Spruce looks dead on non-exposed side - Ask Extension
We have a 30+ foot tall spruce that looks terrific on the exposed (South-facing) side but looks increasingly dead on the non-exposed side. Is there a...
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Spruce looks dead on non-exposed side #878008
Asked July 20, 2024, 10:58 AM EDT
We have a 30+ foot tall spruce that looks terrific on the exposed (South-facing) side but looks increasingly dead on the non-exposed side. Is there anything we can do to save the tree?
Warren County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi
Thank you for your gardening question. Is it possible to send a picture of the tree both sides
Thank you
Thank you for your gardening question. Is it possible to send a picture of the tree both sides
Thank you
Good morning Earle
Unfortunately your pictures did not come through- it says there was an import error.
Can you try again? and is it a Colorado blue spruce? A Norway spruce?
Is it dying from bottom up? Top/ middle ? Inside out?
Dead branches will not regrow, so they should be cut off and can be cut off at any time.
Is the tree shaded on one side? or in full sun?
In the meantime I'm going to attach a couple of articles.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_is_spruce_decline_and_what_should_you_do_about_it
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2006/may/071502.htm
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1032
Unfortunately your pictures did not come through- it says there was an import error.
Can you try again? and is it a Colorado blue spruce? A Norway spruce?
Is it dying from bottom up? Top/ middle ? Inside out?
Dead branches will not regrow, so they should be cut off and can be cut off at any time.
Is the tree shaded on one side? or in full sun?
In the meantime I'm going to attach a couple of articles.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_is_spruce_decline_and_what_should_you_do_about_it
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2006/may/071502.htm
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1032
I'm trying again by attaching a Word document containing the pictures I took. I don't know exactly what kind of spruce it is, but it's not a blue spruce. The exposed south-facing side (in full sun) looks great. The back side, which doesn't get any sun, is the side that looks dead. So it's not dying from the bottom or top or the inside or outside. It's dying on the non-exposed side.
Hi Earle
I'm so sorry I just saw your photo of the tree. What is dead will not regrow. I can't tell the integrity of the tree by the picture. You may want to call in an arborist to make sure that it is not at risk of falling and damaging any other trees as well as assess why the tree is dying and replant a tree that would grow best in the area.
I'm so sorry I just saw your photo of the tree. What is dead will not regrow. I can't tell the integrity of the tree by the picture. You may want to call in an arborist to make sure that it is not at risk of falling and damaging any other trees as well as assess why the tree is dying and replant a tree that would grow best in the area.
