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Today, many summer residents and owners of country houses ennoble their possessions by planting evergreen coniferous plantations, in particular pine trees. Ephedra along the perimeter of the cottage or along the path leading to the house is very beautiful. But there are times when a rich green color fades, and yellowness begins to appear. And it is at this moment that most site owners begin to worry about why the pine tree is turning yellow. There are many reasons leading to this phenomenon: it can be a natural process of renewing needles or a serious tree disease.
Natural Causes of Yellowing
The main reason that pine needles turn yellow is natural renewal. And if the yellowing of coniferous needles was noticed in the autumn, you should not be afraid for the health of the pine. After all, it is at this time of the year that the annual biological process of changing coniferous needles takes place.
The needles may turn yellow due to transplanting pine to a new location. This yellowing process is also natural, as the tree is going through a period of adaptation to new conditions. It was at this time that the pine begins to give young shoots, replacing the old ones.
Not all pine needles turn yellow during a natural process, basically up to 50% of the crown undergoes renewal, while young shoots and ends of branches should remain green. In the very first place, the needles on the lower branches of the pine tree near the trunk begin to turn yellow and renew themselves. Then, over time, it falls off. The lower branches freed from coniferous cover must be cut. So, the pine will begin to develop more actively, which will contribute to the rapid emergence of new shoots.
In addition to the biological process of changing shoots, the needles turn yellow for the following reasons:
- unfavorable climatic conditions;
- exposure to animals and insects;
- vital activity of microorganisms.
Therefore, if you want to plant a pine tree in your summer cottage, a person must understand that the plant may end up in an environment that is unusual for him. Thus, the correct and healthy growth of pine directly depends on proper care for it.
Unfavorable climatic conditions
If the needles began to turn yellow in the summer, then you should be wary. Most likely, the cause of yellowness is unfavorable climatic conditions associated with hot and dry weather. In this case, the pine tree does not have enough moisture to feed the upper branches and needles, which leads to their drying. The heat is especially bad for young, recently transplanted pine seedlings. Since, after the transplantation process, the root system is practically not adapted to the new soil, the roots are not able to fully absorb all the nutrients, and the lack of moisture aggravates the process, which leads to drying. Mature, established trees are considered more resistant to drought.
Heavy rainfall also adversely affects the condition of the pine tree and its crown. Oversaturation with moisture can lead to pine disease and subsequent yellowing of coniferous shoots.
Polluted air has a direct impact on the growth of coniferous needles and their frequent renewal. Near large highways, as well as near industrial enterprises, it will be uncomfortable for pine to grow.
Wrong fit
An important role in the good and healthy growth of the pine, as well as in the formation of a beautiful crown, is played by the correct fit. Having decided to plant a pine tree in your area, you need to pay special attention to the choice of a seedling. The color of the needles of a young tree should be bright green without yellowing. The roots of the seedling should be branched, “alive” in appearance and without damage.
After acquiring a seedling, you need to choose the right place for planting it. It must be open. When planting several trees, a distance of up to 5-6 m should be maintained between them, since an adult pine can have a crown girth of up to 5 m.
During planting, requirements are also imposed on the composition of the soil, it must be loose and sandy.
The root neck during planting should not protrude above the ground. The roots of the tree must be placed deep underground. And to prevent the soil from drying out, mulching should be performed, this will also contribute to the slow growth of weeds.
If the pine was planted correctly, then its crown should not turn yellow. And if, nevertheless, the needles began to turn yellow, and this process began to occur from below, without affecting the young shoots at the end of the branches, then, most likely, the tree adapts to new conditions.
Improper care
Another reason that pine needles turn yellow is improperly cared for.
As a rule, pine does not like excessive moisture, but it also does not tolerate drought well. Young trees, only transplanted to the site, require watering at least once a week. At the same time, up to 1 liters of water should be poured under the tree. In subsequent years, it is necessary to water the pine tree 30-2 times during the summer period, depending on the precipitation. You need to water with warm water, up to 3 liters under a tree.
Top dressing also affects the color of the crown. For the correct bright green color, pine needs phosphorus and iron. If the needles began to turn yellow, this indicates a lack of these particular trace elements.
In the absence of proper care, excessive or rare watering, and without additional feeding, a transplanted tree can not only begin to turn yellow, but also die.
vermin
If it was noticed that the pine needles began to unnaturally turn yellow, then this may indicate that the tree was damaged by beetles. Bark beetles or bark beetles are the most common pests of coniferous trees.
If the pine is affected by these beetles, the following signs also appear:
- resinous smudges on the trunk and branches;
- the appearance on the trunk or soil near it of small light brown sawdust, the so-called drill flour.
The presence of bark beetles and pine beetles, as well as their untimely extermination, will lead to the subsequent death of the pine.
Diseases
If it was noticed that the tree began not only to turn yellow, but also to acquire a bright red hue, which has a gray coating after the snow melted, then this indicates a disease caused by a fungus.
The fungal disease of coniferous trees is called schütte. Most often, this disease affects young plantings, but it is also dangerous for an adult plant.
The main symptom of the disease is the rapid death and yellowing of the needles after winter. Often the needles turn orange with a rusty tint within a week. Mature plants begin to respond to the development of the disease a month after the snow cover has melted. Usually, the lower branches are susceptible to dying off in a mature pine.
Needles that have been affected by the fungus and turned yellow also have a reddish tint with black spots and lines. And they don’t fall off for a long time.
Also, red dry needles can symbolize the defeat of Fusarium. Such a fungal disease prevents the passage of nutrients from the roots to the branches and coniferous needles, which can lead to complete yellowing and drying of the crown.
Preventive measures
To avoid the onset of unnatural yellowing of the needles, it is recommended to fulfill the following requirements for planting seedlings and properly care for the pine:
- When planting a seedling on the site, the roots must be well deepened. It is also not allowed to leave the root neck of the plant above the ground.
- After planting, the tree must be regularly watered and fed, in order to avoid its withering, and also so that the needles do not turn yellow.
- If the needles began to turn yellow after the appearance of pests, then you should definitely call a specialist who will help you properly process the tree. You can also process pine yourself with a solution of karbofos.
- Early detection of a fungal disease will save the tree in time. The plant must be carefully examined to notice why the needles began to turn yellow. To avoid this kind of disease, it is necessary to remove weeds in a timely manner and remove fallen needles, as well as dry branches. A fungicide can be used to prevent fungal disease.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why pine turns yellow. Some of them are natural, while others are caused by the vital activity of living organisms. But with proper care and periodic inspection of the tree, it is possible to identify in time the cause of what caused the pine needles to turn yellow and eliminate it in a timely manner. And then a healthy, lush and evergreen beauty will delight you with her wonderful appearance and aroma for more than a year.
