Unfortunately once an evergreen like that browns out there is no hope of return and the tree needs to be removed.

It is difficult to tell why it happened, but it is rarely 'overnight', but a slow, hidden decline that could have started years ago. (For instance, think of a typical evergreen used for Christmas trees- they can be completely severed from their roots months before they come on the market for sale and still show green in January or later).

Drought stress is a common issue that can happen even years earlier (and be repeated) and then secondary decline might be due to wood-boring insects.
Were there any herbicide applications (particularly one with the active ingredient Dicamba) applied in the yard? Dicamba is one that can not be applied over the roots systems of other plants without harm.

The best thing that you can do for existing trees is to offer them supplemental water when we go into a drought situation (some areas now). Keep any new trees watered- this page from our website tells you how: 
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs

Unfortunately white pines don't have very long lives in typical suburban conditions due to various stressors.


Christine

Hi Christine,

Hello Linda and Tom,

Although every plant can be stressed or contract a pest or disease outbreak when the conditions are right, here are some other evergreens that (so far) have grown well in central Maryland:

• American Holly (Ilex opaca), which is native, plus various other hybrid hollies
• Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), native
• Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana), native, though potentially a bit scragglier-looking than Eastern White Pine
• Western Arborvitae (Thuja plicata and hybrids)
• Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
• Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
• Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara), at least the more cold-hardy cultivars
• Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica)

That list isn't exhaustive, and focuses on larger-statured plants. A species-diverse planting is less likely to be affected equally severely or put at risk by a potential problem, thus making the group of plants more resilient as a whole.

Miri