I have a mature miniture pine which its spines have started to turn brown towards the trunk outwards. Is this a disease, and if so what can I do to prevent any further damage? Also I have a crab-apple tree; when do I prune it, and from which point on the branches do I start?
2006-09-12 00:28:00 · 5 answers · asked by Hope 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Don't Worry, I hear this one in the nursery all the time, Your needle drop is normal fall shedding of the older growth. Evergreens hold their foliage, but eventually it gets old - most often the three year old needle is cast off in the fall. Wait a little longer - 1 month at least to prune your crab, you can cut back all branches you don't like right to the main trunk, or trim it back as far as needed to shape it to your desire. If it hasn't been pruned in years, heavy pruning is most likely the result, and don't worry this won't hurt it. If you wait till spring to prune it, do so before the new leaves emerge.
2006-09-12 02:06:52 · answer #1 · answered by T square 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is your crab a fruit-bearing tree? If it is, you can get free advice on pruning from your county Extension Service. But if it is a flowering crab, it shouldn't need to be pruned, except possibly to remove crossed branches or suckers coming up from below the graft union at ground level. Flowering crabs have their own structure.
2006-09-12 02:13:07 · answer #2 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know where you live, but a good cheap start is to check the soil PH level with litmus paper and call the county extension office and give them your info; they should know the proper balance+ the nutrient fix-er-upper. Prune your crab-apple when it looks out of balance or shaggy. Remember to prune the "suckers" constantly, they rob,rob,rob.
2006-09-12 04:21:09 · answer #3 · answered by teton 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
from what I know about Pine they have to be planted in Lime free soil - try re-planting in Lime free soil to begin with. I belive it's called eracatious - i think the spelling is wrong
2006-09-12 00:31:20 · answer #4 · answered by supdev1 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sorry, but I'm Stumped.
2006-09-12 00:34:33 · answer #5 · answered by rusty_2003uk 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