There are several causes of brown or dropping needles, which range from dehydration to pests, to disease. The majority of pests, diseases, and weather-related traumas an evergreen tree experiences can be overcome if caught and treated early. Planting in a site with well drained soil is essential for the health and safety of the tree. Do not add to compost piles. Read on to find out why your pine or spruce is browning and what you can do to save it. When feeder roots and root hairs die, a water deficit occurs in the tree because these roots can no longer supply sufficient water to the top of the tree. Or is the tree just in need of some TLC? Pine beetles generally only attack weak trees, so if your trees are healthy, they should be safe. Trees like all living things have a lifecycle. Droughts also cause water deficiencies. It is assumed that, in either cases, the tree will look dried up, lifeless and without any traces of green foliage. The following will help you manage the damage: Saving a browning evergreen depends on how quickly the tree was diagnosed and what has caused the browning to occur. If there are diseased areas visible on an otherwise healthy tree, properly removing the diseased sections could save the tree’s life. If the tree’s soil is dry to the touch, give it extra water through summer’s dry spells. The symptoms of root rot include wilted and discolored needles, blisters alongside the roots, and soft, weak wood beneath the bark. Identifying Signs of a Dying Tree. If this is the case, call on a certified arborist to evaluate your entire yard or landscape. Existing growth on that side will continue growing and as the tree grows the gaps will become less prominent. The following will help you identify and name the cause of your tree’s decline: Evergreen Tree Diseases The following will help you manage needlecast: RUSTS – When the “raised blisters” of this family of fungi break open, the brightly colored orange to rusty brown spores are revealed (the disease is named after this coloration). It is always best to water an evergreen tree once a week, deep and thoroughly. Before you invest your time and resources for reviving a tree, it is essential to identify whether the … Have you fixed a dying evergreen tree and brought it back to life? 2. Mulch the area of the root spread to help the soil retain water. In late fall before the ground freezes, give the tree a last deep watering to help it through the winter. Tree care is especially important when they are young trees to ensure a long healthy life. Apply only after having pruned away affected areas of the tree. Let’s help each other grow! Browning or chlorosis (loss or abnormal reduction of the green color of needles). Fall needle drop is a normal process of evergreens which they will recover from. You will all agree that a layman cannot distinguish between a sick tree and a dead tree. Burlap or tree wraps work well. Be sure to destroy any diseased branches to prevent the problem from spreading. Once the green needles have begun coming through the next year, you will want to cut away any of the brown branch tips that still remain. If you see rust-colored powder on the needles and brightly colored swollen spots on the branches, your evergreen is suffering from rust tree disease. Use water or wait for the rain to disperse the nutrients into the soil. Let’s go over some of the main reasons a tree’s health could begin to fail and what you can do to save a dying evergreen tree. Fertilizing in late summer or in the fall will encourage growth that will not have time to harden before winter. It is especially important to keep the tree adequately hydrated during times of drought because the tree is weakened and susceptible to contracting diseases and pests. They include: TREATMENT – There is no “cure” once winter injury occurs. The following video shows how fall needle drop is often confused with evergreen illness and disease. The only way to treat root rot is to dig away all the damp soil around the roots and let it dry. Sometimes, the lower branches turn brown because the higher branches are blocking the sun. Find out how to save an evergreen tree from dying. In the future, water the tree thoroughly before the ground freezes. Deep water the tree once per week to help it recover from the stress. A disease caused by a fungus, evergreen root rot will kill a tree if not dealt with quickly. Root rot is caused by too much water at the roots or from the soil moisture being too wet. They leave small holes surrounded by rust-colored powder and holes dripping yellow sap. Specifically, drought and winter injury are two primary environmental factors to consider. However, once the ground thaws, give the tree plenty of water. Signs of Decay. Drought also creates an environment for secondary infestations or disease.