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sick spruce - or natural needle drop?
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Posted by lori_LondonUK zone 8-9 (My Page) on Tue, Nov 15, 05 at 11:49
| I have a small tree which is supposed to be Serbian Spruce which I bought a few years ago cheaply as the garden centre was getting some new stock in for Christmas. The reason I have some doubts that it's serbian spruce is that the needles look more of a pale bluish-green than pictures I've seen of picea omorika.
The tree was pot-bound when I bought it, and I teased out the roots and repotted it in a larger container. I've done the same each winter and it's been fine and healthy-looking: growing rather slowly, but I didn't mind that in my smallish garden. I should add that although I intended to bring it indoors for each Christmas I've never bothered, so it's been at the back of the garden in light shade the whole time.
I just checked on it recently, though, and the needles on the last couple of rows lower branches have browned, save for a little newer growth at the ends. Should I be concerned or is some die-off of lower leaves a natural thing that happens with spruces? If it's a problem, does anyone know what might cause it and is there anything I can do to help the tree? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: sick spruce - or natural needle drop?
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If I'm not mistaken,and I might be, conifers, or I think some species of conifers, actually drop their lower branches as they get older.
However this is not whats happening here but I think this may be the same type of morphology.
As the stems have new growth appearing, my guess is it is nothing to worry about, but nevertheless best to keep an eye on it. |
RE: sick spruce - or natural needle drop?
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| I should've been a little clearer, fonzie - what I really meant by 'new growth' was newer growth, as new offshoots sprouted from the end of the branches last spring. |
RE: sick spruce - or natural needle drop?
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| Sounds like it is probably seriously root-bound - plant it out so it can have free root run. Serbian Spruce leaves are green above, whitish below with two stomatal bands, fairly blunt at the tip (not very prickly); the shoots are dark orange-brown with short dark brown hairs. If your is not like that, can you post a pic or a detailed description? Resin |
RE: sick spruce - or natural needle drop?
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| The needles are quite a pale green, fairly and the same colour underneath - and while I haven't had new shoots for a while I'm sure they were a slightly different shade of green. I'll try to get a picture up tomorrow. |
RE: sick spruce - or natural needle drop?
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| Pale green sounds like a nutrient deficiency (not surprising in a pot). If they're the same colour both sides, it isn't Serbian Spruce Resin |
RE: sick spruce - or natural needle drop?
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| Sorry, I haven't forgotten my intention to take pictures, I just was out of batteries for the digital camera originally, and every time I remember now, it seems to be past sunset! Will try to get them posted soon. |
RE: sick spruce - or natural needle drop?
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| Here is a link to one pic taken 1/2 hour before sunset, sky slightly overcast here. I think the colour value is coming out a little bluer than the reality, but only slightly. |
Here is a link that might be useful: spruce picture
RE: sick spruce - or natural needle drop?
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| That's a Blue Spruce (Picea pungens). The needle drop could be associated with spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum) - look for tiny green aphids on the undersides of the needles. And send a request to the Met Office for some temperatures below -8° to kill them. Resin |
RE: sick spruce - or natural needle drop?
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| Thanks Pineresin, I will have a look. You'd think the tree would have been correctly labelled, it's from an independent local garden centre, not a chain. I have a feeling that if the current temperatures keep up, the Met Office will come up with the goods... |
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