Knowledgebase
Weeping White Pine in need of help... #321020
Asked May 12, 2016, 10:19 AM EDT
I have a Weeping White Pine tree in my backyard. This spring I noticed the needles tips turning tan. But there is new growth happening. The top of the tree is worse than the end of the tree. Last year it did not have this problem. Can any one help me out?
the first image is, as you can see the whole needles plus new growth.
the second image is the whole tree front view
the third image is the back view.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Ada County Idaho
Expert Response
I suspect the damage on your weeping pine is from winter injury. The tree should recover since most of the buds are undamaged and expanding well. You can prevent winter injury by covering the plant temporarily, if a very cold weather system is expected. Be sure not to stimulate any late growth in late summer or fall by fertilizing. And, water well before the ground freezes because drought can increase likelihood of winter damage. If the new growth should show problems (which I don't expect to happen), take a sample into your local University of Idaho Ada County Extension Master Gardeners. Here is the URL to their Facebook page -https://www.facebook.com/AdaCountyMasterGardeners
Thank you very much for the response. Is there any way it could be a fungus? I ask a guy I know and he said the little spot between the green and tan on the needles is fungus. Is that not an issue?
Thanks again for your time
There could be a fungus affecting the plant, but it is not something I can diagnosis in this format. I suggest you take a sample to your county Extension office and have the Master Gardeners put the needles under a microscope and look for fungal problem. Here is the URL for the Ada County Extension office. Give them a call to find out when the plant clinic is open.