Mugo Pine pests? - Ask Extension
Our mugo Pine has a lot of needle die back more from the ground up. Needles turning brown and dropping off. Not sure if it is disease or insect/mites ...
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Mugo Pine pests? #877658
Asked July 17, 2024, 3:14 PM EDT
Our mugo Pine has a lot of needle die back more from the ground up. Needles turning brown and dropping off. Not sure if it is disease or insect/mites damage or something else. The base of the needles has white on them but not on any other part of the needle. Not sure if this is normal.
If you need additional pictures please let me know.
Ingham County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi Jim,
This looks like dothistroma blight, a fungal infection of the needles. Likely due to the wet and humid weather we have been experiencing this summer. You can prevent this infection next year by spraying the needles on the tree with a copper based fungicide next spring twice; once when the needles are elongating and again in June when the needles have grown to full length. You may have to spray the tree annually to prevent annual infection. The older needles that have fallen off will not grow back, but keeping the new growth healthy will give the tree a full appearance after a year or two of treatment.
Below is a link to a comprehensive article on dothistroma blight.
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/dothistroma-needle-blight
Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Thank you,
-Julie
This looks like dothistroma blight, a fungal infection of the needles. Likely due to the wet and humid weather we have been experiencing this summer. You can prevent this infection next year by spraying the needles on the tree with a copper based fungicide next spring twice; once when the needles are elongating and again in June when the needles have grown to full length. You may have to spray the tree annually to prevent annual infection. The older needles that have fallen off will not grow back, but keeping the new growth healthy will give the tree a full appearance after a year or two of treatment.
Below is a link to a comprehensive article on dothistroma blight.
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/dothistroma-needle-blight
Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Thank you,
-Julie
Hello Julie,
Thank you for your help. Should I remove the infected needles from the ground below the pine or doesn't it matter. We used to leaving them for mulch but we can use something else.
Thanks again for your help.
Jim
Hi Julie,
Also wanted to know if spraying it now would be beneficial for it's recovery.
Thanks again,
Jim
Hello Julie,Thank you for your help. Should I remove the infected needles from the ground below the pine or doesn't it matter. We used to leaving them for mulch but we can use something else.Thanks again for your help.Jim
Hi Jim,
You may spray now, but since the infection is in progress it may or may not help. If you do choose to spray, please do let me know if it stops the infection from spreading.
Cleaning the needles is a good practice when the fungal infection is present. Some say it makes little difference because the fungal spores are likely present in the environment. But sanitation is always best. Mulch may be a better choice at this point.
Again, if any other questions arise, please do feel free to reach out!
Thank you,
-Julie
You may spray now, but since the infection is in progress it may or may not help. If you do choose to spray, please do let me know if it stops the infection from spreading.
Cleaning the needles is a good practice when the fungal infection is present. Some say it makes little difference because the fungal spores are likely present in the environment. But sanitation is always best. Mulch may be a better choice at this point.
Again, if any other questions arise, please do feel free to reach out!
Thank you,
-Julie
Thanks for the advice.
Jim
