Mature White Pines Dying - Ask Extension
Hello I am having trouble with mature white pines dying. Several each year. I have approx 2000 feet of property line planted with various pines. This ...
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Mature White Pines Dying #929324
Asked April 23, 2026, 10:06 AM EDT
Hello I am having trouble with mature white pines dying. Several each year. I have approx 2000 feet of property line planted with various pines. This is only occur g to the white pines.
The problem is, is that I will have several mature pines start to yellow then brown within 3-4 months. I will also get some smaller ones do the same starting at the tops with new growth.
The mature ones I cut down have big holes in the trunk at the tops.
Union County Ohio
Expert Response
Hello,
I found this article from University of Kentucky extension that may explain your issue.
The article addresses 3 possible reasons for death of white pines after needle browning: white pine decline, white pine root decline, and Phytopthora root rot. The last two are infections caused by a fungus or mold and the needle browning and other disease indicators usually occur starting at the bottom of the tree.
Since you describe the browning of your trees starting from the top, and mostly affecting mature trees, I think your trees are probably experiencing white pine decline.
Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to save a tree once the decline has started. The causes of white pine decline are a complex of environmental and site-related factors.
Under these conditions, white pines may grow well for a decade or more before they start showing signs of decline. The factors that may affect the trees are:
White pines lose their inner needles each year after putting out new growth. Leaving the fallen needles under the trees can help balance the soil pH and create a layer of mulch to help maintain soil moisture. This layer of fallen needles should extend to the drip-line of the tree.
You should avoid digging or trenching around white pines to avoid root damage.
Trees should be planted with the mature size taken into account (20' to 40' spread) to allow adequate space for growth both above and below ground.
I encourage you to review the information in the article linked above and to evaluate your trees noting all of the symptoms described for the 3 different conditions to determine whether the descriptions match what you are seeing in your trees.
You may also consider having a certified arborist assess your remaining trees to determine if there are steps you can take to maintain your surviving trees. This website allows you to search for a certified arborist in your area by entering your zip code.
I found this article from University of Kentucky extension that may explain your issue.
The article addresses 3 possible reasons for death of white pines after needle browning: white pine decline, white pine root decline, and Phytopthora root rot. The last two are infections caused by a fungus or mold and the needle browning and other disease indicators usually occur starting at the bottom of the tree.
Since you describe the browning of your trees starting from the top, and mostly affecting mature trees, I think your trees are probably experiencing white pine decline.
Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to save a tree once the decline has started. The causes of white pine decline are a complex of environmental and site-related factors.
Under these conditions, white pines may grow well for a decade or more before they start showing signs of decline. The factors that may affect the trees are:
- high soil pH
- soil with high clay content
- compact soil
- limited space (trees were planted too close to each other or other trees)
- mechanical damage that has caused root injury
White pines lose their inner needles each year after putting out new growth. Leaving the fallen needles under the trees can help balance the soil pH and create a layer of mulch to help maintain soil moisture. This layer of fallen needles should extend to the drip-line of the tree.
You should avoid digging or trenching around white pines to avoid root damage.
Trees should be planted with the mature size taken into account (20' to 40' spread) to allow adequate space for growth both above and below ground.
I encourage you to review the information in the article linked above and to evaluate your trees noting all of the symptoms described for the 3 different conditions to determine whether the descriptions match what you are seeing in your trees.
You may also consider having a certified arborist assess your remaining trees to determine if there are steps you can take to maintain your surviving trees. This website allows you to search for a certified arborist in your area by entering your zip code.
