Blue Spruce tree die-back and needles dropping - Ask Extension
Within the last two weeks, I have noticed significant needle loss and brown die-back on many of the branches on my blue spruce tree. The lower branche...
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Blue Spruce tree die-back and needles dropping #808187
Asked August 26, 2022, 4:02 PM EDT
Within the last two weeks, I have noticed significant needle loss and brown die-back on many of the branches on my blue spruce tree. The lower branches appear healthy but many branches in the mid section and top of the tree are dying. This tree was sprayed for the ips beetle in late July. Can you offer any suggestions as to what is causing the problem?
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
It is very difficult to diagnose a coniferous tree problem from a photograph. It could be several different things.
If this a beetle infestation, here is a fact sheet on how to identify and treat ips beetles.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/ips-beetles-5-558/
Needle cast is the result of fungus infection of the tree. Here are some diagnostic pages for fungus infections of coniferous trees. Focus on the spruces in the host column and the identification criteria.
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/misc/NeedleCasts.pdf
Poor watering practice could stress the tree and cause your symptom. If watering is an issue, here is a fact sheet on the care and maintenance of Evergreen trees.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/evergreen-trees-7-403/
Finally, if this is a tree worth saving then it is worth having it assessed professionally. The office of the city forester has a list of licensed tree service contractors:
https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Parks-Recreation/Trees-Natural-Resources/Office-of-the-City-Forester
or you can search for a certified arborist on this website:
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
If this a beetle infestation, here is a fact sheet on how to identify and treat ips beetles.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/ips-beetles-5-558/
Needle cast is the result of fungus infection of the tree. Here are some diagnostic pages for fungus infections of coniferous trees. Focus on the spruces in the host column and the identification criteria.
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/misc/NeedleCasts.pdf
Poor watering practice could stress the tree and cause your symptom. If watering is an issue, here is a fact sheet on the care and maintenance of Evergreen trees.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/evergreen-trees-7-403/
Finally, if this is a tree worth saving then it is worth having it assessed professionally. The office of the city forester has a list of licensed tree service contractors:
https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Parks-Recreation/Trees-Natural-Resources/Office-of-the-City-Forester
or you can search for a certified arborist on this website:
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
