Dead spruce needles in some new growth

[PoginyHill]

Several of younger spruce have many new-growth leaders with dead needles. I don't notice it on more mature trees and is isolated to spruce (red). Nearby balsam fir and hemlock are not impacted. And most small spruce are undamaged - only a small portion show these dead needles. I'm thinking it's either spruce budworm or a fungus. What treatment, if any, should I employ to prevent spread? Remove effected trees?



 

 


On affected trees it often includes the primary leader, but not always.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Late spring frost. We had it bad up here the last 2 springs after a big warm up a week before. Spruce and fir recover well with internodal shoots between whorls.

[PoginyHill]

Thanks. Didn't seem to fit any fungus or insect symptoms very well. Good to know I don't have something spreadable.

[wisconsitom]

I'll 2nd Swamp's diagnosis.  This past May, our spruce were already pushing new growth when late freeze hit.  Lots of damage just like you have there, Pog.  And like yours, terminal leader rarely affected.  Your trees, and mine, should recover.