[klaaar]

The terminal 8" of a well-established plant is dying. I didn't find any borer holes after a short search, but that doesn't mean there are none: the twigs and needles are densely packed along the stem.

I've seen plenty of excurrent needled evergreens w/ their leaders bored into and killed, but never a dwarf Alberta. Any of you seen this before?

[VoodooChile]

No, but spruce mites can devastate dense-needled spruces in a blink of the eye, especially when conditions are dry and/or the plant is protected from direct rain. Apparently, the rain knocks the mites off and acts as a natural control.

Pix?

[PSUscaper]

I would agree with the spider mites. Often, albertas are planted where???? next to the front door, or close to the foundation which is somewhat shielded by the rain by the house or its overhanging roof. Makes a lot of sense. Also, I've always had problems with Albertas tha are planted underneath the cover of a nearby tree.

In fact, I must say, I've been having a lot of problems with them in general. Guess I need to stop selling that drip irrigation and go back to sprays!

As for the tree, I'd say its toast. Never have seen a Alberta grow back in a any way that resemblles its original form after being damaged.

[VoodooChile]

I've seen mite damage on Weeping White Spruce too, again sited next to a building.

The first line of defense on an afflicted plant is spraying off with water, that's right, water.

In the case of the the weeper, I hit it once a week with a direct steam of water throughout the season, and didn't have trouble again. I suspect the problem came in from the nursery, and got worse due to my siting.

I'd give up on Dwarf Alberta's unless they are in exposed sitings, and the supplier practices thorough pest control, and follow up control is possible out in the landscape. I've killed a couple this past year that were just planted and abandoned to the mites...

[klaaar]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

I've attempted to attach pics. The plant in question is several feet from an overhang.

[klaaar]

more...

[klaaar]

more

[VoodooChile]

I've looked at some pest reference books.

The only other pest that they list as active on Spruces this time of year is White Pine Weevil, but it sounds like that pest would kill the whole leader.

Spruce spider mites are active this time of year. The cases I've seen usually splotch up parts of the whole plant...

Anybody else wanna weigh in on this?

[Greensmith]

Whenever I have seen weevil in the field, the tips usually are completely defoliated and brown. You can usually see a weird angle like its wilting. This is pretty splotchy and I would assume right away Spider mites.

[klaaar]

Thanks voodoo, psu and green.