Here is one more picture of a current year twig...

Thats where the pollen cones where set. No issues there.

With all the rain we had in June that clay is not good for this plant. You rarely see Abies anywhere in SE WI unless you go to the kettle moraine area where its more sandy. They demand good drainage.

Are you sure your soil ph is 8? Thats pretty dang high for this area. Usually its between 6.5 and 7.5 on the high side.

Good news! Thanks!

I have a white fir that is thriving about 80 feet away from these- it is on a slope above them. It has been in since 2006 and doubled in size.

I am not 100% certain about the soil pH, but in Sheboygan county the high end is 8.1.

Judging by chlorosis of my clump river birch and neighbors' white pines I am guessing I'm on the high end.

The river was between 8 and 8.2 last summer when I tested it for an environmental science class.

My land is on a slope that runs to tributaries and into the river, less that half a mile away. The water table is so high here that when you dig a hole in the rainy months it fills with water. The aquifer/local well water is hard, ranging up to 8ish.

Across town closer to the lake the soil is very sandy. I'm on the back side of an alluvial flood plain that slopes to the river.

Dying back and swelling of some shoots, on the other hand, will be an indication of pest or disease issues.

It sure would be nice if there was a selection of Abies concolor that had the outstanding color of Candicans but a bit fuller. Most diseased and problematic firs usually show that open look so its hard for me to think of it as character whereas a Pinus parv is meant to look open.

Thanks for sharing some pics of your yard!

Agreed- but in this case I like it open so it doesn't consume my entire yard! This one had this look from the beginning, it was a fairly large B&B already.

There are 3 or 4 gorgeous ones in a local park that are full right to the ground- they look like blue spruce at first glance. They are over 20 feet tall and lush- drive by Fountain Park in Sheboygan if you want to see them :) (then you can stop and look at my Silberlockes to make sure they are ok! hee hee)

Yahara Nursery (south of Madison) had a couple of outstanding concolors. Not the bright blue, but a deep, dark, rich blue and they were solid top to bottom. They stood about 30-40 feet tall. Too bad he closed up shop.

tj

My neighbor has one of those. Comparison side by side with a P. pungens.

Whaas, what about

? Same fullness as the species, with very blue needles. They are a slightly darker shade of blue the Candicans, but still very blue and full.

I had a small one that died likely due to root disturbance. Trying another one this fall! But yes the color is really nice, very comparable to my 'Compacta'

Due to bugs and other problems gauntness with age typical of cultivated Abies in general unless site is perfect for the species being grown (a great many sites often aren't perfect for the species being attempted). Even when looking full on the outside tree is really a conical hollow shell.

I've ecspecially noticed that with some Abies concolor after this winter. Only new growth remains.

I took a picture of a Abies concolor on a mountain pass north of Yosemite Park on the western side of the Sierra Mountains growing in it's natural habitat. Could have been Tioga Pass which is in the park.
Mike
{{gwi:771953}}

This post was edited by mikebotann on Thu, Jul 17, 14 at 11:12

Here's a 50 foot Concolor at Hagerstown Jr College. Actually double-trunked tho you can't see it:

This post was edited by beng on Thu, Jul 17, 14 at 11:04

I have a Silberlocke that has been very healthy for five years. Now most of the inner needles are yellow. Any ideas?