Hello my client has a large stand of spruce that are looking very stressed, and one that is looking very healthy. I went over and inspected the trees and the surrounding. The base of one of the more unhealthy looking trees, had plastic landscaping under it, which I ripped out and found a little white mold nothing crazy but still saw some. The other trees had some plastic bags pilled on the root flare and I removed those and saw a some more mold/white spores. The root flare were all exposed and the base of the tree had pretty thick needle build up from over the years. This whole area has not been irrigated well and the soil was very dry and I think the main culprit here is heat stress and lack of moisture. There is evidence of beetler activity with micro pin holes in all the trees trunk bark, not excessive pitch coming out any where. No frass on the ground...Just a bunch of dead branches with obvious engraving marks. The client is worried about the healthy spruce trees on the property becoming effected from the stressed out spruce trees. Which will be VERY expensive, so the goal is to come up with a plan to try to baby the stressed trees, remove the few trees that are beyond repair. Which brings us full circle to the genesis of this very email folks. I need some advice. I suggested that we remove the really bad tree/s, cut out the deadwood on the stressed trees, clean out the base/root areas, add some mulch, increase water, and in the spring I come in and deep root fertilizing with Rainbow tree care Bio Rush( no nitrogen). I'd like your input on tweeks or a new full blown plan. Thanks in advance! first time using this resource!