Pine Tree Dying Off-I am sad.....

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

Eons ago someone at work passed onto me a small short needled pine tree (one of those given at Christmas time). I planted it and to my amazement it has slowly grown to about 8 feet. While doing winter clean up I noticed that most of the lower tips have fallen off and the lower limbs are bare in many areas. I am very sad cause I know the tree is a goner. I just don't know why.

We had landscaping done last year, but aside from adding mulch around the base, the tree was not disturbed. I see no evidence of disease or insects. The top two feet of the tree looks perfect. I was reading on line that squirrels can do damage to pines, chewing off the tips to get to the sap. Anyone ever heard of such a thing?

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

I have a blue spruce that is looking puny but when i closely examine a twig from it, i see tiny bore holes. I imagine it's stressed due to our drought as i don't water it. I need to get a tree specialist out to see if spraying will save it.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

JustJazzmom · ‎03-09-2010

Get an arborist in for their professional opinion.

☼The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. GBShaw☼

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

Thanks all for the replies. I am not sure it will survive, but its worth a shot to have a professional look at it.

Mindy D · ‎05-23-2010

Where do you live? Was it a Norgilk Island Pine? Plants are adapted to their natural habitats and your area might be very different from the climate the plant is native to. If you love it you can have an arborist look at it or phone your county's local extension office and they will help you for free.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

My guess would be from the severe winter.

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

I am not sure exactly what type of fir/pine it is. It could be a fraser fir. I don't think the weather is the reason as it has been in ground for close to 20 years. There are so many dead/bare branches I do not think it will come back, but at least getting someone out to view it will tell me what happened. Thanks everyone I appreciate your kindness.

Even though I am pretty sure the landscaper's work didn't involve the tree, something in the back of my mind and the timing makes me feel something occurred during this job which may have disturbed the tree's root system.

susan kay · ‎06-28-2011

You could try taking a close up picture of it and going to your local nursery.....or two to get some opinions.

Luv2Decorate · ‎03-12-2010

We have a droopy pine like this one:

And we've had it for several years, it's now brown, except at the very bottom. I'm so bummed. It's such an unusual tree and I've enjoyed watching it grow and transform. I think it died because of our cold snowy looooooooooooooong winter.

PINKdogWOOD · ‎05-13-2010

Due to our extreme winter I'd wait to see if your evergreens will come back before doing anything rash ie, removing them. Some things in our packed yard are on a S L O W start. So I'd give them some time.