Planted a small blue spruce last summer, very hot here in summer. I had surgery and I know it wasn’t watered.

Question

When I returned from surgery tree looked okay but dried out on one side. After a harsh winter the needles are dropping on one side and the branches are bare. I don’t think it is a bug, just from not being watered. The rest of tree looks great and is getting taller.
should I cut the bare branches off? Will the needles grow back? I lightly fertilized and put new mulch material around it and and watering it daily.

Answer 1

No, the dead branches and needles will not grow back.
You can prune the dead plant material from the tree.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/colorado-blue-spruce/care-for-colorado-spruce.htm