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Concolor fir #826942

Asked April 24, 2023, 12:51 PM EDT

I have a concolor fir that was planted about 8 years ago. It is about 14 feet tall. Last summer I cut out some dead branches and the tree seemed fine. Now, I have more branches that look like they are dying. I need your guidance to help save my beautiful tree. Two photos are attached. The brown, dead branch photo is from last summer. The other photo is from this morning. What can I do to save my tree?

Ingham County Michigan

Expert Response

It is difficult to know precisely what is going on from the information provided.  There is a disease called delphinella shoot blight that has been found damaging concolor fir trees in Michigan.  Here are a few links with information on that disease.  https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/concolor_fir_turning_brown.  
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/CAES/PDIO/Fact-Sheets/Delphinella-Shoot-Blight-of-Fir.pdf

However, the fact that you are seeing new damage to the tree this spring prior to budbreak  indicates that it is unlikely to be delphinella shoot blight.  It may be helpful to send a sample of the damaged portion of the tree into MSU plant and pest diagnostic lab (https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/) for further analysis.  Also consider has anything different been done or applied to the trees that had not before (fertilizer, spraying,  etc.)


An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 25, 2023, 9:12 AM EDT

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