U of M Gardening Information: What's wrong with my plant?

Spruce > Whole tree> Tree breaks or falls over

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Infected trees have poor growth, dead branches in the upper canopy, browning needles, may produce an abundant crop of cones, and eventually die
Clusters of honey-colored mushrooms may grow at the base of the tree in fall
Flat white sheets of fungal mycelia (mycelia fans) grow between the bark and sapwood at the base of infected trees
Thick black, shoestring-like fungal strands sometimes grow in a net on infected trees and in the soil around the base of the tree
The base of the tree just below the soil surface may be encrusted in resin
Wood is decayed, white, soft and stringy and may extend from the base of the tree well up into the trunk; trees frequently break or fall over in storms
More information on Armillaria root rot...

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Heartwood of infected roots and trunks is initially reddish brown
As infection continues white pocket rot develops; decayed wood has elongated pockets or pits, and may appear honeycomb-like in cross section
Infected trees have reduced growth and thin canopies, produce large amounts of cones and eventually die
Infected trees frequently break or lodge during storms
Mushrooms that are velvety brown above and porous and buff colored below appear around the base of the tree in late summer
More information on Tomentosus root rot...