Owen Tree Service has been managing spruce decline complex for well over a decade and currently treats thousands of spruce trees in southeast Michigan. I have personally diagnosed and prescribed treatment for thousands of spruce trees and seen many great results in Genesee County. Have I seen poor results from our programs? Yes, I have, but this is usually a result of another disease or insect feeding on the tree after our tree disease program has been started, or a client not choosing to take all proposed services. Until the tree(s) are healthy they will be susceptible to many diseases and insects. A program is recommended and based on signs and symptoms seen at the time of our initial visit. Please keep an eye on your spruce trees and call us if you have any questions or concerns. We would be happy to stop by and take another look at your spruce tree(s).

Blue spruce trees are not native to Michigan and tend to become stressed due to Michigan soils, high humidity, and rain. Just like us when we become stressed, our immune system is compromised and we may become weak or sick. Reducing this stress is the key to the long-term health of your spruce tree(s). Our treatment programs are designed to reduce and limit stress, allowing for the long-term health and beauty of your landscape investment.

A typical spruce tree health program

1. Spruce specific fertilizers with soil amendments – I personally feel this to be the most important yearly or at least bi-yearly treatment as trees with a good record of this service have better color, are fuller, and respond better to insect and disease treatments. Many studies show spruce trees planted in Michigan soils lack specific nutrients which increase stress and decrease immune response. Our spruce tree fertilizer mix has been designed to decrease stress, amend the soil, and provide nutrients specific to spruce tree needs.
2. Disease control – Rhizosphaera needlecast is the major disease affecting your spruce trees, quite possibly in conjunction with other diseases – forming a spruce disease complex. Much like when we have the flu we can become more susceptible to secondary infections. Rhizosphaera is a fungus that infects spruce needles causing them to drop which gives the tree a thin appearance usually starting from the ground up. Rhizosphaera Treatment Customer Expectations – Healthy spruces hold 5 to 7 years of needles. Most trees, prior to treatments, commonly have 2 to 3 years of infected needles which gives the trees a thin unhealthy appearance. Due to the fact that diseased needles will fall for up to 2 years after treatment begins, results may not be easily noticeable for up to 3 years. Picture it this way – we will protect this year’s growth with the treatments, but growth from 3 years ago will fall off making the tree look the same. This will normally occur for up to 3 years until all diseased needles fall off giving the tree a fuller, healthier appearance. Treatment for 5 to 7 years is most common, with many homeowners continuing treatments to protect from re-infection by neighboring untreated trees.
3. Insect control – Insect & mite feeding limits the amount of food the tree(s) can make for themselves, also causing the tree to use limited resources to manage the insects. Mites are the most common pest and feed on the majority of Michigan spruces. Damage by mite feeding is often confused with active Rhizosphaera infections.
4. Growth regulator – Growth regulators have been used in our industry for many years and are extremely common in the nursery and golf industry. Growth regulators used on spruce trees under stress has been shown to increase their health by increasing fine root density and immune response. I have been very happy with results I have seen from these growth regulators on spruce, oaks, and maples.
5. Water – Studies show that trees with drought stress during low-rainfall summer months are more susceptible to disease. Also, drought stress can inhibit disease treatments. Drip irrigation or a hose left on a slow drip works well for watering spruce trees. Lawn irrigation is not adequate water for trees and wet spruce needles will increase infection rates. Please adjust sprinklers not to hit spruce needles.