Last year I pruned a bunch of dead branches off the bottom of the tree. Now this year the next layer up, are all dead. Is my tree dying from the bottom up? The top looks fine. What's causing this? Is there a cure?
Lower branches dying on white spruce
Crazy 4 grass
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Last year I pruned a bunch of dead branches off the bottom of the tree. Now this year the next layer up, are all dead. Is my tree dying from the bottom up? The top looks fine. What's causing this? Is there a cure?
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Bump
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Pics?
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I will post some later today thank you
Look at the branches and trunks for cankers or weird bumps
Get some pics of the needles and there branches
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Ok I'll take some detailed pictures when I get home this afternoon. Thank you!!
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I think I know where Hort101 is going. Is the tree older or more recently planted?
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Older
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Several holes in trunk approx 3/16th inch diameter, with sap weeping out. Not sure if thats worth noting or abnormal.
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Is there any white or bluish-white sap on the branches? Now I see that Trees Too just posted what would be my guess, Cytospora Canker. If it is that, unfortunately there is no treatment other than trying to keep the tree healthy enough to add a little time before its demise.
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What causes cc? Any thing to be done to prevent it on other pines? What would you do to keep it healthy?
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It usually affects older spruces that have been through continuing stress, e.g. drought. You should cut out the dead branches to prevent spread of the fungal spores. But don't cut any live growth or the wound will be another place for the fungus to get in. Prevention measures would be water the trees when it is very dry and fertilize in the fall.
Maybe Trees Too and hort 101 can add their comments.
Maybe Trees Too and hort 101 can add their comments.
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Regarding watering. I have lawn irrigation. Is watering the lawn going to suffice for the trees too? I'm usually putting down .75 to 1 inch a week. Or should I think about running a hose at the base for an hour or so? Its currently a drought here.
Since I've owned the property I've been fertilizing the lawn approx 4lb n per 1000sq ft annually. Do the trees absorb this as well or should I be looking at a tree specific fert?
Also I've sprayed tzone once a year in the fall at max rate for broadleafs in the lawn, I assume this could be adding to the stress? I have not sprayed this under the dripline of these trees however, they are both in beds.
![Image]()
Since I've owned the property I've been fertilizing the lawn approx 4lb n per 1000sq ft annually. Do the trees absorb this as well or should I be looking at a tree specific fert?
Also I've sprayed tzone once a year in the fall at max rate for broadleafs in the lawn, I assume this could be adding to the stress? I have not sprayed this under the dripline of these trees however, they are both in beds.
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Oops i accidentally posted that pic.
Those are an unrelated whole other problem!
Those are an unrelated whole other problem!
View this link for a point of info & reference....
www.cityoframsey.com/267/Common-Problems-With-Spruce-Trees
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Now you had to go and introduce needle-munching insects to the issue. Whatever they are, I haven't had experience with them
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