© 2020 LAM Tree Service, Inc. All rights reserved. Spruce bark beetle problems can be harder to get ahead of because diagnosis is more difficult. Treatments for scale should be done in April and early May, depending on the season’s temperatures. In many cases, once spruce trees begin to die and needles are turning color, the insect has already moved onto another tree. Blues spruce trees are a popular Christmas tree option and their boughs can be used in wreaths and garlands. The most common blue spruce pests in the landscape are two insects that do mostly aesthetic damage; the Cooley spruce gall and white pine weevil. Ips beetles also damage spruce, usually attacking stressed trees (much like they do with pine trees). Other pests and diseases are less common but can cause more damage. The best way to tell if you have an infestation of Cooley spruce gall adelgid is to look for a cotton-like substance on tree branches. Blue spruce trees also tend to grow best in more acidic soils with lots of organic matter and depth, and are often found near areas where water runoff accumulates. Because of this soil environment, spruce can be damaged by contaminated soils and groundwater before other trees, acting as a “canary in the coal mine.” This situation is prevalent near failing leach fields and roadway drainages where salt builds up in the soil. Pests like aphids, mealybugs and spider mites are usually minor. See our Ips Beetle page for more details. For aphids, you can spray in January, when their life cycle begins. Treatment for Ips beetles occurs in late winter/early spring before temperatures warm up and the insects become active. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. If you see gall adelgid or aphids on your Colorado blue spruce tree, try spraying first with Neem oil. We recommend spring or early fall planting to get your new trees off to a great start. Dying branches (branch dieback) or branches that are shedding needles are common symptoms of Colorado blue spruce trees and often attributed to either of two insect pests: aphids or the Cooley spruce gall adelgid. That means recently-transplanted trees are also susceptible until they’re well-established, as are trees that are stressed by disease, drought, or other insect pests. The most common of these is spruce broom rust. Conifers are, overall, less fire-wise than other types of trees, Drought-tolerant? You can always call us for advice on where to plant your new tree(s) and don’t forget that we offer professional tree planting services if you don’t want to do it yourself! Our state tree can be found growing in the drainages and along streams, creeks, and rivers in riparian settings. In most cases, old galls are covered by new growth the following season and become almost unnoticeable within a few years. Plant blue spruce in an area with well-draining soil, as water pooling can lead to rotting roots. A cherished conifer found in many landscapes is the Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens 'Glauca'), State Tree of Colorado and Utah, and native to the Southwestern United States (Zones 3-7). This is done during the cold months when the tree is dormant and not actively growing. It’s usually found on new growth at the end of spruce tree branches where it starts out a light green color in late spring and early summer, and then dries out and turns brown in July. Read our, How to Grow and Maintain a Bird's Nest Spruce, Prevent Plant Diseases With Good Gardening Practices, Why Dwarf Alberta Spruces Drop Their Needles. Treatment for spruce broom rust consists of pruning to remove the affected portions of the tree. Depending on weather conditions, treatment can happen as early as February or as late as April. Covering the Foothills & Mountains West of Denver, Exposure: Full sun to partial sun (not partial shade), Leaves: Waxy gray-green needles up to 1 ½ inch long, Firewise? Three primary diseases affect blue spruce and lead to dead or leafless branches: Cooley Spruce Galls. These are the insects' egg sacs. Susceptibility varies widely among species, but generally trees under stress or growing outside their natural range are more prone to the disease. Cytospora canker, caused by the fungus Cytospora kunzei (also known as Valsa kunzei var. Washington State University Extension, What's Wrong with My Colorado Blue Spruce Tree? Blue spruce trees are deer-resistant, so they are often planted on the edge of a property to discourage deer from entering. It is also grown for the Christmas tree industry. They are about 1/16 inch long and can be found in great numbers on the needles of the tree. See our Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid page for more information. It's organic, and it won't hurt to see if the Neem oil can solve the problem. But while they may look alarming, Cooley spruce galls actually do little or no damage to the tree. • Usually feeds on needles in open-grown clusters of trees. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Bagworms (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) are one type of pest that attacks blue spruce trees, in addition to other hosts, such as crabapples (Malus spp. Call us at 303-674-8733 or contact us online to get a free estimate for tree planting, general tree services or any aspect of our Plant Health Care program. This bug is very similar to an aphid and spends about half its life on spruce (the rest of the time, it infests Douglas fir). Spruce spider mites (Oligonychus ununguis) are sucking insects that usually do minor damage to trees, causing yellowing of needles. Mature blue spruce in the Colorado Front Range will be found as tall as 75 feet tall and 30 feet wide, although they tend to be a little smaller when planted in your yard. Both leave the tree looking less than desirable in our outdoor living areas but generally don’t significantly affect the overall health of the tree. If you plant a blue spruce seedling, be aware that the roots will only reach down about 2 ½ inches during the first year, making it more susceptible to freezing during the winter months. As the scale feeds, it causes the tree to drop its interior needles, making it look thin through the middle of the tree. Blue spruce is also attacked by a bark beetle, similar to the pine beetle, that can cause extensive damage to the tree. Both leave the tree looking less than desirable in our outdoor living areas but generally don’t significantly affect the overall health of the tree. There’s no need to remove the galls. • Feeds on branch tips of white, black, and blue spruce shorter than 15 feet tall. Mature spruce aphids have olive-green bodies (young aphids are a lighter green) and two sets of wings.. Yes, but not as tolerant as other trees in our area, Where to Plant: Does not tolerate flooding or full shade, good as a windbreak, prefers moist areas, Brown, pinecone-like growths at the end of branches – Cooley spruce gall adelgid, Top of the tree dies back and can curve – White pine weevil, Small white dots on the interior of the tree – Pine needle scale, Branches die back, bark falls off, sawdust – IPS/engraver beetles, Sap and/or pitch masses on the bark – Spruce beetle, The needles of the Colorado blue spruce have a slight blue-green tint. This appears as small white dots on the interior needles of the tree. Cytospora canker rarely affect… The most common blue spruce pests in the landscape are two insects that do mostly aesthetic damage; the Cooley spruce gall and white pine weevil. It is treated with the same methods as pine beetles (spraying and pheromone packets), although treatments are applied slightly earlier in the season. This damage, known as a shepherds’ crook, will occur annually to the tree unless the weevils are controlled. Timing of Ips beetle treatment is the same regardless of the host tree. These two insect pests look similar, so accurate identification requires a close look. • Larvae present in late … These are the insects' egg sacs. You can buy one in a container to use as a live Christmas tree and then plant it afterward. This difficulty is made worse by the spruce’s dense lower limbs, which obscure the view of the tree base. We’ve recently seen many spruce trees getting attacked by a scale insect called pine needle scale. Dig the hole before the ground freezes and store the soil in a warmer location (like a garage) so it’s easier to fill the hole when you plant the tree after the holidays. The best way to tell if you have an infestation of Cooley spruce gall adelgid is to look for a cotton-like substance on tree branches. For Cooley spruce gall adelgid, apply a dormant oil spray in late-October and early-November.
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