What causes a colorado blue spruce to have brown needles and then lose the needles at the top of it?

Question

I have a colorado blue spruce that is about 4 feet high and the needles at the top foot of it turned brown then fell off. It seems like it is starting to travel down the tree more but I don't see any bugs on the tree. The rest of the tree looks great and has new growth and has even shot up in height this spring. Please help, I don't want my tree to die. What can I do to help it?

Answer 1

I have seen this often, but mostly on white pines. However, they do sometimes attack the blue spruce.

They are most likely weevils. They bore small holes into the tree, so you can't see them.

Here is a quote I found:

"Control Hints
All controls should be targeted to kill the adults or larvae before the tree leaders are damaged.

Strategy 1: Mechanical Control - Prune Infested Leaders - As soon as infested leaders droop, cut the leader out just below where the bark discoloration stops. Do not throw this pruned leader on the ground as some of the weevils may survive. If the damage is stopped before the first whorl of branches is reached, a new leader can be easily trained.

Strategy 2: Remove Weevil Breeding Habitat - In Christmas tree plantations (which include Blue Spruces) and ornamental nurseries, try to destroy or remove eastern white pine in nearby forest stands. These trees serve as sources of infestation.

Strategy 3: Spring Insecticide Sprays - This is the most commonly used technique. Look for the sap flow coming from leaders in early to mid-April. This indicates that the adults are feeding and sprays should be applied immediately. Systemic insecticides are often more effective because they kill any larvae which may already be inside the leader. See Bulletin 504 for a current listing of insecticides registered for this purpose. "

Since it is almost summer, I would cut off the dead leader. Keep an eye out in the spring.

Good luck! I am not sure without looking at your tree as to what exactly it is, but this is my best guess.

Answer 2

Hello

If you see absolutly no insects on it then you need a microscope. Several possibilties and here is my best without looking at the tree. Mites are close to microscopic sucking insects that are easily missed to the untrained naked eye. They tend to cause random brown spots throughout the tree where they are feeding. They can also brown just on section at any point of the tree if they are consolidated to that location. Disease not to common to attack Blue Spruce but it is possible. Also not common to brown from the top down usually spiratic and akward discoloration is visible first. Bacterial infections in the soil harming the root system. The Bacteria may be harming the root which in turn would be harming the intake of nutrients and water. This would cause the highest part from the roots to die first because the lower area's would be getting most of the nutrients that are processed. To control the Mites you need a systemic insectide containg 1 of the 2 either Acephate or Imidiclorpridt. They take two weeks to work so the sooner you apply the better. Do not use a Volck Oil or any Oil's because they will discolor and damage your tree. For the best results bring a piece of the dead a piece of the living and a piece where the dead meets the living, to a reputable Garden Center and they should be able to help. Goodluck.

Greenman

Answer 3

I had this happen when I lived in Colorado. I planted a blue spruce and the top died off. I was told that the way to avoid this problem is to not plant the tree too late in the season. I planted the tree in August and since winter can come early to that part of the country, the top of the tree died. I later planted another blue spruce in April and didn't have this problem with it. I was also told this is a pecularity of this type of tree.

Answer 4

A Colorado Blue Spruce is somewhat forgiving while it comprises being trimmed, yet once you do no longer shop on with the right rules, you ought to finally end up with a shaggy tree that seems greater like a hedge long previous berserk than it does a conifer. of direction, you may choose a fuzzy seem to your blue spruce. at the same time as the Colorado Blue Spruce can technically be trimmed at any time of the 12 months, trim interior the wintry climate or early spring for the superb consequences. Step a million do away with all lifeless wood and branches. cut back all lifeless and loss of life branches back to interior of a million inch of the trunk. you will detect a swelling (a node) the place the branch attaches to the trunk; make your cut back basically previous this node, leaving the node on the tree. Trim super branches via making a a million/2 inch deep cut back on the backside of the branch on the factor the place you decide on the branch cut back. Then cut back each and every of ways contained in direction of the branch, reducing from the precise component of the branch, approximately 3 inches previous the 1st underside cut back you made. in this way the branch can smash off cleanly without tearing the bark as you close to the final touch of your cut back. as quickly as the main significant area of the branch has broken off, cut back off the three-inch stub the place you made your first cut back. Step 2 evaluate the seems of your tree and cut back off branches (following the instructions in Step a million) which do no longer make a contribution to the wide-unfold seem you decide on. bear in innovations, reducing the ends of a branch will reason your Colorado Blue Spruce to enhance "fuzzy" branch ends the place you're making your cuts. Step 3 do no longer precise a Colorado Blue Spruce. Trim off approximately each and every third branch in case you decide directly to sluggish the growth of your spruce and shop it from getting too tall. Step 4 cut back decrease branches as per the instructions in Step a million to facilitate strolling and mowing under the tree. cut back branches that pass one yet another, or that are rubbing at the same time. For extra suggestions please see the link interior the source