Potential disease on dwarf fir? - Ask Extension
Some newly emerged needles on my abies balsamea ‘Piccolo’ appear to be shriveling up and falling off. The older branch is yellowing and appears to...
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Potential disease on dwarf fir? #872631
Asked June 11, 2024, 1:52 PM EDT
Some newly emerged needles on my abies balsamea ‘Piccolo’ appear to be shriveling up and falling off. The older branch is yellowing and appears to be dying back as well. See the attached images for details. The first image shows the trouble spot. The second image shows a different location on the plant where the described trouble might be starting.
I planted the abies in a part sun location (protected from hot afternoon sun) and have watered sparingly to avoid over watering. Any ideas on what could be causing this?
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Erica and thanks for your question and great pictures of your balsam fir. When I enlarge the photos, there appears to be quite a bit of webbing on the affected areas. This is most likely spider mite damage. There are natural predators who will often take care of an infestation if you are patient enough to wait until they arrive.
You can also try spraying the area with insecticidal soap or a spray containing spinosad which is a natural substance that kills spider mites and other insects. Some years are more conducive to mite populations than others but the eggs overwinter in the soil, so it is worth keeping an eye on the infestation.
Good luck,
You can also try spraying the area with insecticidal soap or a spray containing spinosad which is a natural substance that kills spider mites and other insects. Some years are more conducive to mite populations than others but the eggs overwinter in the soil, so it is worth keeping an eye on the infestation.
Good luck,
