insight on disease and 'Fat Albert':
"Needle cast disease on spruce - including Colorado Blue spruce (Picea pungens) - are affecting more spruce including white spruce (P. glauca) and Norway spruce (P. abies). Even Black Hills spruce (P. glauca 'Densata') which we all thought to be pretty resilient, is showing signs of needle cast diseases. Rhizosphaera is the needle cast disease that took P. pungens off the market in Minnesota. The plant is native to Colorado (hence the common name) where it is dry. Like many fungal diseases, rhizosphaera is made worse in humid conditions (like Minnesota summers and not Colorado). Spruce is also a common plant used for windbreaks and living fences between properties. In these two cases, they are purposely planted close together, increasing the humidity in the tree canopy and thus the disease. The disease also starts with lower branches. When used in home landscapes, spruce are often crammed into spaces where air circulation is reduced such as along buildings and fences. This lack of airflow fosters the growth of the needle cast disease as well.
As for Fat Albert and other dwarf spruce: these are still susceptible to needle cast diseases. However, they are more likely to be purchased as single accent plants in landscapes and thus will have better airflow and sunlight, fungal diseases may be reduced.
Spacing plants for the mature size in full sun, mulching and eliminating overhead watering will help reduce the severity of needle cast diseases, but there's nothing that states they are more disease resistant. They are just used differently and being smaller trees, they usually have more room / airflow and light than the larger specimens."
Here's an additional resource on blue spruce: https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/blue-spruce/#care-knowledge
Hope that helps, please let us know if you have any other questions!
