Sick trees - Ask Extension
It seems my trees are dying. Last year, the smaller ones were full and healthy. The big one is losing branches and all its needles. What could be wron...
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Sick trees #900691
Asked May 08, 2025, 9:02 PM EDT
It seems my trees are dying. Last year, the smaller ones were full and healthy. The big one is losing branches and all its needles. What could be wrong with them? And can they be saved?
Carver County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for writing.
This appears to be a spruce (sitka?). If so, this plant is quite susceptible to needle cast which would be my top guess.
I need close up photos of the last six inches of branches that are half alive and half dead.
If there are lesions on the bottom foot of the trees, I need to see these too.
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/rhizosphaera-needle-cast
This appears to be a spruce (sitka?). If so, this plant is quite susceptible to needle cast which would be my top guess.
I need close up photos of the last six inches of branches that are half alive and half dead.
If there are lesions on the bottom foot of the trees, I need to see these too.
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/rhizosphaera-needle-cast
