pine tree needles turning brown - Ask Extension
The needles are turning brown on my pine tree. I reduce the number and length of the remaining candles each year to keep the tree about the same size...
Knowledgebase
pine tree needles turning brown #230902
Asked March 13, 2015, 8:38 PM EDT
The needles are turning brown on my pine tree. I reduce the number and length of the remaining candles each year to keep the tree about the same size. The neighbors pine has looked brown the last few summers and last year one branch of mine had brown needles. This year hers is healthy and mine looks sick. The wind here blows up our hill so I feel this is a passed on problem from her pine to mine.
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for submitting a photo. There are several needle blights
(caused by fungi) that infect pines in our area. In general, they do not
kill the tree but make it look unsightly with a lot of dead or
partially dead needles. The fungal spores can be spread by wind or rain,
so it is possible that if your neighbor's tree had the same disease, it
could have spread. The foliage in your photo looks like it may be
infected by a needle blight, but one would need to examine a specimen to
confirm. See options below for further assistance.
Generally, for foliar diseases the recommendation is to collect and dispose of infected needles that have dropped from the tree, and to prune off heavily infected branches. This will reduce reinfection of new foliage. Now would be a good time to do this, before this year's new foliage emerges.
If you want a confirmation of this diagnosis:
If this is a tree in your home landscape, the Multnomah County Master Gardeners can help further with a diagnosis. http://www.multnomahmastergardeners.org/commonquestions
If you have a small woodland (multiple acres), your local forestry Extension agent can help. For east Multnomah County contact Glenn Ahrens in the Clackamas County Extension office.<personal data hidden>. For west Multnomah County contact me.<personal data hidden>.
Generally, for foliar diseases the recommendation is to collect and dispose of infected needles that have dropped from the tree, and to prune off heavily infected branches. This will reduce reinfection of new foliage. Now would be a good time to do this, before this year's new foliage emerges.
If you want a confirmation of this diagnosis:
If this is a tree in your home landscape, the Multnomah County Master Gardeners can help further with a diagnosis. http://www.multnomahmastergardeners.org/commonquestions
If you have a small woodland (multiple acres), your local forestry Extension agent can help. For east Multnomah County contact Glenn Ahrens in the Clackamas County Extension office.<personal data hidden>. For west Multnomah County contact me.<personal data hidden>.
