Green Spruce Tree Diseases

Last week we reported that the malady appears to consist of two previously known diseases of spruce that is a branch death and needlecasting see spruce tree problem shows symptoms of both needlecast and branch death.

Green spruce tree diseases.

Colorado blue spruce is particularly susceptible and can be severly damaged by this disease. They first turn yellow then purplish brown and finally fall off. Left untreated a severe case of needle cast can lead to continual thinning and eventual decline of the affected tree if spring weather is conducive to infection year after year. Rhizosphaera needle cast is a common disease of spruce trees and affects all ages of needles.

This is an important defoliator of spruce douglas fir true fir and other conifers. Cytospora canker this condition begins by killing branches near the bottom of the tree and gradually works its way up the crown. All of these diseases are caused by fungal pathogens and each produce specific symptoms that can be useful in diagnosing the problem. Within a few years after treatment an infested spruce tree can look beautiful again.

Rhizosphaera needle cast is a common foliar disease of spruces and other conifers caused by the fungus rhizosphaera kalkhoffii. Feeding by the larvae can cause complete defoliation of heavily infested trees. It was not immediately apparent what was causing these symptoms. There are three principle types of diseases that affect blue spruce trees.

Needlecasts tip blights and canker diseases.