Knowledgebase

Seeking advice on what may be ailing my evergreen tree. #864676

Asked April 15, 2024, 9:17 PM EDT

Attached are photos of what I think is a dwarf Alberta Spruce tree that has been in my yard for approximately 25 years. It gets a southern exposure on the front of my residence in Laurel, Maryland. Recently, it has developed bare spots that may soon threaten the entire tree. The needles on the branches in certain areas dry up and die. The soil is uniformly wet so drought is not present. The backside of the tree that gets little sunlight is the worst but lately, even the sunnier, front side is showing this issue. I've tried using Sevin insect killer bug spray thinking it may be an insect issue, to no avail. I do not see any visible insect infestation. Any advice on what I might to do stop the tree from deteriorating will be appreciated.

Howard County Maryland

Expert Response

Hi, 

Dwarf Alberta Spruce don't love our mid-Atlantic Climate, they also tend to not do well near foundations like this. The reflective heat from the house and pavement can cause them to get spider mites, a common ailment.  Sevin wouldn't be the best treatment for this. First you should check for mites by holding a white piece of paper under the branches and tapping them (explained on the link). You can try a horticultural oil, or hosing off the plant with a strong stream of water, as it specifies on the resource page we linked to, however at this state of damage and given the location, we would recommend that you just remove the plant and install something else. 

If you would like help with recommendations for a replacement plant, please let us know. 

Emily

Loading ...