What could be wrong with these trees?

seven_dust

Hello all,

I have been thinking for over a year about posting online for help with 2 of my trees. I finally decided to take pictures to see if i can get any input. I'm hoping that whatever is wrong can be corrected somehow. I'm located 70 miles southwest of Indianapolis, IN.

The first tree is some sort of evergreen species. It's been like this for the 7 years i've lived here and seems to be ever so slowly getting worse.

The second tree is probably less than 12 years old and just does not seem to be doing well. The strange thing is that the same species of tree is growing not 20 feet from it and is doing awesome.

I'd be grateful for any advice.

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Eric Frei

My guess is some sort of fungal infection,

In this picture what side of the tree are we looking at (infected side) as far as orientation goes, like is it the shady side, the west, north etc? What is the opposite side like, healthy?

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rbtree

Looks like a blue spruce. Symptom looks similar to what mites do to spruce.

Hold a white paper out and shake some foliage. Look for tiny red fellas scampering around on the paper. Call a spray service/plant health care firm if needed, or a local certified arborist.

seven_dust

Attached is a picture of one of the dead branches i broke off. The dead parts are totally dead, they break like a toothpick. There appears to be some green spots on the branches.

Regarding mites, i did what you said and i think i did see them. Are they very very small? Like the size of the head of a needle? I saw one like that and it appeared to be red. There was also a slightly larger bug that had a more orange torso.

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seven_dust

Also, the side of the tree are we looking at is the most infected and the damage seems to spiral up towards the top near the trunk and works it way out towards the branch tips. The tree would get direct sunlight from this point. The opposite side is somewhat more healthy but also is infected. The top, as you can see, is in the best shape.

treevet

My opinion....the Spruce.....Cytospora canker. No brainer.

The plum (couldn't see it very well so I am guessing, may not even be a Plum), We have been having a bad outbreak of Black knot killing orn. Plums. If not that the obvious guess would be borers. Very delicate plant.

Kinda hard to tell without some history and closer picts. esp the, I think, Plum.

The green spots on Spruce twigs...Lichens, non parasitic algae/fungi . Harmless.