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Hello, Thanks for visiting
You likely received one of our post cards in the mail and were looking for more information. If you work your way down this page, you will learn exactly what's going on with your spruces and why we typically recommend removal.
If you don't want to learn more, please click the button below to schedule the work.
What is hurting my tree?
Rhizospaera Needle Cast
Rhizosphaera Needle Cast is cause by a fungus called Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii. This fungus survives winter, and reinfects the trees from the old fallen needles. Typically it is heavily infected by the time it is noticed, because it starts in the middle of the crown and works its way out. Needles will develop what looks like blackheads on their needles. These clog the pores of the needles, and make them turn a purple color before eventually falling off. If the dead needles aren't cleaned up, those spores on them will reinfect the tree through the air. It is very important to clean up the dead needles each year to slow the fungus down. The typical tree without any intervention will last 2-5 years after first signs of the disease.
What can i do?
We typically recommend removal because it is not a curable disease, and the cost of treatment is fairly high. If you have a sentimental tree or trees you really value, you can give us a call and we will point you in the right direction for treatment.
Can I do anything to help my trees?
Watering your trees (don't have water touch any of the needles) and removing fallen needles as soon as possible is the best way to prolong the life of your Spruce trees. We firmly believe that the trees are really struggling because they are not drought tolerant and Central Ohio has recently had very hot and dry summers. Watering every 3-7 days when it is 85+ without rain for more than a week can greatly increase the health of all of your trees, but especially trees that have little drought tolerance.