It's Spring...

 ...and a forester's thoughts turn to ...FUNGUS!  The Midwest is loaded with blue spruce trees that are only about 1000 miles off site, so problems should be no surprise.  One of the problems we have is Rhizosphaera Needle Cast, a fungus that infects new, tender needles in the humid environment of Middle America.  Rhizosphaera starts out low, and usually on the north side of a tree, and works its way upward over a period of several years. 

 Homeowners usually do not notice a problem until the disease is well on its way to the top of the tree.  You might save a tree at this stage, but it does require regular spraying of a fungicide, and removal of all diseased branches.

Trees with only a short top-knot of live needles are too far gone to be saved.

The new growth has to be protected by regular spraying in the spring.  Directions on fungicide labels will tell you to spray every two weeks, but my experience shows that two weeks is too long an interval.  Spray every week, and after rain events, and keep in mind that spraying is a preventative treatment for uninfected needles, not a cure for sick ones.  You should also prune the lowest limbs off of spruce trees to keep them off the ground, and to improve air circluation.

The machine in the photo is a Solo mist blower, and one of these is a must if you have fruit trees, and other trees or plants that require spraying.  It can also be used for building fire line for prescribed burns, and for fire fighting.  This particular machine has been in use for over twenty years, and that helps take away the sting of the initial cost.