We have a mature 75 foot or more Douglas Fir that a month ago had some upper sick looking (lighter green) branches that are now yellow and brown and dead looking. About ten branches look this way. Some other branches look a bit off colour. Many branches look healthy. Other Douglas Fir on the property seem fine. There haven't been any dramatic changes close to this tree. It is west and south of several mature cedars that look fine. Does anyone know what the problem might be and the prognosis? Thanks.
Definitely something badly wrong there. I'd suspect some sort of root disease, but it'll probably need an on-site inspection to determine the cause accurately.
Thanks. Would a root disease be treatable? Is this a situation requiring immediate inspection (and if so by whom) or is it a watch and wait sort of thing?
I suspect not by this stage, it's probably too far gone. Sorry, not sure who would be best to contact in Canada (I'm assuming you're in Surrey, BC, not Surrey, England!), maybe the Canadian Forestry Service?
By "no dramatic changes", that also means that no neighboring trees were removed? Any chance that there are livestock around the tree? Or is this a residential landscape tree? Being on-site sure is handy for trying to figure out problems. Causes can range from compaction, to herbicides carried downhill, to lightning - etc..
We are on a half acre lot in South Surrey. Neighbours have taken some small things out and have limbed a number of trees fifty to a hundred feet away from this fir. The only creatures about are owls, squirrels and raccoons. If herbicide was coming downhill surely all the trees would be sick? (dreadful thought).
