Norway Spruce Health? - Ask Extension
I have owned by home for 13 years. When I moved in, I noticed that the top of this Norway spruce seemed to start to die slowly from the top down. Now ...
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Norway Spruce Health? #849720
Asked September 13, 2023, 9:03 AM EDT
I have owned by home for 13 years. When I moved in, I noticed that the top of this Norway spruce seemed to start to die slowly from the top down. Now the tree is looking a little more scraggly. It seems like there are a few horizontal branches that are now dead coming out from the trunk of the tree near the top third, I noticed this morning that all of the “pinecones” are dropping and they’re solid, smooth light green and very thin and they’ve got some white substance on it. I am not sure if it’s sap. I think I recall the “pine ones” in years past opening up and being Brown. looking for some advice. Thank you.
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello Matt:
So sorry about your spruce tree. It looks as though there might be a couple things going on. The die back of your leader could be insect but it doesn’t appear to have the characteristics of the the pine weevil which often cause this type of die back. Your abundance of cones is most likely a result of the early drought we had this spring. Trees react by over producing seeds when stressed. The whitish substance on the cones could just be the sap unless you are seeing a white fungal sap coming from the bark(if so that is very serious). The overall “scraggliness” of your tree and random branch dieback is a most concerning problem. My advice would be to get a definitive diagnosis by submitting a sample to MSU Extension’s Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/ or you could contact a certified arborist.
I’ve attached a couple articles that talk about the most common disease of spruce and pests of spruce.
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/hortanswers/plantdetail.cfm?PlantID=236&PlantTypeID=7
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/cytospora-canker
https://extension.unh.edu/resource/white-pine-weevil-fact-
sheet#:~:text=The%20white%20pine%20weevil%20(Pissodes,to%20white%20pine%20weevil%20damage.
So sorry about your spruce tree. It looks as though there might be a couple things going on. The die back of your leader could be insect but it doesn’t appear to have the characteristics of the the pine weevil which often cause this type of die back. Your abundance of cones is most likely a result of the early drought we had this spring. Trees react by over producing seeds when stressed. The whitish substance on the cones could just be the sap unless you are seeing a white fungal sap coming from the bark(if so that is very serious). The overall “scraggliness” of your tree and random branch dieback is a most concerning problem. My advice would be to get a definitive diagnosis by submitting a sample to MSU Extension’s Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/ or you could contact a certified arborist.
I’ve attached a couple articles that talk about the most common disease of spruce and pests of spruce.
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/hortanswers/plantdetail.cfm?PlantID=236&PlantTypeID=7
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/cytospora-canker
https://extension.unh.edu/resource/white-pine-weevil-fact-
sheet#:~:text=The%20white%20pine%20weevil%20(Pissodes,to%20white%20pine%20weevil%20damage.
You got my attention so I took some more pics if you wouldn't mind reviewing and continuing your diagnosis. I think I have a problem on my property. Please see attached.
Thank you!
Matt
I’m sorry for not responding sooner, Matt. Apparently our system could not download the images as the file was too large.
The images are only. 8.5mb total. I have tried attaching again. Do you have another email I could send to? This is a pdf.
On Sep 18, 2023, at 2:54 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Still not able to down load. “System error:file too large”
Can you send me an image of the whole tree (s)?
Can you send me an image of the whole tree (s)?
Checking back again on this. I sent a Google drive link since the photos were too large to attach. Thanks! Matt
On Sep 25, 2023, at 9:49 PM, Matt Duggan <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Checking back. Thanks!On Sep 21, 2023, at 10:45 AM, Matt Duggan <<personal data hidden>> wrote:Let’s try this. Does it work?
Checking back. Thanks!
On Sep 21, 2023, at 10:45 AM, Matt Duggan <<personal data hidden>> wrote:Let’s try this. Does it work?
Hi Matt,
Apologies for the delay. Let's start with the original question about the Norway spruce. The dead branches at the top could be due to a root issue or an issue with cankers if you see many areas of sunken bark that is bleeding sap. Would have to take a closer look at the trunk, and the surrounding area to be sure.
Spruce cones take two years to develop, so I'm less concerned by the loss of green cones as these are first year cones that will mature next year. The tree may have produced too many cones and is shedding some, or squirrels could be to blame. The sap on the cones is normal.
