Is my Colorado blue spruce dying?

9 years ago

I hope it's okay. I have also posted this over on the Trees forum.

Every November we purchase a Colorado blue spruce tree and plant the following spring. They have been doing beautifully up until this year. The top branches of our first tree, which was planted six years ago, are turning brown. The first image is a closeup and is even worse since this picture was taken last month. Can it be saved?

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/lpalta/library/Blog Photos

I checked with the Garden Factory where we purchase the trees and they seem to think it is pine saw fly damage. Online I have read it may be mites, and to try shaking them out on a piece of paper to look for them. The affected branches are too high for me reach. My husband wants to put me in his tractor bucket and raise me to the top (he is 90 this month). Thank heavens I don't know how to drive the tractor or he would be going up!

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Comments (8)

outback63 Dennison
9 years ago
Just a guess if you ask us.

Contact your county extension agent.

They will come out for free and give you a hands on answer to your issues.

Dave
lucienalta
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for responding. What would my county extension agent be listed under?
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outback63 Dennison
9 years ago
Just Google your county. They should provide a list of services available. Probably listed under Agriculture Agent.

Dave
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
tell us your county and state.. and we can google it for you ...

why do you buy in nov.. and not plant until the following spring??? xmas tree type of thing???

ken
lucienalta
Original Author
9 years ago
Ken, our local garden store doesn't carry Colorado Blue Spruce until November. You can only purchase them while the supply lasts. Maybe because I live in upstate New York, z5?

Lucy
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
it can be planted.. any time the ground is not frozen ... preferable 6 to 8 weeks before ground freeze ... and i am in cold z5 MI .... pretty equal to your NY ...

i even planted one in january once.. after using it as an indoor xmas tree ...

you didnt give me your county name....

ken
lucienalta
Original Author
9 years ago
Hi Ken. I live in Rochester, NY, Monroe County, zone 5. We planted our first tree, the one that is giving us alarm, six years ago and it a beautiful, maybe 7 to 8 feet tall, tree. We have had a wonderful summer, not too much humidity. Have done nothing as far as spreading weed killer, etc. on lawn. I think the second link shows all six trees. We did have a longer, colder winter than usual though.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
i think the first link.. [it is below in a clickable form ... where it says link and is underlined] is your county extension office .. find a phone number on that website .... and call them ... and see what they say about it ... [which means.. hit the first link, and go from there]

let us know what they say

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link