Blue Spruce dropping lots of needles all of a sudden - Ask Extension
I recently discovered that one of our Blue Spruce trees is dropping almost all of its needles all of a sudden. I don't know why. Have you seen this ha...
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Blue Spruce dropping lots of needles all of a sudden #796484
Asked June 17, 2022, 2:21 PM EDT
I recently discovered that one of our Blue Spruce trees is dropping almost all of its needles all of a sudden. I don't know why. Have you seen this happening to other Blue Spruce trees in Castle Rock or Douglas County? Thank you.
Douglas County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello, thank you for reaching out. I do have some questions to go through and find out more about the situation. The link provided will give some care instucstions for evergeens. https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/watering-a-home-landscape-during-drought-7-240-2/
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/evergreen-trees-7-403/
1) How often is the tree watered?
2) Do you water the tree during the winter?
3) How old is the blue spruce?
4) What direction does the tree face?
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/evergreen-trees-7-403/
1) How often is the tree watered?
2) Do you water the tree during the winter?
3) How old is the blue spruce?
4) What direction does the tree face?
Answers –
- We use a smart irrigation controller that determines water needs for our turf, trees, and plants.
- This tree may have been missed this past winter when we did winter watering. We do try to do some winter watering.
- We purchased the house in 2013. It was an existing tree as well as the other four (4) Blue Spruce trees in our yard. The other 4 Blue Spruce trees are smaller than this one, this is the largest one. The house was built in 2006-7. It was a model home. The first owners purchased it in 2009. When we bought the house, the landscape was in poor shape. It looked like they didn’t water appropriately (a lack of water).
- The tree faces east.
Thank you,
Caryn
Caryn Johnson
From: askextension=<personal data hidden> <askextension=<personal data hidden>> On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2022 9:29 AM
To: Caryn Johnson <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Blue Spruce dropping lots of needles all of a sudden (#0066415)
A suggestion was made to check under the rocks and see if there has been weed fabric placed? If there is weed fabric does the soil underneath feel wet? Weed fabric can keep oxygen from the plant roots, clogs up quickly and can keep water from the plant or tree. Let us know if there's fabric. It may also be due to the dry winter this past year and not receiving enough moisture even without a weed fabric.
