Dwarf Alberta Spruce

[beccazrk]

Hello,

I am just wondering if there is anything I can do for my Dwarf Alberta Spruce.* I have been*watering at least 3 times a week and I make sure the soil is moist, but it is turning brown and drying out.* Is there anything I can do to save it??

[Newt]

Hi Beccazrk,

Not really enough info here to be helpful to you.* You don't say where you live, why you are watering so often, why you are keeping the soil so moist, when it was planted, are you in a drought or live in the desert that you water so often?* Was it turning brown before you began watering so often?* Is it browing from the bottom up, top down, in the middle, etc?* Sounds to me like it's getting too much water.

Newt

[beccazrk]

Hello and thanks for the reply.* I live in North Dakota and we have had a pretty decent summer, but we did have some hundred plus days in July with no rain.* I was just worried that it got burnt by the sun, but it says on the tag that they need full sun.* I guess it is a possibility that I have watered too much.* Should I lay off of the water for awhile?* It only started browning in the past month.* We planted it in June and it was beautiful and green at that time.* The browning looks like it is from the top to bottom.*

*

I hope this gives you enough info.* Thank you.

[Newt]

That info helps.* Since it was recently planted and it's browning from the top down, I suspect it's either not enough water or too much.* Both can cause this, but I would like you to look for spider mites.* They will attack spruce when they are stressed and/or young.* Hold a piece of white paper under the brown area and tap the branches.* If small dots fall on the paper and move, you have spider mites.** A good blast of water from your hose daily on the branches will take care of them.* See the first paragraph here and these conversations.* I only recommend either the water or insecticidal soap for spider mites.
http://www.johnsonsnursery.com/Frequ...Questions.aspx
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/fo...ead.php?t=8736
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/l...110329386.html

With the browning just at the top I'm wondering if your plant was severely rootbound and can't get enough water to the center of the rootball.* I often hear of problems like your at the top of the tree with this situation.* Check to see that you didn't plant it too deep and it's properly mulched.* Here's some helpful sites.
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/pla...ees/f1147w.htm
http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/mulching.aspx
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/water/az1298/
http://www.watersaver.org/pdfs/FALL_..._FOR_TREES.pdf

Let me know what you discover.
Newt

[Quirky Quercus]

too little water too late then too much.