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Colorado Blue Spruce problem
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Created by Henry William Wearsch
Hello, and thank you for your inquiry.
This is great picture of the damage you're seeing. Could you send additional pictures of:
Here's a Colorado Forest Service fact sheet for starters.
https://csfs.colostate.edu/colorado-trees/what-is-wrong-with-my-tree/
Best regards,
Jeffco Clinician Annette
This is great picture of the damage you're seeing. Could you send additional pictures of:
- If possible, the entire tree on that side, capturing the top and the ground beneath the tree where it is planted. We're looking for the general lay of the land.
- A mid-view photo of the entire area showing damage, also showing nearby healthy areas.
- How old, and how tall is the tree?
- Are there any other signs of damage on the trunk, twigs, or branches of the tree, or signs of possible insects (holes, sawdust on the trunk or below a hole, discoloration, webbing, oozing, etc.), or actual insects such as larva or moths?
- Did you notice the damage before or after we had the freeze a few weeks ago?
- Do you have other spruce trees and if so are they showing similar damage?
- How is the tree irrigated, and how often? I.e. lawn sprinkler, dedicated drip line, etc. Do you water during the winter?
- Has there been any construction or root disturbance in that area, of if the tree is on the edge of your property - your neighbor's property?
- Similarly, have any pesticides or herbicides been used in the vicinity of the tree in the last 12 months?
Here's a Colorado Forest Service fact sheet for starters.
https://csfs.colostate.edu/colorado-trees/what-is-wrong-with-my-tree/
Best regards,
Jeffco Clinician Annette
Closed by Expert with status of Closed
Reopened by SYSTEM
Hello Henry,
For some reason your answers in bold red did not come through. Please try another method. Sorry.
I'll be checking for a reply tomorrow (Monday) afternoon.
Thanks,
Jeff C, clinician
Jeffco Plant clinic
For some reason your answers in bold red did not come through. Please try another method. Sorry.
I'll be checking for a reply tomorrow (Monday) afternoon.
Thanks,
Jeff C, clinician
Jeffco Plant clinic
Closed by Expert with status of Closed
Reopened by SYSTEM
Hi Henry,
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.
Your tree actually looks quite healthy. I see a lot of new growth from last spring. So, whatever is going on doesn't seem to be serious.
It does not appear to be a disease nor root damage. I am not seeing any herbicide damage either. So, what could it be?
I suspect it is related to watering. The needle drop seems to be mostly at the bottom. Correct? I'm thinking the spruce may be getting too much water. The roots of your spruce tree are expanding far beyond your mulch ring. They are spreading 3 to 5 times the height of your tree into your turf. Since your turf appears to be quite healthy, there is no need to give your tree additional water. It is getting all the water it needs when you water your turf.
Here are some recommendations:
1. Stop giving your tree additional water via drip.
2. Do water your landscape this fall and winter if needed. (Your landscape needs about an inch of water each month. If not, you'll need to drag out the hose and water. See the link below for recommendations for fall & winter watering.)
3. Be aware of adding herbicides to your lawn. Blue spruce have a fairly shallow root system, and they'll easily absorb chemicals from anything added to the lawn.
Here are a couple of articles.
Fall and winter watering: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/fall-and-winter-watering-7-211/
Blue Spruce information from Missouri Botanical:
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=284991&isprofile=0&
Needle drop from Utah State:
https://extension.usu.edu/pests/ipm/notes_orn/list-treeshrubs/needle-drop
Let me know if you have further questions.
Jeff C, clinician
Jeffco Plant clinic
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.
Your tree actually looks quite healthy. I see a lot of new growth from last spring. So, whatever is going on doesn't seem to be serious.
It does not appear to be a disease nor root damage. I am not seeing any herbicide damage either. So, what could it be?
I suspect it is related to watering. The needle drop seems to be mostly at the bottom. Correct? I'm thinking the spruce may be getting too much water. The roots of your spruce tree are expanding far beyond your mulch ring. They are spreading 3 to 5 times the height of your tree into your turf. Since your turf appears to be quite healthy, there is no need to give your tree additional water. It is getting all the water it needs when you water your turf.
Here are some recommendations:
1. Stop giving your tree additional water via drip.
2. Do water your landscape this fall and winter if needed. (Your landscape needs about an inch of water each month. If not, you'll need to drag out the hose and water. See the link below for recommendations for fall & winter watering.)
3. Be aware of adding herbicides to your lawn. Blue spruce have a fairly shallow root system, and they'll easily absorb chemicals from anything added to the lawn.
Here are a couple of articles.
Fall and winter watering: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/fall-and-winter-watering-7-211/
Blue Spruce information from Missouri Botanical:
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=284991&isprofile=0&
Needle drop from Utah State:
https://extension.usu.edu/pests/ipm/notes_orn/list-treeshrubs/needle-drop
Let me know if you have further questions.
Jeff C, clinician
Jeffco Plant clinic
Closed by Expert with status of Closed