# Spruce branch dying **URL:** \ **Category:** Horticulture\ **Created:** [September 25, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/spruce-branch-dying/7057 "2020-09-25T20:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Brad](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Brad)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/spruce-branch-dying/7057/1 "2020-09-25T20:28:00Z")
The rest of this tree appears healthy, but all of the needles on this branch have turned yellow in the last few weeks. Is this just the tree giving up on an unproductive branch, or do I need to worry about it? This happened in a couple small pieces last year, but this is a much larger branch. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/7/73d00ca6e47574807cc3ec9527e29a7e48ea4013.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Stevew1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/stevew1/32/9822_2.png) [@Stevew1](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Stevew1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/spruce-branch-dying/7057/2 "2020-09-26T00:03:51Z")
When did you wire the branch Brad? ---
**Author:** ![Brad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Brad](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Brad)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 12:20am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/spruce-branch-dying/7057/3 "2020-09-26T00:20:46Z")
I wired the whole tree this spring. This branch got the most gentle touch, but it’s also a lower branch so maybe that contributed. I forgot to mention that this was potted up for the first time this year, it was doing well in the collection box for a couple years ---
**Author:** ![Stevew1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/stevew1/32/9822_2.png) [@Stevew1](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Stevew1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 2:08am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/spruce-branch-dying/7057/4 "2020-09-26T02:08:05Z")
It is probably a combination of your spring repot and wiring. If I repot a tree in the spring I will not wire until around September. Wiring depending on how the tree responds after the repot. If the branch completely dies do not cut it off as it might make a very interesting jin down the road. ---
**Author:** ![Brad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Brad](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Brad)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/spruce-branch-dying/7057/5 "2020-09-26T14:26:39Z")
That’s definitely possible, though I’m not entirely satisfied by it. The tree responded really positively to the repot, I didn’t have to remove any roots, and the needles didn’t start to yellow until the normal time for old needles to senesce. Has anybody seen this particular pattern before? Maybe I’m just clutching at straws so as not to take the blame, but I’m also concerned that this could happen again next year if it’s something like borers. ---
**Author:** ![Brad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Brad](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Brad)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/spruce-branch-dying/7057/6 "2020-09-26T14:34:00Z")
Here’s a zoomed out view for context. It’s a back branch with the foliage only way out in the tips. I think it will actually look better as a jin, but again I’m concerned that this could be something more systemic. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/6/60ae652d5b4b94dbb583123f5ff76bc2d88c6df6.jpeg) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/d/d9fce9d5df3c86db51a18d73e95243b8bf32a1c3.jpeg)