pine tree help (CO blue spruce) - Ask Extension
My pine tree is dying this year. looks to be losing life from the bottom up. Any idea whats happening or how/if I can revive this tree?
Knowledgebase
pine tree help (CO blue spruce) #839290
Asked July 06, 2023, 1:15 PM EDT
My pine tree is dying this year. looks to be losing life from the bottom up. Any idea whats happening or how/if I can revive this tree?
Monroe County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
The below information I am providing you is from the MSU Extension article: Help me save my blue spruce - Jan Byrne, MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics; Bert Cregg, MSU Departments of Horticulture & Forestry; Jill O'Donnell, MSU Extension; and Monique Sakalidis, MSU Departments of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences & Forestry - May 27, 2021 - Spoiler alert—it might not be possible. At this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/help-me-save-my-blue-spruce
Please understand, The Michigan State University Plant & Pest Diagnostics lab receives roughly 75 spruce samples a year from those looking to right all that is wrong with their spruce trees. There are also countless phone calls and emails made to the lab, Michigan State University Extension educators, and specialists. The reality is not all ailing spruce trees can, or should, be saved. In most cases, there is no silver bullet to cure the affected tree.
Tree identification matters
Before we get too far, it’s important to ask—do you really have spruce? Not pine, fir, arborvitae, or any of the other conifers that grow in Michigan. This matters a lot, and yes, there is a difference. If you aren’t sure what type of tree, you can refer to this MSU Extension article, “Pine, spruce or fir: Getting to know Michigan evergreen trees.” At this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/pine_spruce_or_fir_getting_to_know_michigan_evergreen_trees
Each conifer has its own set of possible problems. If the tree you are concerned about isn’t really spruce, the information in this article may not apply to you. To be more specific, there are many different types of spruce. However, Colorado blue (Picea pungens) spruce growing in Michigan has the largest array of potential problems.
OKAY - this is a blue spruce.
Here is some information concerning blue spruce:
Conifer growth habits
To make an educated plan for your declining spruce, you need to understand how a spruce tree grows. Each spring, spruce trees produce new shoots and needles from buds (needlecast pathogens enter the spruce through this young succulent tissue) that were formed the previous year. These buds are only produced on the ends of live branches. This means that if your tree is bald on the inner sections of branches, it will remain so; it isn’t going to produce new shoots or needles inside the canopy. Dead branches will also not be replaced; trees with dead branches in the lower part of the canopy will remain bare in those areas. Some people choose to prune out dead branches on the lower part of the tree, creating a look that some refer to as lollipop trees. If the aesthetics of lollipop trees are not acceptable, then your options are limited. Instead of trying to save your tree, your efforts will be better served by putting careful thought into tree removal and possibly replacement.
Environment
The location and environment within which a tree is growing have significant effects on tree health. As a result, trees in urban environments may have a shorter life expectancy. The impacts of poor planting practices may go unnoticed until trees are considerably larger and are stressed by limited root development, predisposing them to pests and pathogens.
Spruce diseases (see images at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/help-me-save-my-blue-spruce)
As previously mentioned, there are several potential pathogens that can affect blue spruce. Rhizosphaera and Stigmina are commonly found on spruce needles in landscapes throughout Michigan. Rhizosphaera causes inner needles to drop from branches, and only the most recently produced needles remain. Rhizosphaera fruiting bodies are produced on infected spruce needles. They are rounded and emerge from the lower side of the needle. The fruiting bodies produced by Stigmina have protruding hair-like structures. Like Rhizosphaera, these are also formed on the lower side of the needle.
Rhizosphaera causes needlecast of spruce, the impact of Stigmina is not well understood, but it is consistently found on declining spruce needles. Rhizosphaera infects spruce needles as they develop in the spring. The following year, the infected needles turn brown and begin to drop off the tree, hence the reference to needlecast. Fungicides can be used to help manage Rhizosphaera needlecast, but there are limitations. We strongly urge well-meaning tree owners to understand what is involved in effectively using fungicides for disease control.
The fungicides we have available for treatment are preventative and will not eradicate this pathogen from your trees. Treating a tree with a fungicide two or three times in the spring will protect that year’s growth from new infections. But this process will need to be repeated each spring in perpetuity to maintain disease control. Effective fungicide treatments are a long-term commitment. So, before starting down that path, consider whether or not you want to make these applications each year.
Additionally, getting good spray coverage on the emerging needles is critical for success. Treating large spruce trees in the landscape may require professional spray equipment, limiting those that are looking for a do-it-yourself approach. Keep in mind that fungicides will only work on certain pathogens; they do not compensate for poor cultural conditions and care, i.e., over/underwatering, soil compaction, and poor root development.
Needlecast fungi alone do not kill branches. There are other fungal pathogens (Diaporthe, formerly known as Phomopsis, and Cytospora) that infect the branches causing sunken or swollen areas called cankers. As the cankers expand, the branch is girdled and dies. Canker pathogens cause discoloration that is visible beneath the bark. Cankers caused by Cytospora may cause sap to ooze from the branch, creating a white layer on the branch surface.
The result of these canker diseases is that, over time, the infected branch dies. There are currently no fungicide options proven to effectively control these diseases in landscape-sized trees; research in this area is ongoing at MSU. In some cases, there are multiple issues affecting a tree, needlecast, canker diseases, insect pressure, and cultural issues. This further complicates chemical control; no single treatment will successfully address a variety of pests and cultural issues.
PLEASE LOOK AT THE FOUR (4) SCENARIOS AND SOLUTIONS AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/help-me-save-my-blue-spruce
Alternatives to Blue Spruce: Top Conifers for Michigan Landscapes - April 30, 2023 - Author: Bert Cregg, Michigan State University Department of Horticulture and Department of Forestry - At this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/alternative-conifers-for-michigan-landscapes
I hope this helps!
