We have a spruce tree that's turned completely orange this spring. I assume
it's dead.

What's the cause, pest, fungus, soil? It looked fine during the winter, but
as soon as the thaw came it died. We've also got another spruce a few feet
away with one orange branch.

Do I have to wait til fall to plant a replacement?

Conifers that appear orange at this time of year probably died during the
winter or well before. Especially spruces - most of which are very resistant
to desiccation even when dead. How long was the tree in the ground? What
kind of spruce/ Where on globe are you? Is the tree next to pavement/ Does
it inhale exhaust for hours while the car warms up? Is it buy the pool
filter? Need more info.....

--
Mike LaMana, MS
Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC
Toms River, NJ
www.HeartwoodConsulting.net


"Bill Stock" wrote in message
ers.com...
We have a spruce tree that's turned completely orange this spring. I
assume
it's dead.

What's the cause, pest, fungus, soil? It looked fine during the winter,
but
as soon as the thaw came it died. We've also got another spruce a few feet
away with one orange branch.

Do I have to wait til fall to plant a replacement?

I don't really know how long it's been there, probably 10 to 15 years.

I think it's a native transplant, so it's likely a white spruce.

It's fairly close to the fence (neighbor), so it could be a dog problem?

There were actually three spruce in a clump, I removed the middle one when I
extended a walkway last year. Perhaps the limestone screenings affected this
tree. But the tree closest to the new walkway looks fine. The dead tree was
furthest from the new patio stones.

I'm in Toronto ON. The winter was not any colder than most.


"Mike LaMana" fake@MikeatHeartwoodConsultingdotnet wrote in message
...
Conifers that appear orange at this time of year probably died during the
winter or well before. Especially spruces - most of which are very
resistant
to desiccation even when dead. How long was the tree in the ground? What
kind of spruce/ Where on globe are you? Is the tree next to pavement/ Does
it inhale exhaust for hours while the car warms up? Is it buy the pool
filter? Need more info.....

--
Mike LaMana, MS
Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC
Toms River, NJ
www.HeartwoodConsulting.net


"Bill Stock" wrote in message
ers.com...
We have a spruce tree that's turned completely orange this spring. I
assume
it's dead.

What's the cause, pest, fungus, soil? It looked fine during the winter,
but
as soon as the thaw came it died. We've also got another spruce a few
feet
away with one orange branch.

Do I have to wait til fall to plant a replacement?

White spruce will tolerate alkalinity pretty well IME, so I don't think the
limestone pavers are the issue. Sounds like something related to the walkway
extension project - root removal coupled with a rough winter maybe?? Or, are
the trees now being inundated with more water than before??

The single orange branch on the other tree is really throwing me.

Can't be of more help with traveling. Sorry.

--
Mike LaMana, MS
Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC
Toms River, NJ
www.HeartwoodConsulting.net


"Bill Stock" wrote in message
.cable.rogers.com...
I don't really know how long it's been there, probably 10 to 15 years.

I think it's a native transplant, so it's likely a white spruce.

It's fairly close to the fence (neighbor), so it could be a dog problem?

There were actually three spruce in a clump, I removed the middle one when
I
extended a walkway last year. Perhaps the limestone screenings affected
this
tree. But the tree closest to the new walkway looks fine. The dead tree
was
furthest from the new patio stones.

I'm in Toronto ON. The winter was not any colder than most.


"Mike LaMana" fake@MikeatHeartwoodConsultingdotnet wrote in message
...
Conifers that appear orange at this time of year probably died during
the
winter or well before. Especially spruces - most of which are very
resistant
to desiccation even when dead. How long was the tree in the ground? What
kind of spruce/ Where on globe are you? Is the tree next to pavement/
Does
it inhale exhaust for hours while the car warms up? Is it buy the pool
filter? Need more info.....

--
Mike LaMana, MS
Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC
Toms River, NJ
www.HeartwoodConsulting.net


"Bill Stock" wrote in message
ers.com...
We have a spruce tree that's turned completely orange this spring. I
assume
it's dead.

