What makes a blue spruce tree so special?
The ornamental evergreen’s exceptional height, distinctive needles and celebrated conical shape make it a popular pick as a focal point, living privacy screen and seasonal must-have. While easily recognized and highly revered, the blue spruce is not invincible.
How can you tell if a blue spruce is sick?
Learning how to tell when the tree is sick will help you preserve its visual appeal throughout the year. Carefully inspect the blue spruce’s lower branches. If they are bare, contain brown needles or are covered with sticky white sap, the tree is likely infected with Cytospora canker.
Why are my Blue Spruce leaves turning brown?
Caused by the fungus Phomopsis occulta, the disease attacks new shoots, leading the tips to curl, turn pink and then brown before the needles fall to the ground. Look for reddish-brown insects with elongated snouts crawling out of holes in the blue spruce’s shoots.
Do blue spruce trees go dormant in the winter?
Colorado blue spruce is native to cold climates, therefore established trees do not need special care in the winter, as the tree will go dormant during this season. You can, however, spread a layer of mulch around the tree's base in the fall and wrap its trunk in burlap to protect it from hungry animals.
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What does a blue spruce smell like?
Demeter's Blue Spruce is a very deep blue-green scent, powerful and enveloping. Enticing anytime, Blue Spruce is particularly well suited for winter. More complex than many Demeter fragrances, but still linear, this evergreen and ozone scent delivers a true winter experience.
Do spruce trees smell like cat pee?
Needles are about 1/2" to 3/4" (1.25 to 1.75cm) long, usually with a whitish or bluish powdery tinge. The twig is very light in color. Broken needles have a strong foul smell resembling skunk or cat urine. Cones grow mainly high in the tree and fall after ripening.
What Christmas tree gives off the most scent?
The Balsam fir is the most fragrant of the trees, making it the most popular Christmas tree variety. ... A very common variety, these trees are favored for their perfect conical shape and fullness. ... Recognizable by their needles, which are dark green on top and silver underneath.More items...
What is that tree that stinks?
the Callery pearThe Beautiful Tree That's Causing Quite A Stink Once embraced by cities for its beautiful white flowers, disease resistance and ability to grow just about anywhere, the Callery pear is now considered a nuisance due to its smell and invasive nature.
Do spruce trees smell?
Pines, Rick said, are practically unscented. Firs are more odorous. So are spruces, though their needles have an unpleasant aroma when crushed. "We hate [blue spruce]," said Cindy Stacy, whose family runs the Pinetum tree farm in Garrett County.
What are the trees that smell like sperm?
You're looking around like, "What is that?" The answer is trees. That cummy smell comes from a flowering deciduous tree called Pyrus calleryana, better known in Australia as the ornamental pear, or the callery pear in the US.
Why doesn't my Christmas tree smell like a Christmas tree?
If you have a living (potted) Christmas tree, it won't produce a strong smell. Less odor is released because the tree has an undamaged trunk and branches. You can spritz the room with Christmas tree fragrance if you want to add that special aroma to your holiday celebration.
Is Blue Spruce a good Christmas tree?
Blue spruce remains a popular Christmas tree because of its bright blue color. Branches are stiff and hold ornaments well. Blue spruce needles are quite sharp, so be sure to wear gloves and long-sleeves when handling.
Why does my Christmas tree stink?
You brought your tree in too early A Christmas tree begins the dying process almost as soon as it's brought indoors – a sad fact, but it is a fact. And a tree that's dying is going to stop taking in water (cue the bad smell coming from the water).
What plant or tree smells like cat pee?
Boxwood. Boxwood is commonly used in landscaping and has a very distinctive odor, similar to cat urine. Boxwood has been used in landscaping since colonial times and can be found in all types of landscaping -- ranging from colonial to modern.
Is there a tree that smells like skunk?
It is a member of the Arum family a group of plants that includes more tropical plants such as calla lilies and philodendrons, but also local native plants such as Jack-in-the-pulpit and green dragon The leaves and stem release a distinctly skunky odor when crushed, perhaps as an adaptation to prevent large animals ...
What tree smells like rotten meat?
