![]() ![]() Ips beetles also damage spruce, usually attacking stressed trees (much like they do with pine trees). In many cases, once spruce trees begin to die and needles are turning color, the insect has already moved onto another tree. This difficulty is made worse by the spruce’s dense lower limbs, which obscure the view of the tree base. Spruce bark beetle problems can be harder to get ahead of because diagnosis is more difficult. It is treated with the same methods as pine beetles (spraying and pheromone packets), although treatments are applied slightly earlier in the season. Spruce Bark Beetleīlue spruce is also attacked by a bark beetle, similar to the pine beetle, that can cause extensive damage to the tree. Over time, white pine weevil damage leaves the plant looking more like a shrub than a tree.īoth of these pests are treated in spring and late summer/early fall. This damage, known as a shepherds’ crook, will occur annually to the tree unless the weevils are controlled. The white pine weevil causes the dominant leader (the very top of the tree trunk) to die back. See our Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid page for more information. In most cases, old galls are covered by new growth the following season and become almost unnoticeable within a few years. ![]() 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.īut while they may look alarming, Cooley spruce galls actually do little or no damage to the tree. The Cooley spruce gall looks a little like a 2- to 4-inch long prickly cucumber. 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). Cooley Spruce GallĬooley spruce gall is caused by a small insect called an adelgid (or wooly aphid). Other pests and diseases are less common but can cause more damage. 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. 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. Plant blue spruce in an area with well-draining soil, as water pooling can lead to rotting roots. 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. ![]() 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. Like all spruce, it prefers consistently moist soil.īlue 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. 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.Įven though it is known for its drought tolerance in other parts of the country, in our area blue spruce has the highest water requirement of the native conifers. Our state tree can be found growing in the drainages and along streams, creeks, and rivers in riparian settings. The needles of the Colorado blue spruce have a slight blue-green tint ![]()
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