Two years of drought catching up to pines

[denny144 0]

The last two years were ones of drought in Troy. I'd watch the weather radar and see the oncoming storms break up and go around us every time. Now I'm seeing the results of that despite all the rain we've had in 2013. The pines all along Coolidge and other main roads are half dead and others in yards where they might have gotten some watering are looking bad, too. I'm not seeing the same dying limbs on other evergreens or deciduous trees, however. So am I correct in assuming it's 2 years of drought or is something else killing the pines?

[Steven Nikkila 32]

Without looking at the entire story of the trees it is hard to say what is causing the problems. There are many different types of pine and they get quite a variety of pests. Some pests only attack specific pines others more general. Drought/lack of water is a contributor to the problems but not the only cause. I'll pay special attention to the pines when I'm in the area again.

[denny144 0]

I just read the post from last February about Scotch pines losing their needles. Apparently, there's a needle blight that's hitting Michigan hard. Few of the pines in my area are Scotch pines so it isn't limited to just them. I think this time next year, all the pines in Troy will be dead.

[Steven Nikkila 32]

I drove through that area during the last year and did not notice anything that would draw my eye (I will admit that i was not particularly looking for pines).  Do you have an update on how they are doing in that area, especially the Scotch pines?

[denny144 0]

I've been keeping an eye out and the situation did not improve this spring. In Troy, on Coolidge between 17 and 18 Mile, I'd say all of the 30+ Pine trees (not sure if they are Scotch pine) along the sides of the road are dying. All of the pines in the building lot at the NW corner of Adams and Square Lake are dying. Wherever pines are planted in the median and along the sides of the road in Troy, they are dying. My challenge was finding pines that are in areas that aren't salted in winter in order to rule that out as the major factor. Pines don't seem to be a popular front yard landscape tree so I can't find as many as I can along main roads. But there is a stand of pines in the backyard of the house at 2024 Briargrove that looks bad. The trees on the corner of Pondway and Riverchase and on the corner of Sunburst and Squirrel Hill look bad. These are all streets in Troy that don't get salted. I am regularly in Auburn Hills and Novi and don't see the kind of dying pines I see in Troy where I live. One of the 3 pines in my backyard and a few more on my street appear to be dying. But not very pine is affected on my street.

 

Update 6/30/14  I was at the zoo in Royal Oak this weekend and saw some pines with the same symptoms.  Not concentrated in one area but scattered around.