What's the cause, pest, fungus, soil? It looked fine during the
winter,
but
as soon as the thaw came it died. We've also got another spruce a few
feet
away with one orange branch.

Do I have to wait til fall to plant a replacement?

Thanks Mike,

A friend suggested that it could be a chemical like Roundup causing the
problem.

I did spread the dirt from the walkway excavation under several of the
Spruce trees, so perhaps there was something in the soil. The tree with the
one orange branch is much bigger (25'), so perhaps it has a better tolerance
for whatever was in the soil. Does not explain why the smaller neighbor is
OK though.



"Mike LaMana" fake@MikeatHeartwoodConsultingdotnet wrote in message
...
White spruce will tolerate alkalinity pretty well IME, so I don't think
the
limestone pavers are the issue. Sounds like something related to the
walkway
extension project - root removal coupled with a rough winter maybe?? Or,
are
the trees now being inundated with more water than before??

The single orange branch on the other tree is really throwing me.

Can't be of more help with traveling. Sorry.

--
Mike LaMana, MS
Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC
Toms River, NJ
www.HeartwoodConsulting.net


"Bill Stock" wrote in message
.cable.rogers.com...
I don't really know how long it's been there, probably 10 to 15 years.

I think it's a native transplant, so it's likely a white spruce.

It's fairly close to the fence (neighbor), so it could be a dog problem?

There were actually three spruce in a clump, I removed the middle one
when
I
extended a walkway last year. Perhaps the limestone screenings affected
this
tree. But the tree closest to the new walkway looks fine. The dead tree
was
furthest from the new patio stones.

I'm in Toronto ON. The winter was not any colder than most.


"Mike LaMana" fake@MikeatHeartwoodConsultingdotnet wrote in message
...
Conifers that appear orange at this time of year probably died during
the
winter or well before. Especially spruces - most of which are very
resistant
to desiccation even when dead. How long was the tree in the ground?
What
kind of spruce/ Where on globe are you? Is the tree next to pavement/
Does
it inhale exhaust for hours while the car warms up? Is it buy the pool
filter? Need more info.....

--
Mike LaMana, MS
Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC
Toms River, NJ
www.HeartwoodConsulting.net


"Bill Stock" wrote in message
ers.com...
We have a spruce tree that's turned completely orange this spring. I
assume
it's dead.

What's the cause, pest, fungus, soil? It looked fine during the
winter,
but
as soon as the thaw came it died. We've also got another spruce a
few
feet
away with one orange branch.

Do I have to wait til fall to plant a replacement?

"Bill Stock" wrote in message
ers.com...
We have a spruce tree that's turned completely orange this spring. I
assume
it's dead.

What's the cause, pest, fungus, soil? It looked fine during the winter,
but
as soon as the thaw came it died. We've also got another spruce a few feet
away with one orange branch.

Do I have to wait til fall to plant a replacement?


Sounds like some type of rust. There a few different types that affect
spruces. Sometimes and alternate host such as a juniper is involved. I'd
consider removing the affected branch and taking it somewhere for ID and
preventive treatment. The conditions may have already improved with removal
of the middle tree.

I did spread the dirt from the walkway excavation under several of the
Spruce trees

Consider the possibility that adding soil beneath the trees caused/contributed
to their problem:

http://www.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/00001629.html

"Raising or lowering the grade of the root zone during
construction injures plants. Lowering the grade removes
part of the root system. Raising the grade decreases the
movement of air and water into and out of the root zone.
Piling soil deeply around the aboveground portions of the
trunk can lead to rots."

...."Dieback can occur quickly or take several
years, depending on the severity of the root injury or
altered root environment...."

Another article from "Western Arborist" magazine, regarding the symbiosis of
mycorrhizae with many tree species, including spruce, states: "Do not allow
soil addition (grade change). Even as little as 2 or 3 inches of soil added on
top of original grade can weaken the roots/mycorrhizae enough to predispose the
tree to disease."

See: http://tinylink.com/?cc9EUm1KD6