I'm no expert but tree looks healthy to me. Maybe just give the tree time to sort itself out. The new growth on some tree's can bend in different directions before it hardens off.

hm, i'll ask about roundup. Can it be from overfertilization? And it's definetly not normal - if you look carefully, there is last years green, then blueish this years new growth that is normal, then this twisted whitish newest growth.

Will soil flushing help at this time if it's roundup? Will it recover by itself?

its not round up.. imo.. and RU is supposed to become inert once it hits the soil.. so no drenching is needed....

tell us about why you mention fert ...

and tell us about how it lacks full sun ...

should i presume you are in VT??? .. whats the ambient weather since planting ...i also think it looks like overly lush normal growth ...

ken

'Can it be from overfertilization?'

Yes.

it's definitely not herbicide - there is alot of random new plants sprouting around and branches seem to keep growing fast. the trees are in WA. full-sun: the new growth is leaning east - the only direction with reliable direct sunlight, the rest is mostly shaded by old high pines. over-fertilization: unlikely. I've added about 1/2 of normal dose of well-diluted liquid 28-8-8 2 weeks before I noticed the twisting - should not be a problem since the soil was fully drenched by 6 months worth of rains over winter months.

My current plan is to water heavily (especially since it's above 85F for a long time) and see if it sorts out. Looks like unreliable light and fertilization may have caused rapid growth that can't figure out a way up.

Thanks everyone for input :)

Judging from the photo the tree looks like it's in too much shade.

'over-fertilization: unlikely.'

high nitrogen fertilizers should be used sparingly on conifers. Wild growth as your picture shows can result from excessive use. Not that it's the problem with your trees, it could be some other reason entirely. But you asked if it was possible. :-)

You have two statements that just make me do a double take:

First: full-sun: the new growth is leaning east - the only direction with reliable direct sunlight, the rest is mostly shaded by old high pines.

Any questions why your new growth is leaning east?

Second: over-fertilization: unlikely. I've added about 1/2 of normal dose of well-diluted liquid 28-8-8 2 weeks

Miracle gro isn't even 28% nitrogen.

Let it grow for a bit with no fertilizer.

To be over simple and slightly silly, I would be a little worried it might grow accustomed to that 28 part and you'll have a 100 foot tree in need of monthly tanker trucks of 28.

If its gonna lean for the sun, its gonna lean for the sun unless you take a lot of chainsaw to its neighbors.

I'm not worried about leaning, since it's easy to explain. I've asked the question because it suddenly changed growth pattern from normal green-blue to pale white-green. So far there was additional water over last few days, but the new growth did not start turning normal green color. Though it's still adding length to those curly new branches.

Wonder if it's ok by now or something prevents it from producing enough chlorophyll to turn green.

Fertilizer: well, it's all about ratio and total amount - double dilution of 28-8-8 makes it equivalent to 14-4-4, so i don't see a problem there, and it's likely fully gone by now with all that additional water.