Green Spruce Tree Diseases

This is an important defoliator of spruce douglas fir true fir and other conifers.

Green spruce tree diseases. Needlecasts tip blights and canker diseases. Needle cast diseases of spruce are treatable. 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. There are three principle types of diseases that affect blue spruce trees.

Within a few years after treatment an infested spruce tree can look beautiful again. 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. Colorado blue spruce is particularly susceptible and can be severly damaged by this disease. Needle blight and needle cast can be treated with a fungicide approved for fungal diseases on spruce trees.

All of these diseases are caused by fungal pathogens and each produce specific symptoms that can be useful in diagnosing the problem. Feeding by the larvae can cause complete defoliation of heavily infested trees. It was not immediately apparent what was causing these symptoms. As the name implies trees with needlecast diseases shed needles.

Rhizosphaera needle cast is a common disease of spruce trees and affects all ages of needles.