Bag worms killed my spruce?

Question

The limbs are still really plyable, not dry...I've been watering it really well every other day to try and bring it back...I've sprayed a very strong bug killer and removed as many of the sacks as I can...Is there anything else I can do to bring it back ? And is it doomed ?

Answer 1

Spruce trees do NOT like "wet feet".  if you're watering it every other day, you may be contributing to its impending demise by drowning it.

Check the soil about 6-8 inches down.  if you can feel moisture - it does NOT need water.  An established (not newly planted) evergreen should not need additional watering.  Except in a drought situation.  Then, a slow, deep soak maybe once or twice a month should be enough.

Pull off any bags you can see - pop them in a plastic bag, tie it up, throw it out - get it off your property.  Any left on the tree through the winter may be sporting next year's eggs.

The time to spray for bagworms is late June.  They're fairly easy to kill when young - much much harder when they're the size you see now.  Spraying now will have only a small affect.  You might kill a few, but certainly not even half.  Use something with spinosid next summer when they're small...or toerh insecticide rated for caterpillars.  Caterpillars tend to not succumb to some of the "regular" insecticide, and the new systemic insecticides don't seem to be very effective either.

So my recommendation is:

1)Pull off all you can see or reach.

2) spray with spinosad next summer in late June.

3) Don't kill your tree with kindness by overwatering it now.