I live in Merced, Ca. (central San Joaquin Valley). My Seq. Aptos trees have been doing very well for 12 or 13 years since I planted them. We recently had several days of very high winds (up to 62 miles per hour), and some drastic temperature changes . . . from 55 degrees up to 100, and then back down. Now the tips of the branches have died in places, looking red like fire blight . . but I didn't think pine trees got fire blight. What could be the problem and is there anything I can do? A local tree trimmer stopped by and offered to inject the trees with something, but I'm not sure he knows what he's doing. Thanks for any help.
I'm not sure he knows what he's dong either - there's nothing to be injected for heat or dryness except water. Unless it was a coincidence your trees were damaged by the extreme weather. You'd have to make use of local resources like California Cooperative Extension to determine if there is actually another problem.
Ron: Thanks for the reply. Do you have any idea what might cause this type of damage to a Sequoia Aptos? They are pretty hardy trees and I suspect that they'll recover from whatever is causing the problem . . . unless it is some kind of bug or disease. Until I know for sure what's going on I'm not going to have someone drill into my trees. Thanks, Ed
If he was talking about injecting the trees themselves the value of this would depend on what was determined to be going on. What did he say?
Hello Ron: He just said that "something is not right!" I had my doubts right from the get-go because he couldn't say what specifically was wrong. Then he offered to trim up all my trees . . . which I am skeptical of already because all I see done in the surrounding areas are guys who are topping trees and leaving them looking out of proportioned and disfigured. I am open to anyone who says my trees have a problem, but I expect them to know what they're talking about before I spend money on a treatment that might not be appropriate. Ed