Question
Dear Tree Expert,

I have a Colorado Blue Spruce tree in front of our house and has been there for almost 20 years.  The tree is about 3 storeys high - Its bigger than our house atleast.  Before that we had a beautiful maple that had to be removed due to construction on the water main infront of the tree, but back the the main point, our Blue Spruce tree looks like it's dying.  Generally when you look at our tree, the branches are droopy and almost look "tired" (if you can imagine a tree looking tired).  Last year the branches near the top of the tree all dyed off and looks terrible.  The top 5 or 6 feet of the tree is mainly pine cones.  And the rest of it seems generally healthy, well, "tired".  My questions for you is, why do you think those branches near the top dyed? And why does the tree look "tired"?  Is that a natural look for spruce trees?  I've been researching this topic all night and there is so many mentions of diseases and bugs that its becoming overwhelming.  I've called tree fertilizing companies to come out and fertilize, and one mentioned that having so many pine cones at the top of the tree causes stress, or is a sign of stress (don't remember what he said) - Any opinions on that?  Anywho, I hope this email makes sense and if you have any information about my tree and its problems, I'd be forever in your debt.  We, my family, love our tree, and would do anything to keep it healthy and here infront of our home forever.  

Sincerely,

Timothy

Answer
It does not sounds like an insect or disease problem--these will either have dead branches or the needles turning brown not a overall drooping of the foliage. Conifers produce more cones in response to stress-this is a natural response to produce cone (seeds) to produce more conifers. The stress can be fertilizer or it maybe water (either too little or too much). Or change in the landscape near the tree.
Have you used a product called weed and feed on the lawn? This lawn fertilizer contains a herbicide that will damage the trees causing them to die back.
Have you increased or decreased the amount of water to the tree--a tree needs about 1 inch of water each week and the best way  to water is place a pan under the tree and turn the water on and when the pan has 1 inch in it stop the water. Water when there is a dry spell. Too much water daily will make the tree dependant on the sprinkler and not grow deep roots and is the water is reduced the tree wilts.
None of this may apply to your tree but I thought I would go over some possibilities. I would suggest you call the office of the local State Forestry agency OR the State Agricultural Extension Service and see if you can get one of them to come out and take a look. They have specialist that should be able to assist you. Their phone numbers should be in your local phone book. They should be able to determine the problem at least a better than I can with me not being able to look at the tree.
I does not sounds like an insect or disease problem but more of a soil related problem. Sorry that is about all I can think of without seeing the tree.