I bought a Dwarf Alberta Spruce back in April. We water every day that we don't get rain and it looked very healthy. A few weeks ago it started turning brown (dying) on the very top and it's slowly spreading down. Any idea what I can do to save it?

Answer #1 · Gardenality.com's Answer · Sounds like you might have overwatered your Dwarf Alberta Spruce? Overwatering can cause root rot, which almost ensures death of a plant once it has set in. Dwarf Alberta Spruce are very slow growing plants...maybe about 2 to 4 inches a year. This, and the fact that they are a conifer, means they simply don't drink as much water as other faster growing ornamental plants, particularly when growing in the ground. That being said, when growing in a container, Dwarf Alberta Spruce may require more frequent watering during the hotter months of summer. Potting soil and mixes simply dry out quicker. Either way, whether growing in the ground or in pots, during the first growing season, as the plant is becoming established, you should use the finger test to check for soil moisture before watering. If the soil around the roots is somewhat moist or wet, do not water. If the soil is somehwat dry or dry, apply water. When you water, water deeply...then allow the soil to dry out somewhat before watering again. When planted in the ground, once the root system is established (typically one good growing season), Dwarf Alberta Spruce will rarely need supplemental water...only during prolonged periods of drought, when you see the new growth is dropping. All of this being said, Chason Arthur could be right as well about it being an insect problem. Look the plant over well to see if you can idfenitfy presence of insects. Take a white sheet of paper and hold it uder some foliage. Shakle the foliage. Then, if you see tiny critters crawling around, this could be spider mites. If so, products containing Neem Oil or Malathion should work to kill and control them. Hope this information helped:-))