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Black Hills spruce tree slowly turning yellowish #885218

Asked September 14, 2024, 8:29 AM EDT

I have a grove of black hills spruce that were planted in 2008. 3 of the 50 trees are starting to look sick. I have pictures attached. It is not the entire tree, but portions of it that are turning like a lime green color, then yellow, and then finally brown. The other thing that is noticeable is that the individual limbs towards the outside are all drooping and seem to have no upward strength to them. We are in central MN and the rain this year has been incredibly great! Is there anything you can think of going wrong here or more importantly anything I can do to prevent losing my trees?

Kandiyohi County Minnesota

Expert Response

All the rain has probably washed away what nitrogen in the soil and also raised the pH and black spruce needs slightly acidic soil. Treating with miracid will temporarily green up the tree. Elemental sulfur amendments will be needed to help your trees. 
https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/Lowering_Soil_pH_with_Sulfur.pdf
https://uwlab.webhosting.cals.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2010/12/lowering_ph.pdf

https://www.thespruce.com/black-hills-spruce-growing-guide-5196340

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