And what can we do about it? The leaders and the topmost branches have turned brown, and it seems to be spreading downward. For about the past year, it appears that the tree is dying from the top down. As with any tree health problem, the first step in dealing with declining spruce trees is to diagnose the problem and identify the cause. I cut the leader back … Eventually, the tree breaks off or blows over, but the dying process can take 10 years or more. When a tree begins to deteriorate from the top down, t his condition is also known as dieback. The problem began in the winter and has accelerated this spring. Q: The leader on our 15-foot Serbian spruce died about 1 foot down. Is this caused by insect infestation or something else? The most common sign that your evergreen tree is stressed and potentially dying is the browning of a section or the entirety of the tree. I have found no insects on the plant and the remaining part of the plants appears healthy. Furthermore, there are also common diseases as to why do trees from the top down. spruce dying from top-down. Indeed, even with a healthy amount of rainfall, your tree may not be getting the water it needs to flourish and endure the seasons. The rest of the tree is healthy and shows no other damage. Earlier this year, after one of the growth "spurts" we noticed the central leader no longer stood straight up. 11 years ago. The top of the tree, known as a crown as well, is one of the most important parts of your tree. It had a strong central leader and seemed to like where it was. We had a beautiful spruce tree we planted a few years ago. The tree was located in a prominent place on our corner suburban lot, so we dug … NEEDLECAST – This disease is extremely common in conifers and causes very obvious symptoms. I have removed the dead portions twice and it continues to die. It would grow at a couple feet a year. Trees affected by air pollution usually die from the top down. One was a cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia), and the other, a Texas red oak (Quercus buckleyi).The cedar elm was fairly young, only about 8 feet tall, when its top died. For large or important landscape trees, homeowners should contact a professional arborist or tree care company. I have an established Dwarf Alberta Spruce that is turning brown and dying from the top down. The following will help you identify and name the cause of your tree’s decline: Evergreen Tree Diseases. We have a tall (50-foot) blue spruce in our front yard in northern Indiana. gardener-nh. Symptoms include thinning foliage and dieback of branches. Too much herbicide can kill plants. I this is a disease