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Spruce dropping needles

Elzeard Bouffier

11 months ago

I bought an 8ft Blue Spruce and planted it a week ago. Despite 2 soakings it drops needles everytime I touch it. The ground under the tree is currently sprinkled with needles. Some needles are still firmly attached, but it seems like 1 out of every 20 needles will fall off if you run your hand over a limb. is this tree dead/ going to die?

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Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 months ago
how about some pix...

ball and burlap.. or potted...

was it field dug this spring...

how did you get it home.. and how did you plant it....

more soakings are not going to make the roots start working faster.. water when a plant needs water.. if i planted in may.. in my sand.. and soaked it down thru the whole root ball planted.. i suspect i wouldnt need to water again until the high heat of just or august.. especially if i mulched properly ....

in every post.. remind us where you are.. big city name

no tree holds its leaves forever... with conifers its a 1 to 3 year schedule.. and can be increased by drought.. transplant... etc ... if its interior needles.. then its just the stresses of getting it in your garden.. it its the growth tips.. there isnt much hope..

how about some pix...

ken
Elzeard Bouffier thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Elzeard Bouffier
Original Author
11 months ago
Ball and burlap. The tree has gotten worse and I now believe it to be dead. I ran my hand down a branch today and 90% of the needles fell off
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Elzeard Bouffier
Original Author
11 months ago
@ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

The area is Colorado Springs and it was dug this Spring. None of the growth tips developed beyond this point. i believe they are dead
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
11 months ago
Looks bad. Was the burlap removed and how was it watered? Was it a slow trickle right up against the trunk to make sure the rootball was thoroughly soaked?

tj
Elzeard Bouffier
Original Author
11 months ago
The burlap and wire cage was removed and I watered about 6” out from the base on all four sides of the tree at a slow trickle. Total watering time was about 5 hours. 3 days later it rained a lot. My suspicion is that it was basically a dead Christmas tree when I bought it.
BillMN-z-2-3-4
11 months ago
' My suspicion is that it was basically a dead Christmas tree when I bought it. '

I would be inclined to agree with that.

It should've at least had swelling buds, even some new growth by this time of year (even in my location).

Talk to your supplier.
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
11 months ago
Agree. It was DOA. That kind of death doesn’t happen in a week.

tj
BillMN-z-2-3-4
11 months ago
' That kind of death doesn’t happen in a week '

I was thinking the same thing. And should've added that.

;-)

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