Plants in the genus Stapelia are also called "carrion flowers". They are small, spineless, cactus-like succulent plants. Most species are native to South Africa, and are grown as potted plants elsewhere. The flowers of all species are hairy to varying degrees and generate the odor of rotten flesh.
What is a Colorado blue spruce?
Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) is a beautiful native American conifer. This extremely rustic silvery blue tree reaches the height of 9 – 21 m (30-70 ft) in its region of origin. Nice bluish green color, accentuated by the sharply pointed foliage makes it a perfect conifer for open landscapes and large backyards. Dwarf forms of blue spruce are also available that reaches only between 1.5 to 4.5 m (5-15 ft) tall and are suitable for small gardens, patios, and terraces.
How long does it take for a blue spruce tree to germinate?
These cones drop their seeds in spring. Blue spruce seeds require a considerable period of light to germinate: 14 to 16 hours per day. If the length of light falls below 12 hours a day, they become dormant.
What causes needle cast on blue spruce?
Use a magnifying glass to examine the needles of your blue spruce for signs of Rhizosphaera needle cast (Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii), a fungus that causes needle cast disease . It pushes through the stomata of the affected needles and looks like fuzzy black spots.
What is the problem with a blue spruce tree?
The bugs feed on bark tissue, needles and twigs. An infestation will cause the tree’s upper branches to wilt, brown and curl into a shape resembling a shepherd’s crook.
Why do blue spruce trees have white sap?
Carefully inspect the blue spruce’s lower branches. If they are bare, contain brown needles or are covered with sticky white sap, the tree is likely infected with Cytospora canker. Older trees are more prone to the fungus, though extreme heat, dehydration and freezing can also trigger an onset. Severely diseased blue spruces develop dead tissue cankers on their trunks as the infection moves from the outer branches to the middle of the tree.
Why do blue spruce branches turn pink?
If the tree is infected with Phomopsis tip blight, you'll see cankers in the areas exposed by the knife. Caused by the fungus Phomopsis occulta, the disease attacks new shoots, leading the tips to curl, turn pink and then brown before the needles fall to the ground.
What is the disease that causes a blue spruce to have black spots?
The appearance of small black spots, premature needle loss and a thinning canopy can be signs of Rhizosphaera needle cast. The infectious fungal disease starts near the base of the tree and spreads upward. A seriously sick blue spruce has purple or brown needles, dead branches and bald spots. 3.
What is blue spruce?
Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 3 through 8, blue spruce is deeply rooted in traditional holiday iconography. The ornamental evergreen’s exceptional height, distinctive needles and celebrated conical shape make it a popular pick as a focal point, living privacy screen and seasonal must-have. While easily recognized and highly revered, ...
How to check for dead tissue on blue spruce?
2. Use a magnifying glass to check the blue spruce’s needles.
What is the problem with white pine weevils?
An infestation will cause the tree’s upper branches to wilt, brown and curl into a shape resembling a shepherd’s crook. 5.
What causes blue spruce to die?
The most common dieback disease of blue spruce in Maryland is caused by the fungal pathogen Leucostoma kunzei. Blue spruce with dieback from Cytospora. Symptoms: Off-color to brown needles, first on lower branches of 10-15 year-old trees in spring through early summer, progressing to entire branches.
What causes blue spruce needles to yellow?
Needle Cast or Needle Blight. The most common needle problem of blue spruce in Maryland is a fungal disease caused by Rhizosphaeria kalkoffii. On the lower branches, yellowing of first-year needles in mid-summer on 8-15 year-old trees.
How long do needles stay attached to a tree?
The needles can remain attached during the summer until they defoliate over the winter season leaving bare twigs and stems. The ornamental value of infected landscape trees will decline after several years of defoliation and symptom progression up the tree.
What trees grow well in Maryland?
Be sure to research the growing requirements (e.g., winter hardiness, etc.) for these trees, to make sure they are appropriate for your location in Maryland. Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica ‘ Blue Ice’) Oriental s pruce ( Picea orientalis) Himalayan cedar ( Cedrus deodara ‘ Karl Fuchs’)
Can you spray fungicide on a tree?
