Norway Spruces Needles Suddently Turning Brown - Ask Extension
Hello. We planted 5 20ft Norway spruce trees in our backyard last December (2021) and they are suddenly turning brown from the ground up. A few wee...
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Norway Spruces Needles Suddently Turning Brown #813403
Asked October 06, 2022, 1:10 PM EDT
Hello. We planted 5 20ft Norway spruce trees in our backyard last December (2021) and they are suddenly turning brown from the ground up. A few weeks ago they were fine. We were very pleased during the Spring/Summer as they seemed to be growing and producing new needles. Can you help diagnose? Could they still be in shock from re-planting? Are they salvageable?
Thank you.
Livingston County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello, Brandon,
At first glance, I suspected needlecast was causing the needle discoloration and drop. Then, I decided to do some local research on our Norway spruce local to Roscommon and found that most of the trees are exhibiting this discoloration. That leads me to believe this is normal, annual needle-drop of Norway spruce. All conifers shed needled annually; I've found that Norway spruce is a bit different in that some years the needle drop is very evident, and in others not so much.
My suggestion is to observe the condition of other Norway spruce in your area to see if they, too, have discolored needles like yours do. I suspect you'll find most do!
Below is a link to an article about normal needle drop in conifers:
https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/horticulture/joes-old-pages/normal-fall-needle-drop-in-conifers
And, just in case, below is an article about needlecast. Norway spruce is normally not affected by needlecast as Colorado blue spruce are. It's rare, but nothing is impossible with trees!
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/rhizosphaera-needle-cast
Needlecast killed needles have a series of black dots on the underside of the needle (picture in the article). Maybe check the discolored needles for the dots?
Thank you,
-Julie
At first glance, I suspected needlecast was causing the needle discoloration and drop. Then, I decided to do some local research on our Norway spruce local to Roscommon and found that most of the trees are exhibiting this discoloration. That leads me to believe this is normal, annual needle-drop of Norway spruce. All conifers shed needled annually; I've found that Norway spruce is a bit different in that some years the needle drop is very evident, and in others not so much.
My suggestion is to observe the condition of other Norway spruce in your area to see if they, too, have discolored needles like yours do. I suspect you'll find most do!
Below is a link to an article about normal needle drop in conifers:
https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/horticulture/joes-old-pages/normal-fall-needle-drop-in-conifers
And, just in case, below is an article about needlecast. Norway spruce is normally not affected by needlecast as Colorado blue spruce are. It's rare, but nothing is impossible with trees!
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/rhizosphaera-needle-cast
Needlecast killed needles have a series of black dots on the underside of the needle (picture in the article). Maybe check the discolored needles for the dots?
Thank you,
-Julie
