Four years ago, Ron Linger of Ohio planted 100 blue spruce trees. His trees weren’t looking very good. A lot of the needles had dropped off the trees, and he noticed around the neighborhood several other trees were completely bare.
If you, too, see yellow, brown or bare spots on your spruce trees, they may have the same fungus affecting, Ron’s trees–Rhizosphaera needle cast. Learn more about what this fungus looks like, what it can do and how to control it.
The blue spruce is one of the most popular and beautiful evergreen trees for landscaping. With its striking blue-green needles and conical form, this spruce makes an excellent focal point and backdrop in the garden.
However, sometimes a newly planted blue spruce does not retain its good looks for long. You spend time carefully selecting the perfect tree and preparing the planting site, only to have the tree start turning brown shortly after planting. It’s disheartening, but there are ways to get your blue spruce back to its beautiful self.
Why Is My New Blue Spruce Turning Brown?
There are a few potential causes when a newly planted blue spruce begins to turn brown:
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Transplant shock – The stress of being dug up, moved, and replanted in a new spot is extremely taxing on a tree. Drooping and browning needles are common symptoms as the roots recover. This is the most likely cause of browning on a new spruce.
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Improper planting – If the hole is dug too deep or not wide enough, the roots have difficulty establishing. Poor drainage or heavy soil can also impede root growth.
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Overwatering – Too much moisture limits the oxygen supply to the roots. This suffocates and damages the root system.
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Underwatering – On the flip side, not enough water also stresses the roots. Evergreen trees need regular irrigation.
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Disease or pests – While less likely on a new tree various fungal diseases and boring insects can attack spruce trees. This is particularly true if the previous site had contaminated soil.
How To Revive A Newly Planted Brown Blue Spruce
Don’t give up hope if your new blue spruce is turning brown. With prompt care and attention, you can nurse it back to health:
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Water thoroughly – Watering is crucial, especially with new plantings. Target 1 inch of water per week from rain or irrigation.
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Mulch well – Apply 2-3 inches of mulch over the root zone keeping it 5 inches from the trunk. Mulch conserves moisture and insulates roots.
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Fertilize lightly – Use a slow-release granular fertilizer scattered over the root zone in early spring. This gives roots an extra boost.
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Check for pests – Look closely at stems and needles and beneath branches for signs of boring insects or spider mites. Apply appropriate treatments if found.
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Treat disease – Discolored or spotted needles may indicate fungal disease. Prune affected branches and apply antifungal spray treatments.
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Avoid excess pruning – Only prune out dead or broken branches to limit added stress. Leave healthy green inner branches.
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Allow time – It takes patience for new trees to overcome transplant shock. Improvement will be gradual over the first year
Preventing Transplant Shock In New Blue Spruces
While it’s difficult to totally prevent transplant shock, proper planting techniques can minimize stress and browning when introducing new blue spruces:
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Select smaller sized transplants (5-6 feet tall) which recover quicker than large trees.
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Choose sites with well-draining soil and full sun exposure.
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Dig wide, saucer-shaped planting holes 2-3 times wider than root balls.
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Carefully handle root balls to avoid tearing or breaking roots.
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Make sure root balls sit on firmly packed soil at original growing depth.
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Water thoroughly after planting and cover area with 2-3 inches of organic mulch.
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Stake for support if needed to prevent wind damage to roots.
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Install irrigation or regularly hand water if rainfall is insufficient.
Be Patient With Your Newly Planted Blue Spruce
It’s natural to be concerned if your new blue spruce starts turning brown soon after planting. But resist the urge to overly prune or fertilize struggling trees. Time and gentle care are the best prescriptions for getting them established in their new home. Monitor soil moisture, apply mulch, and check for pests while avoiding excess disturbance. With patience, your blue spruce will regain its beautiful blue-green hue.
Harvesting Evergreen Boughs For Seasonal Wreaths Evergreen boughs provide incredible texture and greenery! You can decorate them to match your color scheme or use them to add a touch of holiday magic to your home.
Insect & Disease Issues
Why Are My Spruce Trees Turning Brown & Dying?
Tree check: Most often, this fungus attacks spruce trees, especially Colorado blue spruce trees (Picea pungens)and Engelmann spruce (P.engelmannii).
Then look for:
- Yellow needles, typically on the lower branches, in mid-to-late summer
- Formerly yellow needles turning brown to purple-brown during fall or winter
- Brown needles beginning to fall, leaving large bare spots on trees that next summer or fall
- Often starts at the bottom of the tree, on the inside, and works its way up the tree
- If you think your tree is infected, look for small black spots lining the needles with a magnifying glass.
Planting the Most Beautiful Blue Spruce Trees! // Garden Answer
FAQ
Why are my newly planted spruce trees turning brown?
Water loss can cause the needles to turn brown. It also help to protect the roots from injury due to heaving that occurs when soils go through cycles of freezing and thawing during the winter. Heaving can especially be a problem for shallow-rooted and newly planted evergreens.
Can you revive a dying blue spruce?
At this advanced stage, and with the size of the trees, there is no way to actually recover the spruce. You are correct that cutting down the tree and then destroying (burning) the infected needles on the branches is the best way to handle this specific disease on spruces.
How often should you water a newly planted blue spruce?
To determine when to water your blue spruce, start by checking soil moisture. Use a moisture meter for accuracy, or go old-school with the finger test—dry soil up to your first knuckle means it’s time to water. For young trees, deep watering once a week is ideal, allowing soil to dry slightly between sessions.
What does an overwatered blue spruce look like?
Over-watering Blues
Yellowing needles and soggy soil are distress signals from a Blue Spruce that’s had more than its fill of water.