What Do You Do When the Top of the Trunk of a Spruce Tree Dies?

Browning and Loss of Vigor

• Browning at only the top portion of the tree is most often caused by water loss due to drought or compacted soils, winter injury or a lack of iron in the soil. Stress caused by short periods of drought will reduce stem and root growth, but in prolonged hot, dry conditions, the upper portions of the tree around the crown begin to brown. If water isn’t supplied to relieve your tree’s stress, the entire tree can die. Typically, winter injury of spruce trees occurs after unusually warm fall temperatures followed by extreme cold during winter months. Applying nitrogen too late in the season may delay maturity in the fall, which will also increase your tree’s vulnerability to winter damage.

Reduce Stress

• Apply water slowly so that it penetrates the soil, or install drip irrigation lines to ensure that your spruce is getting adequate water and to prevent further damage. Don’t fertilize your spruce tree during dry conditions, and reduce compaction in the soil by limiting traffic from people, vehicles and animals near the tree to allow it time to recover. Reduce vegetation which may be competing with your spruce tree for water in the soil and apply 1 to 3 inches of mulch to help conserve moisture. Do not allow the mulch to touch the tree trunk. Avoid applications of nitrogen fertilizer between July and the time at which deciduous trees begin defoliating in your area.

Iron Deficiency

• Iron chlorosis is caused by lack of iron in the soil and is common in alkaline soils. Portions on the crown or on parts of the tree will become yellow, but the tree may not be dead. Provide your spruce with the necessary iron by adding iron chelates to the soil. Begin applications after the first of May and repeat according to the label recommendations. Sometimes it can take several applications over consecutive seasons to fully restore your tree’s health.

When to Prune

• If the tissue under the outer bark of your tree’s trunk is dry, then that portion of the tree is indeed dead. Dead limbs typically have no green foliage or buds on them either. Prune away dead branches to encourage new growth in late winter to early spring, but be careful to avoid removing any new growth on the tree. When cutting back to the healthy wood, leave a green shoot near the cut or the limb will die. Because this may mean cutting the entire top of your tree off, take precautions to prevent infection in the cut area from bacteria and insects. Use clean, sterile tools and cut during dry weather so the wound dries to keep harmful insects from infesting the wood.