Hello all! First time poster on this forum. I hope someone can help.
I purchased a live Douglas Fir in mid-December for a Christmas tree. It stayed in the house until New Year's day, then spent 3 days in the garage before going outside. I am not sure of its age - it is about 4 feet tall. The weather was warm in January (highs in the mid 50s) when I transplanted. In general, the Central Illinois weather has been warm. Precipitation has been normal. The tree, if I remember correctly, was transported from a tree farm in Michigan.
About a month after I put the tree in the ground, I noticed the needles at the base of the tree on the sun side were browning. That browning has gradually moved up and around the tree. I would estimate 10-15% of the needles are in some state of browning. The browning seems to begin at the tips of the branches and migrate inward. There are buds, but I am not sure what healthy buds are supposed to look like. I will try to post pictures.
I have read of Swiss needlecast disease. The needles on my tree do not have the black specs or purplish discoloration that is often described and imaged on Internet websites. But the needles do look like some images.
Should I apply a fungicide? Will a fungicide harm the tree if the cause is just transplant shock? Would transplant symptoms fade as the Spring bloom approaches? Is the tree already dead?
I really want to save this tree. My nature-loving 8-year-old son would not let me cut down a Christmas tree. He became upset when he found out a cut tree would die.
Thanks for any responses!!!
Geoff
-
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2016 4:36 pm
-
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1030
- Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2015 9:12 pm
- Location: central Ohio
Was it potted or ball and burlap? Did you loosen the roots mass any? Did you water it in well? Have you checked the root mass itself to see if there is dampness there?
It looks to me like it's not getting enough water. The surrounding soil can be wet while the root mass is still too dry. Check the roots and soil on the shady side.
It looks to me like it's not getting enough water. The surrounding soil can be wet while the root mass is still too dry. Check the roots and soil on the shady side.