The below information I am providing you is from the MSU Extension article: Help me save my blue spruce - Jan Byrne, MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics; Bert Cregg, MSU Departments of Horticulture & Forestry; Jill O'Donnell, MSU Extension; and Monique Sakalidis, MSU Departments of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences & Forestry - May 27, 2021 - Spoiler alert—it might not be possible. At this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/help-me-save-my-blue-spruce
Please understand, The Michigan State University Plant & Pest Diagnostics lab receives roughly 75 spruce samples a year from those looking to right all that is wrong with their spruce trees. There are also countless phone calls and emails made to the lab, Michigan State University Extension educators, and specialists. The reality is not all ailing spruce trees can, or should, be saved. In most cases, there is no silver bullet to cure the affected tree.
Tree identification matters
Before we get too far, it’s important to ask—do you really have spruce? Not pine, fir, arborvitae, or any of the other conifers that grow in Michigan. This matters a lot, and yes, there is a difference. If you aren’t sure what type of tree, you can refer to this MSU Extension article, “Pine, spruce or fir: Getting to know Michigan evergreen trees.” At this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/pine_spruce_or_fir_getting_to_know_michigan_evergreen_trees
Each conifer has its own set of possible problems. If the tree you are concerned about isn’t really spruce, the information in this article may not apply to you. To be more specific, there are many different types of spruce. However, Colorado blue (Picea pungens) spruce growing in Michigan has the largest array of potential problems.
OKAY - this is a blue spruce.
Here is some information concerning blue spruce:
Conifer growth habits
To make an educated plan for your declining spruce, you need to understand how a spruce tree grows. Each spring, spruce trees produce new shoots and needles from buds (needlecast pathogens enter the spruce through this young succulent tissue) that were formed the previous year. These buds are only produced on the ends of live branches. This means that if your tree is bald on the inner sections of branches, it will remain so; it isn’t going to produce new shoots or needles inside the canopy. Dead branches will also not be replaced; trees with dead branches in the lower part of the canopy will remain bare in those areas. Some people choose to prune out dead branches on the lower part of the tree, creating a look that some refer to as lollipop trees. If the aesthetics of lollipop trees are not acceptable, then your options are limited. Instead of trying to save your tree, your efforts will be better served by putting careful thought into tree removal and possibly replacement.
Environment
The location and environment within which a tree is growing have significant effects on tree health. As a result, trees in urban environments may have a shorter life expectancy. The impacts of poor planting practices may go unnoticed until trees are considerably larger and are stressed by limited root development, predisposing them to pests and pathogens.
Spruce diseases (see images at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/help-me-save-my-blue-spruce)
As previously mentioned, there are several potential pathogens that can affect blue spruce. Rhizosphaera and Stigmina are commonly found on spruce needles in landscapes throughout Michigan. Rhizosphaera causes inner needles to drop from branches, and only the most recently produced needles remain. Rhizosphaera fruiting bodies are produced on infected spruce needles. They are rounded and emerge from the lower side of the needle. The fruiting bodies produced by Stigmina have protruding hair-like structures. Like Rhizosphaera, these are also formed on the lower side of the needle.
Rhizosphaera causes needlecast of spruce, the impact of Stigmina is not well understood, but it is consistently found on declining spruce needles. Rhizosphaera infects spruce needles as they develop in the spring. The following year, the infected needles turn brown and begin to drop off the tree, hence the reference to needlecast. Fungicides can be used to help manage Rhizosphaera needlecast, but there are limitations. We strongly urge well-meaning tree owners to understand what is involved in effectively using fungicides for disease control.
The fungicides we have available for treatment are preventative and will not eradicate this pathogen from your trees. Treating a tree with a fungicide two or three times in the spring will protect that year’s growth from new infections. But this process will need to be repeated each spring in perpetuity to maintain disease control. Effective fungicide treatments are a long-term commitment. So, before starting down that path, consider whether or not you want to make these applications each year.
Additionally, getting good spray coverage on the emerging needles is critical for success. Treating large spruce trees in the landscape may require professional spray equipment, limiting those that are looking for a do-it-yourself approach. Keep in mind that fungicides will only work on certain pathogens; they do not compensate for poor cultural conditions and care, i.e., over/underwatering, soil compaction, and poor root development.
Needlecast fungi alone do not kill branches. There are other fungal pathogens (Diaporthe, formerly known as Phomopsis, and Cytospora) that infect the branches causing sunken or swollen areas called cankers. As the cankers expand, the branch is girdled and dies. Canker pathogens cause discoloration that is visible beneath the bark. Cankers caused by Cytospora may cause sap to ooze from the branch, creating a white layer on the branch surface.
The result of these canker diseases is that, over time, the infected branch dies. There are currently no fungicide options proven to effectively control these diseases in landscape-sized trees; research in this area is ongoing at MSU. In some cases, there are multiple issues affecting a tree, needlecast, canker diseases, insect pressure, and cultural issues. This further complicates chemical control; no single treatment will successfully address a variety of pests and cultural issues.
PLEASE LOOK AT THE FOUR (4) SCENARIOS AND SOLUTIONS AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE AT THIS LINK:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/help-me-save-my-blue-spruce
Alternatives to Blue Spruce: Top Conifers for Michigan Landscapes - April 30, 2023 - Author: Bert Cregg, Michigan State University Department of Horticulture and Department of Forestry - At this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/alternative-conifers-for-michigan-landscapes
I hope this helps!
