Sprinklers

[thistlebloom]

Another neighbor asked me why I thought the tops of the two fir trees are dying despite sprinklers in another location reaching one side of them.

It is almost certainly not a watering issue, but Balsam woolly adelgid. They are gaining ground around here. They infest all true firs. Frasers are the most susceptible. I have had several clients trees taken down by them.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5187218.pdf

 

[digitS']

Oh! These are Douglas firs.

The pines look fine - somewhat distant but also not under sprinklers.

I was reading info from a U of Idaho forestry specialist that our forests' native Douglas firs are under special stress from continuing droughts. These were planted by the neighbor about 15 years ago.

Steve

 

[thistlebloom]

I have a doug fir next to the house that started dying in the crown. A forester came out and said it was an insect (don't remember which) and that the tree would survive it and develop a new leader. It has.

Drought stress will usually affect a tree uniformly. Insect attack can be more localized.