Spider mites?

Question

I have a lovely “blue spruce” bush. Rather suddenly the blue/green needles are turning brown. The rapidity of spread is alarming. Might this be spider mites? More importantly, what should I do?
Thanks very much.
Emily

Answer 1

Unless you are seeing webbing, I would not say that this is a case of spidermites. The damage from this pest is very clear. If I had to guess, I would say this problem is either a pH issue, which can cause many problems in itself, or a fungal issue. Either way, You can cure both problems at the same time. Use dolomitic lime to ensure the stability of the pH, and iron sulfate to add just a touch of acidity, and kill off any bacteria, or fungus in the soil.