Whole mugo pine turning brown. - Ask Extension
Two branches of my mugo pine turned brown last year and the remaining are either completely brown or turning brown quickly this year. Branches have ...
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Whole mugo pine turning brown. #249841
Asked June 05, 2015, 5:07 AM EDT
Two branches of my mugo pine turned brown last year and the remaining are either completely brown or turning brown quickly this year. Branches have what I would call a light colored lichen in patches (pine has shade). Some spots are quite white, like chalk.
Know it might be too late for this ornamental shrub but there is a twin on the other side of a double driveway and need to prevent it's destruction if possible. These shrubs are shaped and have been for about 20 years. Healthy until now. There are other evergreen and deciduous trees in the area but all seem healthy right now.
Thank you,
Know it might be too late for this ornamental shrub but there is a twin on the other side of a double driveway and need to prevent it's destruction if possible. These shrubs are shaped and have been for about 20 years. Healthy until now. There are other evergreen and deciduous trees in the area but all seem healthy right now.
Thank you,
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Possible causes include: drought, insects, frost/freeze damage at time of candle expansion, spring or fall freeze/cold incidents before plant is acclimated to cold weather or when plant is coming of winter hardiness and is susceptible to temperature fluctuations, herbicide injury caused by drift.
Without seeing the plant and distribution of symptoms on the plant (either every branch or random branches) or inspecting for insects to rule those out, It could be any one or a combination of those factors The following information concerns one possbile disease associated with Mugo pines, there are other possibilities. Pine tip blight disease is caused by the fungus Diplodia pinea, formerly known as Sphaeropsis sapinea. Tip blight symptoms appear as new shoots (candles) are developing and elongating in spring. Infected needles and shoots stop growing and turn brown. The stunted and brown needles and shoots become very conspicuous in summer compared to healthy shoots. Tip blight disease usually starts on lower branches and works its way upward in well-established trees about 10 or 15 years old. As infection proceeds into older tissue, additional needles and branches are killed. The fungus produces tiny, black fruiting bodies (pycnidia), which may be observed with a hand lens, at the base of infected needles just under the needle sheath. In advanced cases, infected branches may develop resin-soaked cankers. In the tree and on the ground, old infected cone scales are peppered with pycnidia and are potential sources of fungal inoculum. There are indications that the causal fungus already exists in a latent form in healthy-appearing trees and branches and only needs an opportunity to become pathogenic. Stressful growing conditions such as drought and shade favor tip blight disease in pines. Tip blight is especially damaging to Austrian and Scots pines, but can also infect white pine, red pine, Virginia pine, and even other conifers such as spruce. To manage tip blight, prune out and destroy infected twigs, branches, and cones. Provide favorable growing conditions for the tree to reduce stress. Fungicide applications made in early spring at bud break and while candles are elongating may slow disease development. Contact your local Extension office for fungicide recommendations.
Without seeing the plant and distribution of symptoms on the plant (either every branch or random branches) or inspecting for insects to rule those out, It could be any one or a combination of those factors The following information concerns one possbile disease associated with Mugo pines, there are other possibilities. Pine tip blight disease is caused by the fungus Diplodia pinea, formerly known as Sphaeropsis sapinea. Tip blight symptoms appear as new shoots (candles) are developing and elongating in spring. Infected needles and shoots stop growing and turn brown. The stunted and brown needles and shoots become very conspicuous in summer compared to healthy shoots. Tip blight disease usually starts on lower branches and works its way upward in well-established trees about 10 or 15 years old. As infection proceeds into older tissue, additional needles and branches are killed. The fungus produces tiny, black fruiting bodies (pycnidia), which may be observed with a hand lens, at the base of infected needles just under the needle sheath. In advanced cases, infected branches may develop resin-soaked cankers. In the tree and on the ground, old infected cone scales are peppered with pycnidia and are potential sources of fungal inoculum. There are indications that the causal fungus already exists in a latent form in healthy-appearing trees and branches and only needs an opportunity to become pathogenic. Stressful growing conditions such as drought and shade favor tip blight disease in pines. Tip blight is especially damaging to Austrian and Scots pines, but can also infect white pine, red pine, Virginia pine, and even other conifers such as spruce. To manage tip blight, prune out and destroy infected twigs, branches, and cones. Provide favorable growing conditions for the tree to reduce stress. Fungicide applications made in early spring at bud break and while candles are elongating may slow disease development. Contact your local Extension office for fungicide recommendations.
Thank you Jack S. Will try to get a photo if I can (Luddite right now) to provide more info about my stately and beloved mugo pines. Will pursue your suggestions. Grateful for hour help.
When took pictures of mugo pine noticed white needles for first time. Very pronounced and widely distributed. Yesterday's heat diminished the white significantly on this and other trees. Looks like the pics of pine needle scales. Please give me your opinion. Three photos may help in diagnosing the cause for sure.
Ordered a product to drench the soil around the trunk but have since learned it contaminates plants in area around mugo pine for years and can hurt bees and beneficial insects. The hot weather over the next week might give me more time to get help.
Thanks!
Thanks You for the photos, they provide documentation of the severity of the problem, the location and proximity to non infected plants. At this point I would recommend that you forward this information to your local Master Gardener Hotline located in Multnomah County. The volunteers there will be able to take this information, complete their in house and online research and provide you with more definitive diagnosis and remediation suggestions. Their number is<personal data hidden>. They are staffed five days weekly through out the day except for lunch. It has been a pleasure helping you to this point.
