We cut a lodgepole pine Christmas tree through the Boulder OSMP lottery -- in a regrowth clearcut area near Nederland. It had a couple very small (h...
Knowledgebase
Diseased Christmas tree? #819762
Asked February 04, 2023, 10:21 PM EST
We cut a lodgepole pine Christmas tree through the Boulder OSMP lottery -- in a regrowth clearcut area near Nederland. It had a couple very small (hand-size) areas of brown needles when cut -- December 3. It was never without water (mix of water sugar and vinegar). It turned almost completely brown from the inside out by mid- January. But the needles were not dry, nor loose -- only a few needles fell from the tree. We never had that happen to a tree we have cut from various forests over the last 15 years. We usually keep them into March! Might it be pine beetle or a disease? We composted (city) the branches but saved the trunk. Should we be careful with that wood?
Boulder CountyColorado
Expert Response
It seems based on your information and pictures that the tree was drought stressed prior to cutting and this is the natural progression of bringing it indoors. If you cut the tree and then didn't recut the base again before you put it in the water, it may have developed a sap "cap" not allowing any water to be pulled up into the tree. We usually drill holes along the bottom 4-6 inches after cutting a bit off the trunk to allow for water to be pulled. Without seeing any bugs or other signs of disease (based on pics provided), it would be hard to diagnose anything other than drought stress. In terms of the wood, I would burn that sooner than later - what I would recommend for any wood brought in from any forest.
We did cut a couple inches off the bottom after getting it home and then put it immediately in water, but had not heard about drilling holes. Might try that next time we cut a Christmas tree.
I was just really surprised that it browned from the center outward — rather than from the tips toward the trunk — and did not shed needles.
