thegardengeeks

I don't know what kind it is, it was in place when I bought the house, but every few years, some of the needles turn brown. I know what you are thinking, so just play along. I am concerned that something is going on with it because this year almost all the needles are browning and none of the others around me are. I think it is a scotch pine or white pine. I noticed last fall that the needles were starting to brown. I wasn't concerned but I had seen this before and thought it needed something it wasn't getting naturally. So I fertilised it. Since then, it has gotten worse, not better. Usually by summer, the needles are green again, but I fear it won't recover this time. Should I be worried?

UT zone 7b

weedsfree: Gardening 101 Moderator; Garden Geek; 2535 Posts

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Apr-06-12 15:32:34

Re: Pine tree help

Hi Weeds!!

I want you to check to see if there is a bunch of holes in the bark on the trunk of the tree. There is pine beetles that burrow into pine trees and kill the tree. The tree turns brown just like yours. There is no cure for pine beetles once they get into the tree.

Just my two cents worth.

(((Hugs)))
Deano

SD zone 4

Deano2u2: Welcome and Container Moderator; Garden Geek; 904 Posts

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Apr-10-12 15:41:49

Re: Pine tree help

Ok... my eyesight just isn't good enough... White Pine has needles in fascicles (bundles) of 5 needles. Scotch Pine has fasicles of 2.

If it is white pine is the tree near a street or driveway where salt may have been applied over the years.

If a scotch, look for discolorerd blotches on the needles. It could be any of maybe six needlecast or needle blight diseases that scotch pines are susceptable too. For this reason I consider scotch pines as a poor selection for landscape use.

zone 6b

spud: Trees and Shrubs Moderator; Geek Chatter; 112 Posts

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Jun-20-12 23:04:40

Re: Pine tree help

Well, Deano, after just seeing this, I have to tell you, that was the first think I checked for. There is no sap seeping from anywhere indicating a wound (woond? lol).
The bark is so scaley that it is near impossible to check for holes. Alas, I don't think there are any.
Spud, if I am looking at the right thing, the needles are in groups of 2. A couple of weeks ago the tree sent out new growth in the same area as the brown needles. As the needles turned brown or even now, there was no spotting or blotching. This is what is has been doing for the passed 10 years, not consecutively, only this was worse.