Question
My spruce is about 8 years old. Now the center is losing almost all of it's needles. The very top is almost naked. Do I need to fertlize or lime this tree. Please help fast.....was planted the year my mother died !!! The tree is planted in the upstate of South Carolina.cau

Answer
It could be environmental or a disease but from what you have said I can not determine the cause. I would suggest that you call the SC forestry Commission and ask their Pest Management Specialist if they could come take a look. Her name is Laurie Reid. Here is her contact web link. Call her and see if she could come take a look. You can use my name--I retired from a sister state Pest Management specialist position. I think it will take an on the ground look to ID your problem. http://www.state.sc.us/forest/scid.htm