What is wrong w/ this Norway Spruce?

Wood Tick

This Norway Spruce was transplanted 3 years ago. It sits on the north side of my house and is watered by my sprinkler system. I noticed a few weeks ago that it started turning brown from the top - down. Any ideas what is happening or causing the brown color? The branches still seem to be alive and are not brittle to the touch.

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Brent Ferris

When (time of day/night) is the sprinkler on, how long is it on for, what kind of soil is yard (description of top 18 inches is enough (depth of different layers if more than one, and colour)- if it feels gritty, prob sand, if roll between hands and hold vertically and breaks, mostly silt, if holds together, mostly clay, if lots of organic matter, then organic matter), was it ball and burlap, container or bareroot, what kind of soil surrounds the root system?

Wood Tick

Sprinkler system runs directly on this tree at approx 8:30 am for 25 minutes and 9 pm for 20 minutes.
The soil is sand and surrounds the root system.
The tree was planted as a sapling and put in bareroot.

second-gen_monkey

how deep is it planted? how deep is the soil (sand or otherwise) surrounding the roots before it turns to rock?

can you see the flare of the trunk? it's just above the roots, should not be buried.

Brent Ferris

I think the problem you have is not enough water. Put a can out by the tree (in the soil so the top is level with the soil surface) and see how much water actually lands in the can. Alternately, you could stick your finger in the soil, to the depth of the roots and see how damp the soil is. I suspect the tree roots can't get enough water, esp given the high heat lately. I know you only have a small sapling, but a tablespoon of water twice daily doesn't cut it. And even in sand, I doubt there is enough water to fill the pores and provide for the tree. The roots have a depth of 8 to 10 inches?