The pitch exuding from the blue spruce is likely from the pitch mass borer, which generally does not harm an otherwise healthy tree. Might want to give the trunk a thorough examination to count the number of pitch masses.
https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/publications-resources/insect-mite-guide/synanthedon-pini
The blue spruce may also have needlecast, which is a common fungal infection of the needles that causes older growth needles to turn brown and shed from the twig. If you decide to treat it, you'll have to do annual fungicide treatments. You can read more about needlecast at the link below.
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/rhizosphaera-needle-cast
The white pine pitch masses may be caused by the zimmerman pine moth? Below is a link to a bulletin about the pest, please read through and compare with visible clues on the trunk of the white pine tree.
https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-40/E-40.html
I'm not sure the species of the unknown ornamental conifer in the front yard. If you are able to provide an up-close picture of the needles and twigs I can likely identify it.
LOTS of information provided above. Feel free to reach out if you have questions. Or, it may be worth the money to hire a certified arborist to come take a look at the trees for a health diagnosis. Arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, or ISA. ISA maintains a website that makes it easy to find a certified arborist in your area.
https://www.treesaregood.org/
Thank you,
-Julie
Apologies for the delay. Let's start with the original question about the Norway spruce. The dead branches at the top could be due to a root issue or an issue with cankers if you see many areas of sunken bark that is bleeding sap. Would have to take a closer look at the trunk, and the surrounding area to be sure.
Spruce cones take two years to develop, so I'm less concerned by the loss of green cones as these are first year cones that will mature next year. The tree may have produced too many cones and is shedding some, or squirrels could be to blame. The sap on the cones is normal.
The pitch exuding from the blue spruce is likely from the pitch mass borer, which generally does not harm an otherwise healthy tree. Might want to give the trunk a thorough examination to count the number of pitch masses.
https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/publications-resources/insect-mite-guide/synanthedon-pini
The blue spruce may also have needlecast, which is a common fungal infection of the needles that causes older growth needles to turn brown and shed from the twig. If you decide to treat it, you'll have to do annual fungicide treatments. You can read more about needlecast at the link below.
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/rhizosphaera-needle-cast
The white pine pitch masses may be caused by the zimmerman pine moth? Below is a link to a bulletin about the pest, please read through and compare with visible clues on the trunk of the white pine tree.
https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-40/E-40.html
I'm not sure the species of the unknown ornamental conifer in the front yard. If you are able to provide an up-close picture of the needles and twigs I can likely identify it.
LOTS of information provided above. Feel free to reach out if you have questions. Or, it may be worth the money to hire a certified arborist to come take a look at the trees for a health diagnosis. Arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, or ISA. ISA maintains a website that makes it easy to find a certified arborist in your area.
https://www.treesaregood.org/
Thank you,
-Julie
This is great. Thank you! I wish I had your job and not mine.
I work in advertising…
On Nov 13, 2023, at 11:50 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Let’s try this. Does it work?
On Sep 18, 2023, at 6:02 PM, Ask Extension wrote:
Hi Matt,
Thank you for reaching out again! We did try to answer your question in a previous reply.
Because these things are difficult to treat, best recommendation is to ensure your trees are well watered if no rain has fallen in 5 days. You can place a hose at the base of the tree and allow it to run at a trickle for 30 minutes or so.
You may also consider hiring an arborist, although that could get expensive. You can find an arborist at treesaregood.org.
Finally, while the trees may be in slight decline due to the pests, they could live for quite a while. So, the other option is to plant new trees and enjoy the shade of the older trees.
I hope this helps!
Thank you,
-Julie
Thank you for reaching out again! We did try to answer your question in a previous reply.
Because these things are difficult to treat, best recommendation is to ensure your trees are well watered if no rain has fallen in 5 days. You can place a hose at the base of the tree and allow it to run at a trickle for 30 minutes or so.
You may also consider hiring an arborist, although that could get expensive. You can find an arborist at treesaregood.org.
Finally, while the trees may be in slight decline due to the pests, they could live for quite a while. So, the other option is to plant new trees and enjoy the shade of the older trees.
I hope this helps!
Thank you,
-Julie
