Colorada Blue Spruce is brownish red

I've been so excited about watching this tree grow. Grant you it has been slow and in the ground for around three years and finally growing and looking good. This year after putting mulch on it , it has turned brownish red. The needles are still spongy so don't know if it croaked or not. Anyone know whats goin on?

First Don't Panic! I'm not a tree expert, nor advanced only 40 years in the garden with trees, shrubs, flowers, wildlife, and domestic--I simply love the concept of a Victorian English Herbaceous Ribbon Garden gone to a wildlife Habitat--I have seen through the years very similar problems with the brownish-red on shrubs, trees, etc.. . Grant you it could be the mulch you put on but it could also be a number of various other problems. Location, soil (to soggy, to dry), weather conditions (wind burn, to cold, to hot-hence the term baked in the sun). Either way I would suggest removing the mulch--with this many years experience I've come to believe your own made mulch is best--a groundcover plant, compost (my specaility), the sweet violet, etc.. often mulches come from God only knows! Next I would recommend feeling the needles--do they fall off-crispy to the touch--if so not good; however, there still may be hope. Our little Alberto spruce had a similar fate--so many other gardeners would have pruned out the dead; other garden neighbors simply would have started over. Because we are a wildlife habitat in a big city-we have been noticing things--like when you are forced to trim a yew to nearly ground level it starts to come back--grant you time, time, time. Many gardeners give-up and throw the towel when it comes to time, but our gardens never would have evolved if time was only the answer. All our plants started from seeds, or saplings no bigger then 2" or so and now! Walla! Hence official "God's Garden" Wildlife Habitat! Celebrating 35 years of acting on thinking to garden!

Here is something I have used for years: one of the Home Brew Tonics! This one has been around for some time. The use of Epson Salt (Magnesium sulfate) to be exact. Works great on sore feet and you guessed it the roots--including the roots of trees. You can purchase this at stores like Walmart (check the garden center there as well as the pharmacy), Walgreens, etc... Take the cheapest price you can find.

You said it was a tree so use two tablespoons over roughly a 3' x 3' foot spot--apply on and near the roots. I apply this roughly three times a year and mind you--have very good results. Again use your "Green Thumb" when it comes to mixes--caution always before hand check out the subject matter before applying! Always! I also must admit being lazy at times--I've often take these same two tablespoons (some information indicates you can use 1/2 cup per gallon--I've tried it spraying over all parts of the plants--no problem--but again trial and error--watch you weather conditions) and add the Epson Salt to a gallon of water *use a milk jug and shake shake and simply apply at the base of the plant. Never on the green! AND better yet go two for one even lazier after soaking my feet (read the direction on the container) mix in water and the next morning spill at the base of the plants--mind you never the green--don't know the results but it may burn the leaves or needles if sunlight and the right conditions after all it is Magnesium Sulfate. Take time and kick up a conversation with the pharmacist. Perhaps a good laugh comes to gardeners who love to garden and spread the manure. This is really an old Home brew--dates back to the European Gardens-to vigorate! M'm!!! does wonder to the feet--after the feet brew try a little peppermint on the feet--now we are talking pain free-untired feet. Ready To Garden!

For the more advanced gardeners of compost and hence feeding their plants remember the Comfrey herb (used to knit bones in the Civil War). This is an excellent plant developer. It contains potash (packed in the leaves) and Walla when added to the compost or used as a tea makes great fertilizer. Neighbors are catching on around here--and one even asked for our compost even though he tried--saying our plants are bigger, etc.. The last three years the Gardens fall due to changing times and the results for this gardener are noticeable--no compost, no Espon Salt, no comfrey. I've originally order the seed from Park seeds years back--I bought the ornamental Herb version called: "Russian Comfrey" . The leaves must be filled with !!! the size of the sedum chives, and other flowers, herbs, shrubs, fruit, etc.. Simply put results don't lie.


Happy Gardening,

Official "God's Garden" Wildlife Habitat in the City

P.S. have a true love about gardening??: check out "God's Garden" Wildlife Habitat" more replies to various threads-look for the extra long answers to each! Ooops! Always did get excited when it comes to the color Green. see Wildlife, berries, etc...

When the needles turn red/brown, they are long since past rehabilitation. It's not likely it had anything to do with the mulch, but was instead, some damage suffered months ago.

Thanks altagardener I fear your right but will give the epson salt treatment that 2gonefishing recomends I have babied this tree for so long am not quite ready to give up. Wish me luck

Remember Patience! Give it a good season before deciding to destroy a plant--thought our 40 year old yews which had to be cut down due to size-died, and the burning bush the city required to size down--a sure butcher blade killing--even survived. This year the front gardens (a work in progress) still has the two yews--each 14 inches tall from the ground--appears they will survive--now all they need to do is grow, grow, grow--meanwhile--have a little extra place to add in. Definately running out of room! Nearly forgotten an old recipe tried and true we use--even with all the ?? about comfrey. again always research first-use on a little portion of your garden a plant or two and watch what happens! Take a handful of leaves and place in a gallon jug--let sit outdoors-strain when the water is mucky--place the remaining sludge into the gardens (under the earth) or back in the compost pile. Feed the injured plants--very very very high high survival rate. Mix this brew again an inch or two in a gallon filled with water. Originally only used the epson salt on the burning bush, but will now also add this comfrey solution to the yews. Comfrey is a herb (ours is the ornamental type called Russian Comfrey-see Park Seed Catalog--looks rather prehistoric). The original herb comfrey was used in our Civil War, and even earlier then that to help "knit bones". Appears soliders did not like having limbs removed by the doctors and if possible would seek help among the locals who used this herb to heal. Originally purchased our seed back in 1993 from Parks seed in Greenwood South Carolina, USA. It grows tall 4-6 feet, more green sticky type leaves-hence the reason it is such a good compost ingredient-full of potash both the root and the leaves. Caution think twice before allowing the seed to develop, yield hitgh will have many, many, many and as I often would say to many.

Oops! Nearly forgot--Wildlife love this plant for its food source and cover. Yes, many of the predators birds (Red Wing Tailed Hawk, Sparrow Hawk, Cooper Hawk etc.. will arrive--so caution if you are a birdlover. But then again remember at the same time you feed the birds and other wildlife the circle of life unfolds and the Red-Wing tailed hawk has food for her babies survival, and the young Cooper Hawk first learning to hunt has a chance to survive--The Circle Of Life! And the stories you will tell will be true like-----

"Gods Gardens" Wildlife Habitat 2gonefishing--check the forums for more questions answered by "God's Garden"--all the stories are tried and true--Happy Gardening!

The yield on the front yard pear tree appears light this year--due to the weather and --

well its worth a try and if it doesn't help my tree then maybe I'll drink some to heal what ails me lol Thanks 2gonefishing