Colorado Blue Spruce Cytospora Canker - Ask Extension
Our house is 106 years old and our Colorado Blue Spruce might be about the same age. Some trees have grown up on the west side of it shading the tree....
Knowledgebase
Colorado Blue Spruce Cytospora Canker #862341
Asked March 23, 2024, 5:40 PM EDT
Our house is 106 years old and our Colorado Blue Spruce might be about the same age. Some trees have grown up on the west side of it shading the tree. The bottom ca. 2/3 of the tree does not have branches with needles or with not many needles. See photos. We have been having a company treating it for the last few years: 2020 fertilize and Cambistat, 2023 fertilize, and now in 2024 Cambistat and fertilize. This will cost over $600. We can afford this but wonder if we should-considering the appearance of the tree.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Colorado Blue Spruce is a lovely tree, but is no longer recommended to plant in Minnesota due to its susceptibility to disease. Because of this, Its lifespan here is approximately 30-40 years. Because yours has lost most of its needles, has been affected by disease and is top heavy so that strong winds may fell it, it may be best to remove it. Here is information on growing conifers in our area; it will show other evergreens you might choose to replace it. https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/choosing-evergreens-your-landscape
Really appreciate the information. Thank you so much!
JoEllen
I wonder if it could be harvested for lumber? It is really so straight... any suggestions?
jh
Really appreciate the information. Thank you so much!JoEllen
You can contact lumber companies or put ads in sites such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace to see if someone would like the lumber.
