The spruce turns yellow: what to do and why it happens, the solution to the problem

Spruce is a very unpretentious plant that has high decorative characteristics. Coniferous crops look great on house plots and in summer cottages. However, sometimes there is a decrease in the decorative properties of plants. In this case, gardeners are interested in what to do if the spruce turns yellow. A variety of factors lead to this. To deal with the problem, it is necessary to identify its source.

Causes of yellowing

The reason that the spruce turned yellow, there are various factors. This is caused by climatic conditions, violations of care, pest attacks.

External factors

Many summer residents are interested in why the spruce turns yellow. A variety of factors can lead to this:

1. Moisture deficiency. Seedlings sold in temporary containers are often overdried. Therefore, after transplantation, the tree may not take root. This is due to the fact that small roots are dying. After some time, the needles turn yellow and fall off.
2. Late boarding. A tree that was planted in late autumn may not have time to take root in the soil. As a result, spruce faces a lack of moisture. This entails the death of young shoots and browning of the needles.
3. Burns. In winter, young trees suffer from the negative effects of sunlight. They reflect off the snow and burn the delicate needles.
4. Severe frosts. The needles often turn yellow under the influence of low temperatures. However, with the advent of heat, this problem disappears.
5. Deficiency of nutrients. In such a situation, there is a need for fertilization.
6. Excessive feeding. This also has a bad effect on the appearance of conifers.
7. Sharp warming after winter. Under the influence of heat and sun, active vegetation begins, but the root system does not have time to wake up. In such a situation, it is recommended to remove snow from the trunk circle, sprinkle ash on the soil and apply fertilizer. This will speed up the warming of the earth and help the plants wake up.
8. Stagnation of moisture in the planting area or high groundwater. In this case, only a transplant will help the plant.

Pests

Spruce needles often turn yellow due to pest invasion. Fungal infections can also cause problems. Sucking parasites absorb the juices of needles, wood, and even the root system. One of the common signs of problems is yellowing. The most common parasites include:

1. Hermes - when attacked by these pests, yellowing of the needles and the formation of sticky and fluffy white lumps on the lower part of the needles are observed. At the same time, young branches are covered with cones or galls. Up to 120 parasite larvae can develop in them.
2. Spruce aphid - most often prickly, Sitka and Serbian spruce species suffer from these pests. Insects are very small in size, which do not exceed 1-2 millimeters.
3. Spider mite - its presence can be identified by the formation of a thin and rare cobweb on spruce needles. Most parasites harm plants in the heat. During the summer, the female spider mite is able to bring 3-4 generations. Therefore, by the beginning of autumn, the size of the lesion increases.

Prevention measures

To avoid yellowing of spruce needles, you need to do the following:

1. Choose the right site and follow the rules of planting.
2. Organize proper care for the spruce. It should include timely soil moisture and regular application of nutrients.
3. Avoid strong thickening and shading plantings.
4. Cover the trunk circle with peat chips or ash. This will help prevent the development of winter shute.
5. Protect the crown from severe frosts.
6. Regularly inspect the tree and take action at the first sign of development of pathologies or pest attacks.
7. Carry out preventive treatments. For this, it is permissible to use fungicides and insecticides. In simpler cases, it is permissible to use folk remedies.

Of particular importance is the choice of a landing site and compliance with the rules for its implementation. It is important to consider the following:

• location of groundwater - if it is too high, the root system can rot, resulting in yellow needles;
• placement of the root neck - its deepening or exposure provokes growth inhibition and the risk of stem rot at the base of the trunk;
• thickening of plantings - the contact of branches provokes their development, drying out and falling of needles;
• soil composition - dense and poor soil adversely affects the development of culture.

Fight against yellowing

To cope with the yellowing of the spruce crown, which is grown in the country, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Delete damaged branches. To maintain the attractive appearance of the crop and the rational distribution of useful elements, rejuvenating pruning is required every autumn. In this case, it is worth getting rid of dry dead branches. In this case, the sanitary procedure should be carried out when the culture is damaged by parasites and diseases. Cut shoots must be burned.
2. Water and feed the crop.Full moisture is required, first of all, for young spruces. In the heat, it is also permissible to spray the plantings. In this case, it is recommended to use water with a temperature of more than +12 degrees. After watering, it is required to loosen the soil. This will improve the flow of water and valuable substances into the root system. When the rules of planting work are followed, mineral products are applied only after 4 years.
3. Treat plantings from pests. At the initial stages of damage to branches by parasites, the use of folk remedies is sufficient. In most cases, a potassium soap solution is used for this purpose. It is also permissible to use herbal infusions - based on garlic, wormwood and other crops. To destroy leafworms and spider mites, it is worth treating the plant with a solution of liquid soap.

Care products

If non-natural factors led to the yellowing of spruce, it is recommended to deal with problems with special preparations. The most effective means include the following:

1. "Rakurs" - contains 2 active components, which differ in different dynamics of distribution in the plant. This helps the product to successfully cope with rust and shute at different stages of development. The solution includes special polymers that improve the adhesion of the agent to the needles and accelerate its penetration inside. This increases the resistance of the substance to precipitation. "Rakurs" has prolonged protective properties. The effect of the substance lasts up to 1 month.
2. "Phytoumbrella Coniferous" - the substance is an effective growth stimulant. It has a unique formula that provides a wide spectrum of action. The substance can be used for germinating seed material and applied when planting in the spring. This helps to accelerate the rooting of the culture and promotes the development of a powerful root system. Thanks to the use of the substance, it is possible to make spruce more resistant to fungal infections and pest attacks, improve its decorative properties and facilitate the adaptation of the plant in a new place.
3. "Pinocide" is a systemic tool that helps to cope with a number of dangerous pests. These include sawflies, scale insects, aphids, hermes. The wide spectrum of action of the drug is associated with a unique combination of several active ingredients that belong to different chemical classes. The first results are noticeable within 1 hour after treatment. In this case, the pests completely die after a day.
4. "Vallar" - this tool successfully copes with the larvae of the May beetle, which damage the root system of young seedlings and cause their death. Also, the substance is effective against wireworm and false wireworm. To prevent damage to the root system, you need to use a talker based on insecticide and earth. Subsequent treatments involve the introduction of granules on the soil surface with their further deepening by 5-10 centimeters.

For the treatment of firs, it is required to use magnesium sulfate, or magnesium sulfate.This tool provides a quick recovery of trees after winter. To make a working solution, it is recommended to take 10-20 grams of the substance per 10 liters of water. The working solution should be sprayed on the crowns of fir trees in the morning and evening. This must be done in dry and calm weather.

Also, the working solution can be used to process the near-trunk circle of spruce. To do this, the dosage of magnesium sulfate should be tripled, using 30-50 grams of the substance per 10 liters of water. The consumption rate of the substance is 10 liters per 1 square meter. During the season, 2 treatments are required - in spring and summer.

Yellowing of spruce needles is considered a fairly common problem, which may be associated with the influence of natural factors or attacks of various parasites. With proper care of the plant, the problem usually disappears. If this does not happen, you should use a special drug.

Recommended