I've got two of these in pots that were Christmas trees I bought about 6-7 years ago, they are 4-5 ft and 5-6ft now. They have been repotted but not for a couple years now and they have had the same compost with a little top up since then. The pots are big though, the kind of size where you can't lift them on your own but can just about drag them if you needed. One of mine is in the shade and the other is in full sun and they both get needle drop but mostly in the spring. Once you clean the needles up you would never know they had lost any. Losing needles is a natural thing for these trees and there is a natural regeneration of new needles in some evergreen trees (I think they are supposed to last 2-3 years).
I agree with the others and I think that yours has been a little dry at some point. I wouldn't do anything to it now except make sure it stays moist. The beauty of these trees is that they grow fresh new growth from the top so in time you can simply prune out any dead branches and raise the canopy, without ruining the shape.
The growth isn't just at the top of fir trees - it's at the ends of branches. It's why trees grown as a crop [ie for Christmas] are often carefully trimmed to keep them looking right. You can certainly remove lower branches, which will get rid of the dead stuff, and helps anyway if you eventually want it as a C'mas tree, as you'll have a better trunk. The important thing is enough moisture, especially in dry spells. A watering can full every day, but also a better, and bigger pot. If you're in a drier area, keep it in a shadier spot which will help with preventing excess water loss.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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One of mine is in the shade and the other is in full sun and they both get needle drop but mostly in the spring. Once you clean the needles up you would never know they had lost any. Losing needles is a natural thing for these trees and there is a natural regeneration of new needles in some evergreen trees (I think they are supposed to last 2-3 years).
I agree with the others and I think that yours has been a little dry at some point. I wouldn't do anything to it now except make sure it stays moist. The beauty of these trees is that they grow fresh new growth from the top so in time you can simply prune out any dead branches and raise the canopy, without ruining the shape.
You can certainly remove lower branches, which will get rid of the dead stuff, and helps anyway if you eventually want it as a C'mas tree, as you'll have a better trunk.
The important thing is enough moisture, especially in dry spells. A watering can full every day, but also a better, and bigger pot. If you're in a drier area, keep it in a shadier spot which will help with preventing excess water loss.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...