Pine Tree tips shedding - Ask Extension
A few weeks ago our pine trees have all begun shedding the tip growth on their branches. THe snow underneath is littered with thousands of them as sho...
Knowledgebase
Pine Tree tips shedding #681951
Asked February 26, 2021, 4:51 PM EST
A few weeks ago our pine trees have all begun shedding the tip growth on their branches. THe snow underneath is littered with thousands of them as shown in the photo!. We live in Mason so just had that cold snap and wondered if that has any bearing on the issue. Can’t remember the trees ever doing this before - they are close to 40 years old.
Ingham County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello Rose,
This is a common issue caused by red squirrels feeding on buds. It will not kill the trees. (By the way, your pictures show spruce trees not pine trees)
Other than raking up the clipped off branch tips, feeding the squirrels, and population reduction, there isn’t much that can be done to deter this from happening. Please see the following article written by Howard Russell, MSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic, for additional information:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/red_squirrel_injury_to_spruce_trees_in_winter
Thank you Laura. And my apologies for misidentifying - a bad habit I got into of referring to conifers as pines. The interesting thing is we haven’t seen many squirrels this winter but I guess now I know where they are all living!
Your quick and expert response are greatly appreciated.
Rose
On Feb 27, 2021, at 6:49 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
You are welcome Rose. Folks refer to their evergreens as pines quite often, so we try to be accurate when we can!
