planting and care of baby blue spruce

Question

Planted in late winter. Spring arrives and tree blooms and doing fine. June comes and goes and a little dry but tender loving care and water, tree is loving life. July comes and the middle comes with 10 cloudy days and rain. Every thing starts to go wrong. Branch tips start to die . August – cutting dead branches off, can’t seem to stop the spreading doom. Tree totally dead by Labor day. What did I did wrong? Planning to buy a larger maybe 5ft. size late this month. Plant bare root or use dirt with tree? please help me.

Answer 1

Spruce needle rust is a possibility. Sometimes the tree can overcome the infection, but other times not. By the time symptoms are noticed, it is too late to save it.

Another possibility is root rot due to poorly drained soil and overabundance of moisture.

I would have a discussion with the local extension agent who could give you a definitive diagnosis as to whether it is cultural or disease.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/spruce/spruce-needle-rust-control.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/colorado-blue-spruce/care-for-colorado-spruce.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/pine/pine-tree-drying-bottom.htm