Fir trees going brown

[hippyhoppy]

I have two fir trees in the back garden - about 10 years old and about 10ft tall. Brown patches have started to appear randomly all over the trees - does that mean they are dying? And do I need to chop them down? and what do I do about the roots - leave them or dig them out..?

Any advice appreciated...thanks

[Lonnie]

My neighbour had the same problem, I took a cutting to a Garden Centre, and they diagnosed it a Greenfly, and recommended a spray,
They were right, and the tree recovered.

I don't know if thats the same as yours, but it sounds like it,

[Keleez]

It sounds like your fir trees have exhausted the ground they are in of water and nutrients, i would trim the trees back, mulch their roots with something rich like composted manure mixed in soil so that it doesn't scorch, and water repeatedly, for 2 weeks or so, to see if it had any affect. Growing beyond the nutrients availablity in a patch of soil is something which can happen with firs and conifers in a domestic situation where they don't have the forest floor mulch available to them that they would have in their natural habitat. Good Luck.

[informashun]

when you say fir tree this could be a spruce.
i have been growing conifers for many years and the only enemy to your tree , other than wind burn.is the dreaded red spider mite which wrecks trees if unchecked.
if the needles start to fall off then it will be red spider.
give it a week or two and if needle fall continues get rid.
trust this helps.