white pine blister rust - Ask Extension
Hi. I have several 30-40ft tall white pines in my backyard and one so far is clearly infected by blister rust with thinning needles and evidence of t...
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white pine blister rust #930543
Asked May 04, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT
Hi. I have several 30-40ft tall white pines in my backyard and one so far is clearly infected by blister rust with thinning needles and evidence of the rust on branches as well as white dripping sap on the trunk. wondering if there is anything i can do to mitigate/save this tree and prevent it from spreading to the other trees which are clustered within 6-20ft from each other. i have been watering it and pruning the branches with blister rust so far.
thank you.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Pruning is the right step. See these web pages
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/white-pine-blister-rusthttps://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/white-pine-blister-rust
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/white-pine-blister-rust
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/white-pine-blister-rusthttps://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/white-pine-blister-rust
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/white-pine-blister-rust
Is there a chance that the tree will recover or should I consider containing the spread to my other white pines by removing this tree asap?
Note where the first web page said to prune the branches 4 inches away from the infected area. Also that the spores can travel on the wind. A sprinkler hitting the tree could also keep the tree too wet which encourages spores.
The part of the trunk where you have pruned will not grow new branches. If the infected tree is far enough away from the others, the spores may not reach them. Air circulation is needed between the trees.
Removing or keeping the tree is your gamble. These references do not say that the disease is fatal.
One more reference with some ideas.
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/treecare/forest_health/white-pine-blister-rust/management.html
The part of the trunk where you have pruned will not grow new branches. If the infected tree is far enough away from the others, the spores may not reach them. Air circulation is needed between the trees.
Removing or keeping the tree is your gamble. These references do not say that the disease is fatal.
One more reference with some ideas.
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/treecare/forest_health/white-pine-blister-rust/management.html
