Ponderosa Pines - Ask Extension
I have 5 very large pines. They have been very healthy. Noticed trees in the neighborhood started with brown tips of branches, some with tops brow...
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Ponderosa Pines #643840
Asked May 31, 2020, 3:46 PM EDT
I have 5 very large pines. They have been very healthy. Noticed trees in the neighborhood started with brown tips of branches, some with tops browning.... a week or 2 later the same trees are almost totally brown. Any chance of saving my trees which appear to have started similar trend?
Arapahoe County Colorado
Expert Response
For Ponderosa Pines, they can be susceptible to winter drying and winter damage. This can result from severe fluctuations in temperature, much like the ones we experienced both in the end of October and during this April. This also can result from lack of moisture levels in winter months, or from plants being unable to absorb water from frozen ground. This phenomenon is described in this CSU extension article: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/winter-drying-is-a-likely-cause-of-brown-pine-needles/
If this is the case, we can hope that the damage to the trees is minor.
There are diseases that cause pine needle death, but it would be critical to confirm that your pines are Ponderosa (as the different diseases affect different pines). For example, Ponderosa Pines and Austrian Pines are very similar and are susceptible to different diseases.
Regardless, especially because of the browning of the trees in the neighborhood and because of the browning of the needles at the crown of your tree, it may be worthwhile to consult with a certified arborist to help determine the best course of action. You can find certified arborists online here: https://isarmc.org/Find_a_Certified_Arborist
If this is the case, we can hope that the damage to the trees is minor.
There are diseases that cause pine needle death, but it would be critical to confirm that your pines are Ponderosa (as the different diseases affect different pines). For example, Ponderosa Pines and Austrian Pines are very similar and are susceptible to different diseases.
Regardless, especially because of the browning of the trees in the neighborhood and because of the browning of the needles at the crown of your tree, it may be worthwhile to consult with a certified arborist to help determine the best course of action. You can find certified arborists online here: https://isarmc.org/Find_a_Certified_Arborist
