Knowledgebase
Douglas Fir pine tree #894078
Asked March 11, 2025, 9:34 AM EDT
This was a balled and burlaped Christmas tree that was planted going on 3 yrs. When planted the area had good composted material along with some peat moss. All burlap and wire was removed along with rocks, the roots were scratched up to let them stretch out. Last year in the early summer I noticed some yellowing of the needles along with some dropping off. The area never has standing water and I did put a Miracle Gro fertilizer spike 12-6-12 for evergreens into the ground. The condition seems to be getting worse, the tree did have some nice new growth the past 2 years. The enclosed pictures with the ducks was March last year and the rest were the other day. The only thing I did not do was a ph test of the soil. Thank you Michael Simko
Mahoning County Ohio
Expert Response
Environmental stressors are often the primary culprits behind browning pine trees. These stressors can include drought, extreme temperatures, poor soil conditions, or excessive exposure to sunlight. When pine trees face adverse environmental conditions, their needles may turn brown as a survival mechanism.
Evergreens don’t keep all their needles all the time. Just when the oak trees lose their leaves, most evergreens also drop needles — but not all of them. While an oak tree grows all new leaves every year, most conifers grow a new tuft of needles on each branch.
- Dothistroma needle blight of pine trees causes needles to turn brown and fall off.
- Severe infection for several years in a row can cause tree death. Manage this disease by maintaining good air circulation, mulching and preventing sprinklers from spraying needles
Thank you or contacting Ask Extension.
https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/evergreen/pine/needleshalfgreen.html
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2007/oct/070502.htm
