One possibility.

Here is a link that might be useful: Needlecast disease

More info, click link for full bulletin:

"In Minnesota, Colorado blue spruce grows fast, lives hard and dies young, at the age of 30 years or so. For this reason, Colorado spruce is not recommended as an urban tree. Common factors in blue spruce death are two diseases: Rhizosphaera and Cytospora. Blue spruce, however, often have multiple disease disorders in addition to Rhizosphaera and Cytospora!..."

Netties, I think you nailed it. Thank you so much for the information. We will have our tree guy out next spring to treat it.

Leaves, Unfortunately (or fortunately) the landscaper of our development in the early 1950s didn't have that good advice, and our small forest of blue spruce is beating the dire prediction for a 30-year lifespan by more than 20 years so far. It is good information to have, for the inevitable day when we have to replace them.

If you like blue spruces, might I suggest Picea meyeri Meyer's Spruce, or Picea asperata Chinese/Dragon Spruce. Neither have the problems associated with a tree (like Colorado spruce) adapted to American sub-alpine regions.

Are you coming to the swap Sept 10?

Rick

Again, thanks. Alas, no swap for me. We are in the miserable midst of interior projects and I've hardly been outside for two weeks.