Therefore, fungicide sprays are impractical for most homeowner trees. Severely diseased trees should be removed and replaced with better adapted conifers for the mid-Atlantic region.
Is Colorado Blue Pruce native to Maryland?
Colorado blue spruce trees, although not native or adapted to Maryland, are commonly planted in landscapes for their attractive color and shape. There are, however, two plant diseases that commonly infect and disfigure them. Both diseases also can occur simultaneously and progressively speed up the decline of this popular tree.
How tall is a blue spruce tree?
The trees in nature can reach impressive heights; it is not uncommon to find individuals that are over 100' tall, with trunks 5' or so in diameter.
Where do blue spruce trees grow?
How to Grow Blue Spruce Successfully. To recap, blue spruce are only native to the mountain west, they generally occur at higher elevations, they prefer a cool climate with wet summers and are extremely susceptible to fungal diseases in cultivation outside of their native range.
How long does a Picea pungens tree live?
It is a relatively slow-growing tree, as wild trees go, but it is long-lived (many reach 600-800 years). Picea pungens does best in cool climates with regular, short bursts of summer rainfall, conditions that are difficult to duplicate outside its native, mountainous, range.
What is the name of the spruce in Colorado?
Colorado (or Blue) Spruce in Nature. Colorado spruce, also referred to as blue spruce, is botanically styled Picea pungens. Picea is the genus name for spruce, and pungens, its species name, means 'sharp' or 'spiny' in Latin, which refers to the spikiness of the needles.
What is the name of the plant that has a clear, powder blue needle?
In the background, Picea pungens 'Fat Albert' draws the eye and provides soft, elegant contrast to the green foliage around it. In front, the cultivar 'Lucretia', has clear, powder-blue needles and a more random growth habit.
Why are spruces blue?
The blue coloring is due to a waxy substance on the leaf surface that protects the tree from desiccation and harmful UV light.The more wax, the bluer the needles.
How long does it take for a spruce tree to become susceptible to disease?
It seems that at about 25 years something happens and the spruce become highly susceptible. One article speculated it could something to do with the tree's inability to move adequate water to all parts of the tree and a resulting inability to then defend against disease attack.
Why are the lower branches of my Blue Spruce dying?
The lower branches of Blue Spruce die because of the top of the canopy shading the lower branches. Blue Spruce also dies from the bottom up if it’s suffering from Cytospora canker.
Why do Blue Spruce needles turn brown?
Blue Spruce needles turn brown due to Cytospora canker disease. Blue Spruce needles also turn brown when the tree is infected by Rhizosphaera needle cast. Stigmina needle cast disease also causes the same damage to the victim plant.
Blue Spruce dying from top down
Blue Spruce dies from top-down when the winter winds arrive. Blue Spruce also dies from top-down if there’s an infestation of White Pine Weevils or Bark Beetles
Why is my Blue Spruce yellowing?
Blue Spruce turns yellow when it gets more water than needed. The roots get stressed when the Blue Spruce is overwatered. Blue Spruce also turns yellow in the initial stages of needle cast disease.
Why does my blue spruce turn green?
Poor nutrition can also be one of the reasons wax diminishes and blue spruce turn green. Application of pesticides can cause greening in blue spruce needles. This includes not just toxic pesticides but horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps. Greening in blue spruce can also occur naturally over time as the tree ages.
Why are spruce needles blue?
The blue color of blue spruce needles is caused by epicuticular waxes on the needles that reflect specific wavelengths of light. The more wax on a needle, the bluer it is. But neither the amount of wax nor the blue color is uniform across the species.
Why do trees have blue wax?
The tree produces the wax on its needles (that creates the blue color) in spring and early summer. The wax can wear off over a rough winter or erode by wind, hot sun, pouring rain and other types of exposure. Air pollutants can cause the wax to deteriorate quickly.
What is the name of the tree with blue needles?
Some trees can grow decisively blue needles, but others of the same type have green or blue-green needles. In fact, another common name for the tree is silver spruce. When it comes to blue-green needles, some people identify the color as blue and some call it green.
