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We have an ornamental pine (two needle, needles about 2" long) that has been quite healthy in the past 10 years, however last year to a slight degree, and this summer to a far greater extent, it has suffered inner needle die-off. Needles gone completely brown by late summer. BTW, by "inner" needles I mean those needles closer to the main stem on any given branch, but oddly the outer quarter of all needles on any given branch are quite OK, or at least seem to be. Dark green, tough and not able to be easily removed. The dead ones are quite dead, light tan/brown and they easily fall off if that branch is even lightly shaken. Even a brisk wind knocks them off.
Meantime, this spring, the tree produced new pine cones and lots of pollen. It looks like it's dying from the inside, and close to the main stem there are large collections of dead needles.
We are located in central Washington State, north of Yakima, in the inner sage/scrub community, but in a well irrigated valley. Our entire garden is sub-irrigated by the shallow water table. Long warm summers, and cool falls.
Anyone have any ideas? BTW, this does not look like the infamous and epidemic mountain pine bark beetle that has decimated the wild pines and otgher conifers in our mountainous areas. There are other pines in the area that are seemingly healthy.
It is normal for pines to lose interior needles. If this past year was especially stressful - hot and dry in particular, pines tend to lose more needles. A picture would be helpful.
It is normal for pines to lose interior needles. If this past year was especially stressful - hot and dry in particular, pines tend to lose more needles. A picture would be helpful.
I agree with Rtom...we have several varieties of 2 and 3 needle "pine",
and all varieties show needle yellowing/drop at this time of year. Most
pines tend to shed their older/oldest needles first.
Not wishing you a diseases or bug; I suspect it's normal, and a good
close-in pic would really help, along with the variety of pine.
GL, mD
Since no one has taken a stab, I will.
Hard to diagnose from afar: I wish I could say it was standard 2nd/3rd year needle drop,
but it appears too extreme for that normal needle turning and dropping, imo. Since that tree
is not young or new, it could be some severe situ you had this growing season, or it could
be naemacyclus, but hellsbells, that's just a guess from the back row of the peanut gallery,
and based on some Web reading.
My 50Cts...hope your tree(s) survive and by this time next season it is just a crummy memory.
GL, mD
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