Brown needles on a spruce are always a warning sign that the tree is obviously not feeling well. In the best case, the spruce just lacks some water, but in the worst case, it is in serious danger.
Brown needles on spruce can have very different causes
Why do the needles turn brown?
One of the first steps you should take when dealing with brown needles on spruce is to determine the pH value in the soil. If the soil is not ideal, it will be difficult for the tree to recover. It is also easy prey for pests and/or various diseases.
However, you should also check your spruce for pest infestation so that you can combat them quickly in an emergency. If the tree is near a road, damage from road salt should also be considered. It should never be used in the direct root area of a spruce. A spruce in a pot can even freeze to death without winter protection, although the spruce is generally frost-tolerant.
Can my spruce be saved?
A lack of water and/or nutrients can be remedied quite easily with plenty of water or appropriate fertilizer. The Sitka spruce aphid can be controlled quite well with canola oil preparations, as can the pine cotton aphid. If necessary, however, the treatment must be repeated several times. If your spruce has suffered from the spreading of salt, then thorough watering is the order of the day. This flushes the salt out of the ground as best you can.
Possible reasons for brown needles:
- Lack of water due to a long dry period
- nutrient deficiency
- Infestation with the Sitka spruce aphid or pine louse
- unfavorable soil pH
- road salt
- frost damage
Can I prevent brown needles?
The best way to prevent discoloration of the needles is to take good care of them in the right place. To be healthy and resilient, the spruce needs a sunny or partially shaded spot with slightly moist, well-drained soil. A spruce in a pot should be well protected from frost in winter.
tips
Even in frost, a spruce can die of thirst. When the ground is dry and the sun is shining, more moisture evaporates than the spruce can absorb from the frozen ground.