There are two other douglas firs nearby (100m farther) and all have denser foliage than the one in these photos. Perhaps, some of you have more experience with this species. Can you tell whether this is a normal healthy tree? Notice the lower part of the crown, it's nothing like the dense upper part of it. It's been like this since I can remeber. Maybe a fungal disease? Root or nutrient problem? Or it's just normal? Thank you!
The lower branches look a bit thin; this is common, and can be due to shade, or to infection by one or both of two common needlecast diseases Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii and Rhabdocline pseudotsugae.
hm, don't think shade is the problem... i'll do some search on the needlecast diseases you mentioned.
