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Damage to (Austrian ?) spruce trees #826701
Asked April 22, 2023, 1:21 PM EDT
Winona County Minnesota
Expert Response
Good afternoon and thank you for reaching out to ask2.extension.
What you evergreens have is winter burn or sun scald. When conditions are dry and the evergreens don’t have enough water to make it through the winter, the winter sun and cold winds do this to them.
I don’t know for certain that they will pull out of it. It will take quite a bit of care. You will need to find an acidic fertilizer and follow the instructions. I have seen one lady pull hers through by spraying her bushes with a liquid acidic fertilizer all through the summer.
If you want to try, be sure to keep them well watered and fertilize them regularly and be patient. It may take several years to pull them through. Water in the fall until the ground freezes.
Good luck!