Hi Folks, I just moved in to this place and I have two Pine trees in the front yard. One is large and healthy and the other looks very unhappy. Can you tell me what kind of pine tree this is and what I can do to bring it back to health. The picture of the needles are of a heathly tree next to this one.
Thanks! It is (was!) a cedar, probably a Lebanon Cedar. I fear it's too far gone - if not already dead, very nearly so. Has any work been done near the base of the tree that could damage the roots, e.g. by soil compaction, or digging disturbance, in the last 2 or 3 years? Not easy to determine the cause of its demise, but that would be my guess as to the most likely. As you mention, the other one is healthy.
Nothing has been done to the roots that I know of. So if it is a cedar what can I do for the patient. There are still branches that have green needles. What type of soil conditions does it like or what type of fertilizer I would like to try to nurture it back to health rather that remove it. Would it be better to remove all the dead branches or prune in the process of soil conditioning? It has been obviously been neglected and maybe it will respond to a little TLC.
Looking at types of cedars, could it be a deodara cedar? http://www.bomengids.nl/uk/soorten/Himalaya_ceder__Cedrus_deodara__Deodara_cedar.html
I took that picture from 6 feet away. Here is one to scale. This is the site I'm comparing against: http://www.bomengids.nl/uk/soorten/Himalaya_ceder__Cedrus_deodara__Deodara_cedar.html
Still looks more like Lebanon Cedar! Typical needle lengths: Deodar Cedar: 3-6cm Lebanon Cedar: 2-3cm Compare this specimen of Lebanon Cedar:
Cedars generally don't need any fertiliser - in the wild, they often grow on nearly bare rock. Fertiliser can even be harmful, as it can encourage root decay.
