Knowledgebase
Etiology of spruce and lodgepole uniform tip browning? #876046
Asked July 05, 2024, 5:34 PM EDT
Recent browning of multiple spruce and lodgepole uniformly up the tree and limb tips. It seems to be the southern (sunny) sides with northern exposure unaffected. There is no obvious beetle burrowing or sawdust. It is not beginning at the crown.https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=500101ca68&attid=0.5&permmsgid=msg-f:<personal data hidden>24401559&th=19084c649fdd4097&view=att&disp=safe
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
Good catch on keeping your spruce and pines healthy!
I am providing a link to a resource on winter drying. Due to the location of the browning it may be scalding and winter drying.
Winter Drying is a Likely Cause of Brown Pine Needles - Extension (colostate.edu)
Fall and Winter Watering - 7.211 - Extension (colostate.edu)
It may give you some ideas to counter that with winter watering. Our area has had some very dry winters, and providing extra water during winter months is becoming necessary.
Watering this summer is also suggested as it has been very dry and trees use gallons of water.
Deeply water young trees with 5-15 gallons of water weekly from April through October. From November to March, reduce watering to every other week.
Generally, mature trees can survive with a monthly watering from April through October.
Water established trees about once a week or every other week during severe drought.
Keep the soil moist to a depth of 18-20 inches for trees and shrubs. Mulching over the tree roots can help hold in moisture.
Scalding can occur on the west/south side of a tree, due to warmer temps in the winter, which allows the tree to thaw, then freezes again when the temp drops.
Thank you. I believe there is also a beetle outbreak around Allenspark and maybe the trees are affected infested and more sensitive to the sun (as well as the drought). It's interesting that both spruce and pine are involved with that sunny side browning.
Regardng winter thaw, does the refreezing and ice layer protect the tree from getting sub freezing injury? When my family had citrus business in Florida, they used to water down the trees before a freeze.
Thanks for the discussion,
Jonathan Ward
If you want to have an inspection on your property or get information about Pine Beetle, contact the Colorado State Forest Service. They have the best monitoring information in the state.
I also, will include a CSU fact sheet on pine beetles
Mountain Pine Beetle - 5.528 - Extension (colostate.edu)
Thanks again,
Lisa
