I have 2 Eastern White Pines in my front yard that were planted 30 years ago. They are about 60 feet apart. One of them is close to the road, about 18 feet from it and very near the drive. The tree has started to lose its needles on some of its branches, which begins by the color of the needles becoming a much lighter green. This is not normal shedding of the needles. this color change effects the whole branch. The only change in the envirnment has been that a house was built on the lot next to us and the neighbors raised the level of the ground so now the water tends to gather at the base of the drive, along the street, and dissapates slowly. I don't see any evidence of bugs or blight, but I have not ruled this out. I do not want to loose this tree as it is an important part of my landscape. And I am concerned that, if it has disease, that it will spread to the other tree (which is on higher ground and is, so far, not effected). Do you think this extra water is causing this tree to decline? There are no drains on my side of the street to take this water away and I will have to preasure the city to have one installed. What should I do and how do I locate a certified tree expert to look at and possibly save this tree? Thanks, Patrick

Reply to post by Patrick, on February 02, 2000 at 23:43:08:

You don't say where you and this pine are living. In northern Virginia, a 30 year old white pine is near the end of its normal lifespan, unless it is on a very good site. However, 200 miles down the road and up into the mountains, white pine might live 250 years.
Look at the ASCA link on this website for a consulting arborist near you. Or check with the ISA link for a Certified Arborist.
The extra water could have a detrimental effect on this tree, but if it is already turning color, chances are that it is a goner. It's next to impossible to reverse a tree's decline after a certain point, so be wary of super-human and costly efforts.

Reply to post by Ed Milhous, on February 02, 2000 at 23:43:08:

I live in South East Michigan, In a small town 30 miles West of Detroit. The color change just started to be noticable last summer. It is only effecting about 15% of the tree's limbs. Is it possible that the water has killed part of the root system and the Tree is blowing off some of its limbs to compensate? Like I said, the tree is 18 feet from where the water accumulates. I have been looking at the other pines in my area and many of them have signs of stress as well. We have had two summers of drought conditions here and I have had to water extensively to keep the yard green. Sounds like too different problems doesn't it? Also, I have noticed a fair amount of defoliation on many of the Blue Sprue (where a third or more of their branches are dead) in the imediate area of my neighborhood. I have seen at least 15 trees with this condition and probabley 30 more that are starting to loose needles. Possibly unrelated but I thought I would mention it. My Pines have been very healthy up until the last year. These pines are 50 plus feet tall. Thanks again, Patrick

Reply to post by Patrick, on February 03, 2000 at 06:49:13:

Never been to Michigan, but would think white pine would be much happier there than in northern Virginia!
The change in water relations could very well be causing decline/death of roots (especially coming on the heels of drought); this would likely show up as off-color foliage (yellowish, perhaps stunted). Installing a drain may be the answer, but could be disruptive, and may not be in time to help the pine. If too late to help this pine, you could select new plants more tolerant of the altered site conditions, and skip the drain construction.
You need to get an arborist out there asap, so take a look at those links.
Good luck.

Reply to post by Ed Milhous, on February 03, 2000 at 10:54:41:

Thanks Ed, I contacted an Arborist today that was located in the directory on this site and in my imediate area. He will be out to look at the tree in a couple of days, since the wet snow fall last night would prevent him from being able to examine the tree well today. Of course, conversation is speclative without examination, however he told me that many large old growths trees in the area have been effected by the last two years of draught and that the water drainage problem is unlikely to be the cause of this trees decline, more likely a combination of the ground being raised to the east where the house was built and the daught. He seemed very knowledgable and is state certfied. He said that these trees are natives to Michigan and that, very rarely, do these trees have insect or fungus problems in my area. He mentioned stabilizing the tree through annual fertilizing (once), was not real keen on trimming away suffering limbs at this point (neither am I but I had to ask about limb removal etc..), wasn't anxious to promote an expensive spray program, and didn't sound pesamistic about the possiblility of actually saving the tree through maintainence over the course of a few years. Of course, he will be able to access the situation better when he examines the site and tree, but I feel pretty confident that I have found someone who can help me make the right discissions concerning this tree's future. He has been in the tree business for thirty years, offered to supply referrences. Thanks again for your input!
Patrick

Reply to post by Patrick, on February 04, 2000 at 08:38:27:

Check for:
white fuzzy stuff on needles (scale or aphids)
Conks on trunk (red ring rot)
Conks in soil around tree (root disease fungi)
Swellings on the trunk or large branches
(white pine blister rust)