Saturday, June 6, 2009

Pine Tree Disease.

Thank you to all who responded to my post about my ailing pines.
And many thanks to Marilyn, my dear on-line friend.
I think I have found the culprit:
Mar sent me.
I think my pines had a pine wood nematode.
See here:
Scots, Japanese black, Austrian Pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilis) General wilting of needles, followed by yellowing, browning and finally death of the tree, usually within 30-90 days after onset of symptoms. The nematodes are spread from tree to tree by pine sawyers (Monochamus spp.). Confirmed diagnosis can only be made by removing the nematodes from symptomatic branches or increment borings from the trunk in the laboratory. Most common in eastern North Carolina on Japanese black pine Usually fatal. Quickly remove and destroy diseased trees. Native pines are more resistant.
All branches and trunks and twigs of the diseased trees 
were cut up and removed from the premises.

1 comment:

Marilyn said...

Glad I could help. It's always frustrating to watch plants die.

I would suggest planting (quick-growing!) resistant trees to hide F-t-F's house.