Ponderosa pine death - Ask Extension
Hello,We live in a housing development in Gunbarrel (NE of Boulder, in the plains). Our landscaping is at least 13 years old. We have a row of Pon...
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Ponderosa pine death #120653
Asked April 08, 2013, 3:03 PM EDT
Hello,
We live in a housing development in Gunbarrel (NE of Boulder, in the plains). Our landscaping is at least 13 years old. We have a row of Ponderosa Pines against the back privacy fence of our yard and they are in trouble. Last year, one began to turn brown at the top and proceeded to turn completely brown. Subsequently one next to it started turning and has now died. How can I determine what is killing our trees and what can be done to save the rest of the row? I'd also like to be able to provide information to our neighborhood listserve to warn other home owners in the area.
I checked out your bark beetle description. We do not see pitch tubes, sawdust or bark pieces scattered about. There are some perfectly round holes boring directly into the trunk where there is no bark. We have not yet scraped the bark off with a hatchet to check under the deeper layers of bark.
The trees are fairly tall, but a bit scrawny in the branch and foliage department. Their spacing is adequate, I think, but the soil may be all wrong for them - clay with poor drainage.
I think that's all of the rambling information I can give you now.
Thank you for looking at this!
Laurel Boni
We live in a housing development in Gunbarrel (NE of Boulder, in the plains). Our landscaping is at least 13 years old. We have a row of Ponderosa Pines against the back privacy fence of our yard and they are in trouble. Last year, one began to turn brown at the top and proceeded to turn completely brown. Subsequently one next to it started turning and has now died. How can I determine what is killing our trees and what can be done to save the rest of the row? I'd also like to be able to provide information to our neighborhood listserve to warn other home owners in the area.
I checked out your bark beetle description. We do not see pitch tubes, sawdust or bark pieces scattered about. There are some perfectly round holes boring directly into the trunk where there is no bark. We have not yet scraped the bark off with a hatchet to check under the deeper layers of bark.
The trees are fairly tall, but a bit scrawny in the branch and foliage department. Their spacing is adequate, I think, but the soil may be all wrong for them - clay with poor drainage.
I think that's all of the rambling information I can give you now.
Thank you for looking at this!
Laurel Boni
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
Laurel, I am so sorry to hear of your problems with your Ponderosa Pines. There are a number of factors that could be causing them to turn brown and die. First, we have been in a fairly severe drought situation for the past two years. Do the trees receive regular winter watering?
You said that the trees are planted against your back fence. Is it possible that the roots have been disturbed by new plantings either in your yard, or in a neighbors? Since tree roots in our heavy clay soils are shallow, root damage can occur from activities such as rototilling, for example.
When the needles first start turning brown, do they do so only on the tips of the branches, or only near the interior of the trees?
Finally, there are a couple of common pests that affect Ponderosa Pines. Here are some links that might be helpful:
"My ponderosa pine tree is dying. How can I save it?" (See http://www.extension.org/pages/41693/my-ponderosa-pine-tree-is-dying-how-can-i-save-it)
"Ponderosa Pine Budworm" (see http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05567.html)
"Ponderosa Pine Needle Miners" (see http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05544.html)
I'm sorry I can't give you a quick answer, but perhaps after reviewing these publications you can write back with further information to help us diagnose the problem.
--Jim
M.-
We definitely do not have pine bark beetles - there is no blue staining under the bark. We also appear to be negative for needle miners and budworm. Our neighbors on the other side if the fence have their garden right where the roots for one of the pines would be and told us that they have taken a root out while digging their garden. I haven't been conscientious about watering in the winter.
I haven't asked the neighbor behind the other pine about digging behind the fence, yet.
A third pine in the row is beginning to turn brown. Whereas the other two turned from the top down, I see a brown branch about a third of the way down this tree. My attention was drawn to it by a woodpecker working busily on the 1/4" branch whose needles are all brown. The rest of the tree, with the exception of another random branch, still looks healthy.
If our neighbors are disturbing the roots on these trees, is there anything we can do to prevent them from dying, one after the other? Would it be wise to ask an expert to come look at the trees? How would we locate such a person or service?
Thank you,
Laurel
We definitely do not have pine bark beetles - there is no blue staining under the bark. We also appear to be negative for needle miners and budworm. Our neighbors on the other side if the fence have their garden right where the roots for one of the pines would be and told us that they have taken a root out while digging their garden. I haven't been conscientious about watering in the winter.
I haven't asked the neighbor behind the other pine about digging behind the fence, yet.
A third pine in the row is beginning to turn brown. Whereas the other two turned from the top down, I see a brown branch about a third of the way down this tree. My attention was drawn to it by a woodpecker working busily on the 1/4" branch whose needles are all brown. The rest of the tree, with the exception of another random branch, still looks healthy.
If our neighbors are disturbing the roots on these trees, is there anything we can do to prevent them from dying, one after the other? Would it be wise to ask an expert to come look at the trees? How would we locate such a person or service?
Thank you,
Laurel
Hello Laurel, First, I apologize for taking so long to get back to you.
I think it makes sense for you to have a professional arborist take a look at your trees. In Colorado, there are no requirements for certification...anyone can hang up a shingle and call themselves an arborist.
However, certified arborists generally list their certifcation on yellow page advertising and may be found on the ISA web site at http://www.isa-arbor.com. You may want to ask your friends and neighbors for a recommendation, too.
Boulder county M.
Thanks for your help with this problem. your information has been so helpful!
Laurel
Thanks for your help with this problem. your information has been so helpful!
Laurel
We need a bit more information about your ponderosa pines. Could you please pull a piece of the bark off to see if there is are any tunneling marks on the trunk or any pitch or discharge present.? The trees probably have some kind of borers that are caused by a weakened condition, probably from the clay soil and poor drainage.
OK. The first thing we did was scrape off some bark with a hatchet. None of the signs of pine bark beetles - the boring pattern, the blue staining, no pitch or oozing, were present. The wood under the bark was clean and smooth. There were, however, a few round holes around 3/16" bored straight from the exterior into the interior wood where the bark was missing. When we took the bark and a little of the smooth interior wood off, I saw a shiny black occupant in one of the holes.
Thanks,
Laurel
Thanks,
Laurel
I would reccomend that you have a arborist see the trees and if there are others in the neighbor hood. Then you can diagnosis the problem and save the plant.
Thank you! Will do!
Are the needles brown all over, or on the tips only? Does the browning start from the top of the tree and go to the bottom on all cases? A picture would be helpful to aid us in diagnosing. If you can, please send a couple that show the trees in the entire landscape, in addition to a close up picture.
