What is wrong with by Blue Spruce?

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sitesonc Polk City, IA Apr 24, 2011

I planted this tree last fall. It gets morning sun. The bottom is dry and branches are brittle.

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Post #8517760
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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Apr 25, 2011

Don't know what your zone is and how hot the morning sun will be, but you need to dig a few small holes around the root area so you can find out IF the soil lower down is wet or dry.
If dry, then dig a few holes around the root area big and deep enough to take an upturned plastic drinks bottle, you have to cut the bottom from each bottle so that when inserted into the soil, you can fill them up with water as this will allow water to go right down to the roots, sometimes when we water, the water runs off the top soil and the earth around the plant / roots is left dry. you may need to leave these bottles in place for a couple of years until the tree gets used to the new environment you have given it, Last fall is not too long ago so you still have time to fix the problem. make sure you back fill the hole after you insert the bottles and just leave about an inch of the bottle out of the soil, you insert the bottle neck end down.

If the soil is too wet, then dig up the tree, make the hole 2 / 3 times larger than the pot, you got the tree in, then mix some compost with grit / gravel you can buy from the garden shop, once this is mixed, add some multi purpose food and add some to the bottom of the hole, place the tree to the same depth as it was in the pot, then back fill the hole, gently firm in the soil around the tree, make sure you water well and test for watering every few days till you get used to how much water this tree needs sitting in this area.

It may be a good idea to clear away the greenery growing around the root area as this will act as completion with the tree, even weeds like water and they vie for this with the plants they grow beside.

Hope this helps you out a bit and the tree gets well again.
WeeNel.

Post #8519726
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shune Burien, WA(Zone 7b) Apr 25, 2011

You might also check out the spruce aphid...
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/spf/fhp/leaflets/Sprgiaconaph.htm
I don't know if you have them in your area, they are very common here. They seem to love the blue spruce. Good Luck.

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