White Pine Disease

[CAVU]

Anybody have any idea what might be killing my white pine. Planted last year, live in Suissevale. It started about 3-4wks ago, haven't been able to stop it. Other pines are fine. Any ideas?!?! Thanks!

[bclaker]

How to control:

http://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/5917/pine-borer-beetle-infestation

[JDeere]

As far as I know the tree will not die and will send off a new leader.....Might never look right again but should live.

[tis]

I don't know about the little trees, but I know a lot of big pines have been lost to this disease (whatever it is). One tree gets it while two right beside it don't. WE lost a huge pine to it. It has been around a few years now.

[bclaker]

The borer usually attacks the top spike. If you cut it lower and lower until the hole he makes in no longer there, you can prevent further damage.

[CAVU]

Thanks for the help!!

[PENIVISA]

Wow looks like my tree in my yard.
Exact same thing happened and my tree is growing leaps and bounds.
Hope you get the same results.....

[Lakesrider]

Yep mine too. I had read to cut off the top part and look for any holes. Not easy to do when it is 15' tall.:eek: But I got it done and the tree is still growing. I wonder if you could graft another spike or leader into the trunk of the tree to get it growing again. Like they do with bonzai trees.:D

[ApS]

As far as I know the tree will not die and will send off a new leader.....Might never look right again but should live.
It could look right, but you need to "train" your tree.

• Cut the brown diseased spike as far down as possible to leave no dead trunk remnant within the new "repair".

• Destroy the part you've removed.

• Run some weak string or yarn between the most promising new "leaders", and tension it as much as seems possible. Opposite leaders are easier to tension.

• To prevent a "Y-split" appearing in the restored trunk, remove the least...umm..."axial" leader next year.

(The leader least in line with the original trunk).

• Thusly "trained", the tree will straighten the trunk itself, but it will take many years.

:look:

Off-topic:

Sawyers closed for the season yesterday.

[SIKSUKR]

• Run some weak string or yarn between the most promising new "leaders", and tension it as much as seems possible. Opposite leaders are easier to tension.
.

Or a garter belt will work just fine.:laugh:

[Coolbreeze]

Check the trunk for girdling support wires that have been forgotten from planting,
if no that,
Inspect the trunk for holes in the trunk wood, if you see them or sawdust on the tops of the branches then you have borer or bark beetles. The top shoot borer is a problem common in June as the insect is a weevil that lays its eggs in the top stem and makes it look like a shepards hook.