Question
Ed

Hi,  I have a Blue Spruce that the top of the tree is turning brown and the needles are falling off. It looks like the tree is dying from the top down.  Can you tell me what is wrong and what I should do.

Thanks

Ken

Answer
Ken,
When a tree starts declining from the top down it is usualy an indication of a root problem or that there is something girdling (or constricting) the trunk just below it. There are a few boring insects that will also attack this plant.
I would start with the root system. Is the plant over 5 years in the location? If so then transplant shock can be ruled out. Was there any type of digging or excavation done around the tree within the last 2-3 years? If so then the feeder roots may have been damaged, reducing the water uptake. Less water for the tree means that the tree will shut part of itself down to ensure it's survival.
If the tree has been in the ground for a while, was it ever staked up? Were those stakes and ties removed after the first year or are they still there? Girdling from wires left on long after they should have been removed is the main cause of damage such as this.
The last consideration is borers. If you can inspect the bark of the tree, look for small holes probably oozing sap. This is the exit hole that the larval borer made as it emerged to become an adult. Once you see this, the damage to the tree is already done. The best that you can do is to prune out the dead area, fertilize and have the tree injected with insecticide in the spring to control the next generation of the borer.
If any of these choices do not fit the problem, let me know and I will strive to find the less obvious answer.