What is wrong with this pine tree? - Ask Extension
Our client brought in some clippings from her pine tree and sent in a photo as well. She said it is about 27 years old and over 30 feet tall. The need...
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What is wrong with this pine tree? #578826
Asked July 10, 2019, 4:15 PM EDT
Our client brought in some clippings from her pine tree and sent in a photo as well. She said it is about 27 years old and over 30 feet tall. The needles are dying and falling off mostly on one side of the tree and halfway up. The tips are green in places as well. This started happening about 3 weeks ago and it is the only tree affected so far out of 8 other than one 2 years ago that died like this. The tree is located on her lawn about 30 feet from the road, I asked about salt damage from winter and she said with its location that is not possible. Thanks!
Alpena County Michigan
Expert Response
Hard to know why the pine is browning. You've eliminated the salt possibility but there are a number of other possibilities. Here are some:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/why_are_my_pine_trees_turning_brown
Aside from disease, there are numerous insects that feed on pine needles as well. The tree needs to be evaluated by a professional such as a Certified Arborist. Find one or more Certified arborists in your zip code at www.treesaregood.com Click on the Find an Arborist tab. Arborist evaluations are not expensive and where you can learn definitively exactly what the problem is. I would do so asap in case the issue is something that can contaminate the other
pines. Tip: Certified Arborists will evaluate everything else in the landscape as well, when asked and without fee increase.
Good luck!
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/why_are_my_pine_trees_turning_brown
Aside from disease, there are numerous insects that feed on pine needles as well. The tree needs to be evaluated by a professional such as a Certified Arborist. Find one or more Certified arborists in your zip code at www.treesaregood.com Click on the Find an Arborist tab. Arborist evaluations are not expensive and where you can learn definitively exactly what the problem is. I would do so asap in case the issue is something that can contaminate the other
pines. Tip: Certified Arborists will evaluate everything else in the landscape as well, when asked and without fee increase.
Good luck!
