Pine Problems - Ask Extension
I've noticed a lot of people removing their old pine trees that have succumbed to possible disease. I notice a lot of the affected ones always look th...
Knowledgebase
Pine Problems #875179
Asked June 28, 2024, 8:29 PM EDT
I've noticed a lot of people removing their old pine trees that have succumbed to possible disease. I notice a lot of the affected ones always look the same. It's been happening for a few years now.. What is going around that could be affecting them? Is there any treatment? Blue spruces also seem to be falling to the same fate.
Cuyahoga County Ohio
Expert Response
Hello,
There are many problems that are occurring in conifers, including pines, and other evergreens. These include both disease and insect infestation.
The eastern white pine, Pinus strobus, the largest of the conifers in Ohio, is a tree that you may be referring to, though other pines and evergreens are also struggling.
Many Eastern white pines are experiencing a complicated condition called white pine decline, which affects the pines' long term and short term health. A disease called white pine needle decline (WPND) is a disease that develops from white pine decline. Browning needles and sparse new growth are symptoms of white pine needle decline.
Caliciopsis pinea, a fungus, and White Pine Bast Scale are also a problem for white pines. In combination, this pest/pathogen complex can kill weakened or stressed trees.
Pines that are susceptible to these diseases are those that are not planted properly (too deep or too high), or planted in shady areas, compacted soil, heavy clay, or alkaline soil. Extreme weather conditions such as drought, flooding, high temperatures, late spring freezes and high winds also adversely affects these trees.
Damaging insect infestations are also occurring in weakened pines. Insects such as bark beetles, pine sawyer moth, and Zimmerman pine moth are just few. These insects take advantage of a diseased or weakened tree and subsequently the tree does not contain the energy reserves to fight off the pest. Many pines are dying from such infestations.
Similarly, the spruce trees, especially blue Colorado spruces, are having disease and insect issues. Diseases such as Rhizosphaera needle cast, Cytospora canker, Sudden Needle Drop, and Stigmina needle blight are infecting spruce trees. Spider mites, bagworms, and adelgids are insects that can damage spruce trees.
Stresses on evergreens are many. As mentioned above, these include severe weather fluctuations such as high heat and drought. But, other causes are poor watering practices, irrigation systems, excessive nitrogen fertilization, and poor planting procedures and siting. Also, many evergreens are not native to the Midwest and cannot tolerate the high humidity and extreme heat of Ohio's climate. Many pines and spruces are native to mountainous regions with cooler and drier climates.
So, it is for all of these reasons that the evergreens, pines and others, are becoming diseased and are being removed from the landscape.
I have listed some links below for articles with information about the problems that pines and spruces are facing. Please take a look at these and write back if you should have more questions.
Thanks for asking Ask Extension.
Betsy B. - MGV
https://extension.psu.edu/eastern-white-pine-modern-disease-threats-to-a-historically-important-species
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/conifer-disease-quick-reference/
https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-256/E-256.html
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_is_spruce_decline_and_what_should_you_do_about_it
https://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=1237
https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/platte/Horticulture/23%20May%208%20Evergreen%20Problems.pdf
There are many problems that are occurring in conifers, including pines, and other evergreens. These include both disease and insect infestation.
The eastern white pine, Pinus strobus, the largest of the conifers in Ohio, is a tree that you may be referring to, though other pines and evergreens are also struggling.
Many Eastern white pines are experiencing a complicated condition called white pine decline, which affects the pines' long term and short term health. A disease called white pine needle decline (WPND) is a disease that develops from white pine decline. Browning needles and sparse new growth are symptoms of white pine needle decline.
Caliciopsis pinea, a fungus, and White Pine Bast Scale are also a problem for white pines. In combination, this pest/pathogen complex can kill weakened or stressed trees.
Pines that are susceptible to these diseases are those that are not planted properly (too deep or too high), or planted in shady areas, compacted soil, heavy clay, or alkaline soil. Extreme weather conditions such as drought, flooding, high temperatures, late spring freezes and high winds also adversely affects these trees.
Damaging insect infestations are also occurring in weakened pines. Insects such as bark beetles, pine sawyer moth, and Zimmerman pine moth are just few. These insects take advantage of a diseased or weakened tree and subsequently the tree does not contain the energy reserves to fight off the pest. Many pines are dying from such infestations.
Similarly, the spruce trees, especially blue Colorado spruces, are having disease and insect issues. Diseases such as Rhizosphaera needle cast, Cytospora canker, Sudden Needle Drop, and Stigmina needle blight are infecting spruce trees. Spider mites, bagworms, and adelgids are insects that can damage spruce trees.
Stresses on evergreens are many. As mentioned above, these include severe weather fluctuations such as high heat and drought. But, other causes are poor watering practices, irrigation systems, excessive nitrogen fertilization, and poor planting procedures and siting. Also, many evergreens are not native to the Midwest and cannot tolerate the high humidity and extreme heat of Ohio's climate. Many pines and spruces are native to mountainous regions with cooler and drier climates.
So, it is for all of these reasons that the evergreens, pines and others, are becoming diseased and are being removed from the landscape.
I have listed some links below for articles with information about the problems that pines and spruces are facing. Please take a look at these and write back if you should have more questions.
Thanks for asking Ask Extension.
Betsy B. - MGV
https://extension.psu.edu/eastern-white-pine-modern-disease-threats-to-a-historically-important-species
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/conifer-disease-quick-reference/
https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-256/E-256.html
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_is_spruce_decline_and_what_should_you_do_about_it
https://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=1237
https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/platte/Horticulture/23%20May%208%20Evergreen%20Problems.pdf
