Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: Sick Fraser Firs, 1 by snapple45

snapple45 wrote:
My two beloved Fraser Firs have been diagnosed with balsam woolly adelgids and canker, most likely Cytospora. They have been declining for several years. The adelgids infestation is slight. The canker is a far more serious issue. Other than feeding and general good tree care what can I do to extend the life of these trees. They have tremendous sentimental value (gifts from my late father). They were each planted Christmas week, in frozen ground, the first in about 1980 and the second in the year following. I never expected either to live throught the first winter as we had to chop a hole in the ground with a pick, haul water in buckets from the house, mulch with straw about a foot or two thick and completely encircle with burlap. I was so elated that the first one made it that my Dad mistook my enthusiam for the desire to have a second. So, year two, another knock on the door and another surprise tree delivery Christmas week. Both times it was snowing hard. Anyway, you get the point. I'm gonna have a real hard time loosing these trees. I will do ANYTHING it takes to keep em going.



From: snapple45