The Colorado fir can live up to 350 years. With their long needles, they can be easily distinguished from other firs native to this country. But sometimes she gets sick or is attacked by pests…

This is what a healthy Colorado fir looks like

Signs of diseases and pests

Depending on the type and severity of the disease or pest infestation, there are different signs that you can use to assess the health of your Colorado fir. These include, among others:

  • yellow needles
  • brown needles
  • falling needles
  • webs
  • white, yellow or orange colored spores

Common diseases of the Colorado fir

Colorado fir trees are usually not affected by disease. In rare cases, viral and fungal diseases can occur. For example, a flow of resin indicates a viral disease. Yellow needles can indicate a fungal disease. These include, for example, pine canker, pine needle rust and gray mold.

Identify fir canker and gray mold

In fir canker, crooked, and later yellow-tinged needles appear. They are dropped in summer. You can recognize an infestation by gray mold, for example, by the white spore heads on the undersides of the needles. In addition, grey-brown threads can often be seen.

Common pests

Pests occur more frequently than diseases on Colorado fir trees in this country. There is a wide range of pests. However, these trees are predominantly attacked by the following pests in poor location, climate and care conditions:

  • Lice like the Cinara bark lice (colored black, reminiscent of spiders) or the pine tree lice
  • spider mites
  • Black-spotted wreath weevils

The pests usually suck the plant sap. The needles then turn yellowish in color until they fall off from weakness. Regular checks for pest infestation and immediate intervention in the event of a finding or with the help of soapy water can help.

Prevention of diseases and pests - avoid care mistakes

Diseases and pests usually only appear on weakened plants. In order for the Colorado fir to remain vital and therefore robust, you should avoid care mistakes, watering if necessary, not fertilizing too much, etc.

Pay particular attention to the following aspects when choosing a location and maintaining it:

  • acidic pH
  • Avoiding waterlogging
  • water during dry periods
  • do not plant in full sun
  • don't over-fertilize
  • If there is a lack of nutrients, fertilize with Epsom salt

tips

On this popular Christmas tree, the old needles will naturally turn brown and shed in late summer (normal signs of aging).

Category:

Trees