Brown needles on pine - Ask Extension
We had our landscaper plant this in April. We think it’s called a Japanese Pine. The needles are turning brown, is this normal. If not, what should ...
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Brown needles on pine #888553
Asked October 23, 2024, 8:20 AM EDT
We had our landscaper plant this in April. We think it’s called a Japanese Pine. The needles are turning brown, is this normal. If not, what should we do?
Thanks
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
Sorry, I did not get a notification about this question. I'll answer it today.
Lynn Sparks
On Mon, Oct 28, 2024 at 8:24 AM, Ask Extensionwrote:
Lynn Sparks,
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There isn't anything in the box when I look for a question assigned to me?????
Lynn
In a message dated 10/28/2024 8:24:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time, <personal data hidden> writes:
Lynn Sparks,
A question assigned to your group, #0158469 has presently gone unanswered. Please try to respond or reassign the question at your earliest opportunity.
To view or respond to the question, please login. You're receiving this notice because the question is assigned a group of which you're a member.This message was sent by Ask Extension. If you need help, please visit https://askhelp.extension.org/.
I’m sorry but I don’t understand this response. I have attached the pictures I sent with my original question
Hello, I am the Master Gardener assigned to your question. I have the pictures, but apparently our system is a bit scatter-brained. I got a notice this am that the answer was overdue, which it is, but I had never received the question. When I looked, nothing showed up, but you got my response each time.
It will be this evening before I have time to research and answer this; I am sorry for the delay.
It will be this evening before I have time to research and answer this; I am sorry for the delay.
No problem, thank you for the update.
Dana, from your pictures it looks as if it is primarily the inner needles that are yellowing while the outer needles look pretty good. Chances are, this is a normal shedding process for your tree--see the two links below.
https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2021/10/fall-pines-too
This is a quote from the link that follows it:
"If trees are dropping needles from the inside (toward the trunk), then it is probably normal shedding."
https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/10/why-are-my-evergreens-shedding-yellow-brown-needles
That said, there are several reasons that pines can have yellowing needles due to a pathological process. There are several different types of Japanese pine, and they seem to be fairly resistant to pests and diseases. Your landscaper should be able to tell you what specific type of pine it is, and you could look it up (ideally, do any information search with a ".edu" behind it to get research-based information). In general, pines can have insect problems with scale, aphids, sawflies, and beetles. The close-up of your yellow needles does not show any sign of insect infestation that I can see, but you might want to look with a magnifying glass to see if you see anything.
There are some diseases, primarily fungal, that can also cause issues, but younger Japanese pines are usually not terribly too susceptible to them. The link below describes the Japanese black pine, citing it as resistant to fungus until it is close to 20 years old
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-thunbergii/
Environmental issues such as drought, heat, cold, and nutrient deficiency can also cause yellowing of needles, but I would think they would also affect the younger needles.
If close examination of your tree shows probable insects or yellowing of newer needles, you might want to contact the C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Center ( https://ppdc.osu.edu/ ) and send in some samples of the affected needles. They can test for insect pest and diseases that might be causing a problem. They would also advise on treatment if necessary.
Thank you for asking Extension about your tree, and I am sorry about the wait. I will notify the supervisor about the communication issues.
https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2021/10/fall-pines-too
This is a quote from the link that follows it:
"If trees are dropping needles from the inside (toward the trunk), then it is probably normal shedding."
https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/10/why-are-my-evergreens-shedding-yellow-brown-needles
That said, there are several reasons that pines can have yellowing needles due to a pathological process. There are several different types of Japanese pine, and they seem to be fairly resistant to pests and diseases. Your landscaper should be able to tell you what specific type of pine it is, and you could look it up (ideally, do any information search with a ".edu" behind it to get research-based information). In general, pines can have insect problems with scale, aphids, sawflies, and beetles. The close-up of your yellow needles does not show any sign of insect infestation that I can see, but you might want to look with a magnifying glass to see if you see anything.
There are some diseases, primarily fungal, that can also cause issues, but younger Japanese pines are usually not terribly too susceptible to them. The link below describes the Japanese black pine, citing it as resistant to fungus until it is close to 20 years old
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-thunbergii/
Environmental issues such as drought, heat, cold, and nutrient deficiency can also cause yellowing of needles, but I would think they would also affect the younger needles.
If close examination of your tree shows probable insects or yellowing of newer needles, you might want to contact the C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Center ( https://ppdc.osu.edu/ ) and send in some samples of the affected needles. They can test for insect pest and diseases that might be causing a problem. They would also advise on treatment if necessary.
Thank you for asking Extension about your tree, and I am sorry about the wait. I will notify the supervisor about the communication issues.
