Knowledgebase
Concolour Fir Needle Drop #868539
Asked May 15, 2024, 12:35 PM EDT
I havea client that has a Concolour Fir that has been planted for about 7 years. It was quite beautiful for the last several years with lots of new growth. They called me this Spring to look at the tree and I noticed that it has dropped most of its needles from mid summer last year to date. The tree is putting on new needles throughout the entire tree but is quite bare because of the needle drop. Do you know what might be causing it. I am guessing a fungus of some type
Weld County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello Steve,
I'm sending you a link from Michigan State University that describes white fir being impacted by a fungus. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/interior_needles_casting_in_concolor_fir Their description differs from what your client is experiencing, in that the infected tree's needles remain on the branches, whereas you said your client's tree is losing its interior needles. Have any practices changed, such as winter watering (or lack of)? Have there been any changes in the tree's situation, such as uses of chemicals in the vicinity or structural changes that might be stressing the tree? With limited information, it's difficult to determine a cause for the needle drop.
My apologies Steve,
I failed to properly close my reply to you regarding the white fir! Please provide additional information that may help diagnose the tree's condition.
Kim S.
Colorado State University Extension, Master Gardener volunteer.
