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Blue Spruce dying - need help

16 years ago

I have a beautiful Fat Albert Blue Spruce that is about 20 years old and at least 20 feet, maybe 25 feet, tall.

Two years ago we had bag worms on the tree and I sprayed it with a recommended spray (forgot the name but got it at a garden center). Go rid of the bag worms but in the end the tree started to turn brown from the inside out. It recovered pretty well and we had new growth.

This year we had a few bag worms but they were way up at the top before I realized it and the tip of the tree is now brown.

It is also steadily getting worse from the inside out. We have also had a very dry spell here in Virginia so I suppose it could be from no rain.

My question is, can I do anything to save this tree? I've thought about watering it but we are on water restrictions in our county so that would be a really stiff fine ($500.00) if I get caught. Also, if I can save the tree will it ever get new growth back on the inside of the tree?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

gardens1948

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Comments (2)

dcsteg
16 years ago
Your tree is shutting down. Probably from the stress of Bag Worm infestation and drought.

One thing about Bag Worms is if one is left to survive that will be next years crop of worms as eggs will over winter in bag and hatch late June or early July to re infest.

If the spray was applied at to strong a strength that could have also caused its demise. A lot of people think more is better. In this case it spells disaster.

Dave
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
no conifer has needles on the inside .... all needles are shed in 1 to 3 years .... i am thinking you are just noticing it more due to its size ... this is normal .. and it can be increased in drought ....

many of the local picea pungens get ratty looking as they age .... suffering a host of problems ....

when the tips get brown you have problems ... and i cant really tell what the problem is with the tips 25 feet off the ground.. as i suppose you couldn't even get a picture if you wanted ...

try the link .... and see if any of the pix look like your problem ...

short of giving it water.. there isn't much more to do .... is there any way to give it a good long.. DEEP soak .... it doesn't have to be that much water.. it just needs to get down to the roots ...

in my world... the cost of 2 years of spraying.. plus the health consequences... you have to have this done professionally .. would be better spent on removing and replacing the tree ... preferably with something that would not be susceptible to this disease ... its everywhere.. be done with it.. but i live in a cruel world .. lol .. whatever you decide ... i wish you ....

good luck

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: kemper site
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A tree weighing hundreds of pounds is a different job than a bare root seedling. I would never suggest anyone hang the tree with their left hand while cutting away the burlap and then cut away the wire with their right hand. And then untangle the roots. Nothing to it. Only hundreds of pounds. So if you cut away the burlap in 4 directions, you might find a root end, but then what are you gonna do with it. The rootball is sitting in the hole. Spreading some compost out away from the ends of the canvas cuts will encourage the tree to grow roots in that direction. Have you ever noticed that if you grow in a tray, a cup, a pot, a big pot or an above ground bed how important what you use .as a filler is. But then when it comes to working in the ground the reverse is true. I recommended what I would do. I was born with a hernia, I know what it feels like when it bursts. To do it the way I suggest you're going to tunnel under the tree in the 4 locations and never try to hold it up in the air as you work.
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