Green Spruce Tree Diseases

Rhizosphaera needle cast is a common foliar disease of spruces and other conifers caused by the fungus rhizosphaera kalkhoffii.

Green spruce tree diseases.

Within a few years after treatment an infested spruce tree can look beautiful again. Needle cast diseases of spruce are treatable. All of these diseases are caused by fungal pathogens and each produce specific symptoms that can be useful in diagnosing the problem. 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.

There are three principle types of diseases that affect blue spruce trees. 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. They first turn yellow then purplish brown and finally fall off. Needle blight and needle cast can be treated with a fungicide approved for fungal diseases on spruce trees.

This is an important defoliator of spruce douglas fir true fir and other conifers. 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. Feeding by the larvae can cause complete defoliation of heavily infested trees.

Cytospora canker this condition begins by killing branches near the bottom of the tree and gradually works its way up the crown.