Dealing with browning evergreens
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URBANA -- From early
September into late October, many needle evergreens develop yellow
needles that soon turn to brown on the branches closest to the
trunk, possibly alarming the tree's owner, said James Schuster, a
University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator based in Cook
"The browning needles are the oldest
needles on the branches," he said. "The yellowing brown needles are
dying or dead. This is a normal process that happens every year."
Many homeowners think their pine,
spruce, fir, juniper or arborvitae is dying when they see the
discolored needles for the first time. In most years, the older
needles die and fall off all summer long, so their death is not
noticed. However, in some years, the needles all die about the same
"When this happens, the dramatic
yellowing-browning of the inner needles often causes a panic feeling
in the homeowner," said Schuster. "Pines are more noted for
periodically holding their needles and having the older needles die
as a group.
"In addition, the effect of the needles
all turning color and falling off in a short period of time is more
noticeable on pines than on most other needle evergreens. Of the
pines, the white pine does this more often and is the most
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Schuster said that as long as the older
needles are dying (the inner ones), there is nothing to worry about.
"However, if the needles on the branch
tips are turning yellow and then brown, there is a serious problem,"
he warned. "No matter what time of the year it is, current-year
needles should not discolor. They should remain green. If the
current year's needles are dying, there may be an insect or disease
recommended that tree owners check
for information on needle evergreen diseases and insects. This
website has many more gardening sections that most gardeners will
find useful. There are also several interactive horticulture
programs for children.
[University of Illinois news