Question
After researching why my alberta spruce's needles are turning brown...it sounds like they might be dying.  I have only had them 3 years and they were doing fine until this month.  I am in Oklahoma where it is 100 degrees for most of August. Doesn't rain much, but we watered once a week.  Are they dying?  and if so, what can I replace them with?  We had one on each side of our front porch entrance, so I need something that is ornamental that will do well in OK. weather.  Any ideas?

Answer
Been there! Albeta Spruces are probably the most unreliable and costly of the dwarf evergreens.Mainly because there aren't many dwarf evergreens. The Alberta Spruce is a beautiful evergreen when it is healthy but it has a very low survival rate. Once it starts turning brown,that's it,it dies very quickly.
I have been through many of them and stopped buying them a few years ago after such bad experience with them. I don't like to waste customer's money. That pretty much is what they rely on.My knowledge and experience with plants that do well here and ones to avoid.I no longer buy the Dwraf Alberta Spruce.It is really a shame since I just love the look of them and the low maintenance,no trimming but the cost and low survival rate outways the good so I now longer use them.

Here is a link to other dwarf evergreens to cut and paste into your browser:

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1704.html

http://www.naturehills.com/new/product/trees_subcategories.aspx?catname=Evergree...

http://www.renegadegardener.com/content/toppick2003.htm
Also here are some sources for you to look at other evergreens:
Here are some great sources to look at on the web:White Flower Farm,Musser Forests,Wayside Gardens, Shady Oaks Nursery,Walters Perennials(or Gardens),Jackson & Perkins,Khelm's Song Sparrow Perennial Farm,Van Bourgondien Bulbs,Van Dyck's Bulbs,Brent & Becky's Bulbs,Plants by Mail,Gardener's Supply Co.,Bluestone Perennials,Sheperds Seeds,Applewood seed Co.,Ball Seed Co.,Genesis Seeds,Ltd.(www.genesisseeds.com),Kieft Seed Co. USA(www.kieftseeds.com),Mountain Valley Seed,Inc.(www.mvseeds.com)

All these companies offer free catalogs too and a lot of specials if you order online. Musser Forests have all evergreens.



Good luck and happy gardening!