Symptoms: Symptoms first appear in the fall as circular gray-green spots on the pine needles. Pine trees affected: This disease affects longleaf, Afghan, mugo, Japanese black, Virginia, eastern white, red, Austrian, and Scots pine. Symptoms occur months after infestation and can spread rapidly in permitting weather conditions. This disease is a large problem for longleaf pine seedlings and Afghan pines grown in Christmas tree nurseries. In pines, death occurs after extensive decay. Trees of all ages can die from this disease, and volume losses from butt rot will occur in some species. Risk level: This disease is most concerning in forests following thinning, an operation that removes rows of trees. Seasons: Harvesting pines during dry summer and fall months lowers the possibility for spread. Apply the borax powder in a salt shaker manner. Treatment: Common borax powder applied to the surfaces of freshly cut stumps will help prevent the spread to neighboring trees.
Stumps and trees with annosus root rot can also infect healthy trees through their roots. Infections can remain latent for decades before resuming growth in the pine tree. After landing, the spores then penetrate the wood to establish an infection. Wind or splashing rain can carry the fungus from infected stumps to healthy trees that have cut surfaces. These fruiting bodies vary in shape and are between gray-brown and dark-brown in color on their surface, and white underneath.Ĭauses: The fungus, Heterobasidion annosum, spreads the most when stumps are freshly cut. The fungus may generate conks, or fruiting bodies, at the base of the trunk. The roots and butt develop a soft, stringy, white rot. Symptoms: Substantial stump decay will occur. Annosus root rot occasionally infects shortleaf, longleaf, Ponderosa, western white, lodgepole, whitebark, jack, pond, red, pitch, sand, and Virginia pines. Pine trees affected: This disease affects loblolly, slash, and white pines the most. Although this disease leads to death, there is a solution to prevent it from spreading to healthy pines. The freshly cut stumps following thinning encourage the spread of this disease. This fungal disease stunts needle growth and causes a decaying condition called “ butt rot.” Annosus root rot is a concern in pine plantations where thinning has occurred.
Keep in mind that a professional arborist should make any diagnosis. Some infections are more severe than others and affect different pine tree types. We have shared ten diseases in pine trees to help you identify what may be ailing your pine tree species. Infection can spread through the soil, air, rain, and even contaminated pruning tools. The last thing any homeowner wants is a disease spreading to their healthy trees. It’s essential to identify the fungal disease invading your tree. If your pine needles are discolored and falling off, this could be a sign of a diseased tree. Pines are evergreen trees, which means a healthy pine should stay green all year long. If you’re noticing brown needles on your pine tree, it’s likely not because winter is coming.