Why are my newly planted spruce trees turning brown?

Several juniper species turn purple or purple-brown as the temperatures drop in the fall. New, elongated growth (candles) of spruce and pine may be severely injured or killed by late spring frosts. New evergreen growth is soft, and when frozen, it droops, turns brown and dies.

Should dead branches be removed from spruce trees?

Answer: Generally, it is acceptable to remove dead branches on pine trees as they won’t grow back. On spruce trees, it can be helpful for the tree to remove dead branch sections so that healthy branches can replace them, since spruces will regrow along the healthy branches that have buds.

Why do spruce trees lower branches die?

When entire lower branches on a spruce have died, the problem is more likely to be cytospora canker, Yiesla said. This fungus lives under the bark and destroys the vessels that carry water and nutrients, so the whole branch dries out and dies. Another common symptom is white sap on the trunk or branches.

How often should I water a spruce transplant?

Give the tree 1 to 3 inches of water every week, unless moisture comes in the form of rainfall. Watering deeply once or twice weekly is better than more frequent, shallow irrigation, as deep watering will develop long, healthy roots. Shallow roots will be more prone to damage from drought.

What’s wrong with my spruce tree?

Rhizosphaera. Probably the most common problem affecting spruce trees is a fungal disease known as Rhizosphaera Needle Cast. This disease can affect most species of spruce, but is especially problematic on Colorado Blue Spruce.

What is killing my spruce tree?

Rhizosphaera needle cast is a fungal disease of spruce trees that causes needles to turn brown and fall off. Trees stressed from drought, poor planting practices or other factors are more likely to suffer from Rhizosphaera needle cast.

Why are my blue spruce dying from the bottom up?

There could be several reasons for the lower branches dying on your spruce. If the upper branches provide too much shade, the lower branches naturally die off. Cytospora canker is a fungus that attacks spruces and causes branch death. Look for white oozing sap on the dead branches—usually back near the trunk.