Hello, I'm new in this forum, thanks you for taking my question. I have a pine in my backyard which is showing signs of disease. It's in East Hampton, NY. The needles are getting yellow, top of the pine dry. There are white spots on the small branches, but I don't know if that's a problem or it's a normal thing. Any idea of what's the problem and if I can do anything? The other pines next to this one look healthy, I hope this is not contagious. Pictures attached. Laura
Pics #1 and #3 are Ok, that's just lichen and moss on the bark, harmless. Pic #2 is probably white pine weevil (Pissodes strobi) damage; this burrows down inside the lead shoot and kills it. The tree will replace the killed lead shoot, but watch out for forked stems resulting - if two or more new leaders replace it, it'll need pruning to keep it to a single leader.
Thanks, Michael! That's very helpful. So no need of any pesticide, right? How about the needles that are falling from the lower branches? Same thing and not to worry?
Pesticides don't work well against Pissodes, as it's inside the stem. Yep, that's normal, just the old needles after their normal lifespan (1½-2 years in Eastern White Pine).
