In principle, a spruce can grow very old, but only if it is well cared for. If she doesn't like the environment, if the soil is too heavy or too dry, then her needles can turn brown or even fall off.
Brown needles can be the result of pest infestation
Why is my spruce getting brown needles?
The location of a spruce should be sunny to semi-shady, with a slightly moist soil. Prolonged drought not only leads to brown needles but also easily to a dried up root ball. This results in the fine roots that a spruce absolutely needs to draw enough water from the ground.
A relatively common reason for a spruce tree to turn brown is a lack of nutrients or infestation with pests. If there is a lack of magnesium, the needles will first turn brown and then fall off. Two types of pests are quite common on spruce, namely the bark beetle and the Sitka spruce aphid.
How can I help the spruce?
If drought is the reason for the brown needles on your spruce, then only thorough watering and regular watering will help. However, be careful not to get waterlogged. If the soil is well drained, excess water will seep away quickly and without causing damage.
If your spruce suffers from a magnesium deficiency, you can supply it with a special fertilizer. Use conifer fertilizer or Epsom salts for this. In the case of a pest infestation, help is not that easy. The bark beetle is difficult to fight, often only cutting down the affected tree helps.
The Sitka spruce aphid can be controlled with gentle preparations. They are made on the basis of rapeseed oil or potash soap and do not harm the beneficial insects. The louse is particularly numerous after mild winters. From May the lice of ladybirds and lacewings are destroyed.
Possible causes of brown needles in spruce:
- persistent drought
- dried up root ball
- Nutrient deficiency, e.g. magnesium deficiency
- Pest infestation, e.g. with the Sitka spruce aphid
tips
In a dry summer, water your spruces regularly to prevent them from developing brown needles in the first place.