{"id":2708,"date":"2021-10-30T00:03:56","date_gmt":"2021-10-30T07:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/pal-question-496\/"},"modified":"2024-04-11T10:34:52","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T17:34:52","slug":"fraser-fir-with-rusty-tips","status":"publish","type":"pal","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/fraser-fir-with-rusty-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Fraser fir with rusty tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

We planted a young Fraser fir last March. It has a lot of<\/strong>
\nnew growth, but has developed some dead-looking tips here and there that<\/strong>
\nare a reddish rust color. I am wondering if we have a serious problem or<\/strong>
\nshould I just remove the affected tips and not worry about it? I have<\/strong>
\nnoticed a lot of trees this summer on my travels out through the<\/strong>
\nCumberland-Enumclaw area that look a similar cinnamon color and are<\/strong>
\ntotally dead!<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The problem you describe could be the result of drought injury, or it
\ncould be one of several rust and fungal diseases which affect fir trees.
\nWas the tree watered well after planting? Here is information
\non drought injury<\/a> from Oregon State University’s plant disease database. Excerpt:<\/p>\n

Drought injury usually progresses from the top of the tree downward and
\nfrom the outside to the inside of the crown. Top dieback and branch death
\nmay be common. Defoliation of the mid-crown or loss of needles at the
\nbase and tip of shoots can also occur in Douglas-fir. Older needles
\ncommonly turn yellow and are shed prematurely. Roots may be alive even
\nthough the entire above-ground parts are dead. Winter injury, gopher and
\nroot weevil problems can produce similar symptoms.<\/p>\n

Your description also sounds like the symptoms of Phytophthora,<\/a> a fungal
\ndisease which is common in our area. Excerpt:<\/p>\n

Phytophthora root rot is usually a problem only in areas with poor
\ndrainage or where flooding occurs. The fungus attacks the roots, which
\nrot and die. The infection moves up into the crown, where the cambium
\n(soft inner bark) turns reddish-brown or caramel in color instead of the
\nnormal white to greenish color. Older trees may develop cankers on the
\ntrunk, which are a dark reddish-brown when cut. The cankers may be
\naccompanied by split bark and oozing pitch. Lower branches wilt, turn
\ndark red, and die back. Younger trees are often killed outright, while
\ninfected mature trees may show wilting, branch dieback, and\/or gradual
\ndecline.<\/p>\n

Missouri Botanical Garden’s Integrated Pest Management site has information and includes an image<\/a> of Fraser fir suffering from Phytophthora.<\/p>\n

The Pacific Northwest Pest Management<\/a> handbooks have a section on diagnosing and controlling phytophthora diseases.<\/p>\n

I recommend taking a sample of one of the cinnamon-colored branches to a
\nMaster Gardener Clinic, and also taking photos of the whole tree, so that
\nyou can have the problem diagnosed. If you are near Enumclaw, the Pierce County Master Gardeners<\/a> offer diagnostic clinics.<\/p>\n

Abies<\/a>, <\/span>Trees–Diseases and pests<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We planted a young Fraser fir last March. It has a lot of new growth, but has developed some dead-looking tips here and there that are a reddish rust color. I am wondering if we have a serious problem or should I just remove the affected tips and not worry about it? I have noticed a lot of trees this summer on my travels out through the Cumberland-Enumclaw area that look a similar cinnamon color and are totally dead!  …<\/p>\n

Continue reading Fraser fir with rusty tips<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","keyword":[209,205],"class_list":["post-2708","pal","type-pal","status-publish","hentry","keyword-abies","keyword-trees-diseases-and-pests"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pal\/2708"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pal"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/pal"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"keyword","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/keyword?post=2708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}