Pine Tree Problem

12 years ago

Hello All,
First time on here so not sure how this all works.
I have a large pine tree (type unknown) in my front yard, we have lived here 18 years and it was around same height then (about 40 ft) as it is now.
Recently noticed less and less neddles and those that remain are yellowing. Can now see through the entire canopy and there are some dead branches.
Abount 12 months ago we built a garden bed around the base, building the soil up about 4-5 inchs but this only came up to the base of the tree collar. Cover this with sugar cane mulch and water with micro sprinklers.
I have notice what might be a couple of borer holes in trunk, but dont know if this is the problem, or the garden or age. We have also been through a bad drought over last couple of years but we water resonably well and dont have any trouble with other trees in the yard.
Any hints? would photos help?

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
we need pix to ID the bugs ...

in my experience.. the bugs mean the tree is in decline.. and that it will continue to decline... until it dies .. or you remove it ...

it is.. and will further become ... a fire hazard if it is near the house ...

though many will say that they dont like adding soil under trees ... especially that much.. since that was done less than a year ago.. i doubt it has anything to do with the decline .... which has probably been going on many more years than that ...

the ID will lead us to the borer ... but there is.. IMHO ... nothing to do for a tree that size ...

i would not be surprised if the birds start attacking the tree.. to dig out the bugs ...

we need a pic of the tree ... the bark.. and a group of needles to find out how many in a clump of needles ... and a cone wouldnt hurt

ken
gardener365
12 years ago
You stressed the tree (possibly more if it was already stressed) bringing that soil in, which in turn created a thriving environment for insects looking for new host tree(s.)

Eventually that move of bringing soil over the trees roots and to the point of touching the trunk (unfortunately really bad errors) will kill 'most-any' tree.

Dax
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
Borers can be the death of a pine. So can burying the roots in five inches of soil.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
see!!!!! ... lol ...

but the equation is a bit longer for me ...

healthy vibrant trees.. do not attract bugs .. on some level ... but there comes a time in their maturing.. that they weaken.. and become host to decline ... bugs.. disease.. etc .. to say what was the CAUSE.. and what was the EFFECT ... is very hard to tell ....

so it would seem .. on that logic.. that your tree was not healthy.. so it attracted the bugs/disease .. or couldnt fight them off ... and this happened many years ago.. so that you are actually finally seeing the thinning of the canopy ...

so on that logic.. adding the soil within the last year... was not the CAUSE of the problems ..

i agree it didnt help ... but the tree was basically a goner before you did it .. so why feel guilty ...

and understand.. trees die.. in tree time ... in a vast majority of cases.. trees do not die in one year ... it can take many.. many years ...

again.. one thing for sure.. pine burns with the white hot temps of the sun ... when they go.. they go .. and there is no way to stop it.. on a large tree ..... be safe ...

finally .. we need the ID.. because too many of our visitors here.. call every evergreen a pine.. and we want to make sure.. we are talking about the right plant...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: ohhh the drama... 48 seconds.. crikey ... yeah i know.. yours isnt in the hosue ... its drama .. lol