Is this tree (shrub?) dying?

I don't know what the name is. My husband and I just refer to it as the cone tree. It survived the big cull when we bought the house 2 years ago because we liked it. My husband says its dying and needs to be pulled out. Its nice and green outside but inside is dry and brown. I don't know if that's normal or if it really is dying. I have attached some photos if anyone wants to give their opinion on whether or not we should save it or pull it.




The cone tree ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden )






Inside the cone tree ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden )

 

I'm not an expert on trees, but I've seen those who have thick hedges just trim the inside branches to give the bushes light and air. That looks like too much of a healthy tree to cut down. Beautiful.

 

I think the tree is just Aging...Our christmas trees are taking on that look also....

THe bottom limbs die first , then it works its way up.

I would not kill it yet..

b

 

It looks like an Alberta Spruce and it still looks healthy to me. They are slow growers and some needle loss inside is normal. As long as the outside looks good, I'd keep it.

 

The outside looks so nice and thick that maybe the inside of the tree doesn't get enough light. We had some do that when we lived in Arizona. I'd leave it unless the outside starts to look bad, too. dooley

 

I have a whole row of christmas trees, about 30 years old, the bottoms are looking like that.. It is how they age and turn brown..

But hers looks gorgous yet.

b

 

Thanks for the replies. I'm with everyone here and think its still doing fine. Sometimes my husband can be too quick with the chain saw. He claims it is dying from the bottom so I went around the back where its a little higher off the ground and took a closer photo.



Back side bottom of cone tree. ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden )

 

Just take a pair of clippers and clip out the brown ones. It may make the tree healthier and happier. dooley

 

I agree with Netty, this is an Alberta Spruce. Only the outside has neddles and yours looks to be 30 to 50 years old (possibly older) and very healthy. Occasionally they will get some loss of neddles on the outside because of shade, pollution or whatever, but simply trim it off and they will fill back in. I like them because they are very slow growers. One of mine was planted 26 years ago as a little Christmas tree. It is only 6 feet tall and the neighbors is about 50 years old and 10 feet. You can make a bed around it with low growing perennials and you have a ready made focal point.

 

Thanks. I'll cut the brown parts that show and hope I don't catch my husband hooking a chain to his 4 x 4 and ripping it out! I'd say the 30 to 50 years old might be pretty close. The house was built in 1964 as a one story rancher and then raised in 1981 to be a 2 story. The same family had it up until a few years ago and they loved gardening, so I'd say its possible they planted this tree shortly after they moved in.

 

I believe that it is an Alberta spruce. It looks far too healthy to cut down. This is not a tree that is close enough to dead to make it worth killing the poor thing.

 

The tree is still there and doing fine. I hate cutting down trees. The only thing I've waged war on are some unfortunate flowers that take over like weeds. This photo was taken a little over a month ago and you can see the tree is still quite healthy over there on the right. I'd love to put Christmas lights on it but we don't have an electric outlet at that end of the house.


Front garden Oct 13 2009 ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden )

 

Wow, what a transformation Whistler! You guys have been working hard and it all looks so tidy. Are you going to plant other things that you like in those nice clean beds now?

 

The beds look terrific and everything is so neat. Great job! If you feel the need to weed come on down, I've got some beds that need tending