White pines.... how can I save them???

Question

I had landscaper plant 11 white pines in back yard... fairly moist area and I watered them frequently. The landscaper planted some high with bottom sticking out of the ground. The landscaper also failed to mention to me I needed to cut back the shrubbery behind the trees. I am not dealing with the back of many of the trees dead and I can see many trees pines are that dead brown color in the inside of the tree... some have brown on the tips of the pines. I hired someone to cut back the shrubs so more sunlight is getting to the back of the trees, I put mulch at the bottom of the trees especially those who had some roots on top of the soil....but I am afraid it is too late. Is there anything else I can do?

Answer 1

Actually planting high is preferred in many areas where the soils are dense or wet. Not knowing your situation, I can't comment on planting height, other than you side it was a fairly moist area. When planting high, there should be a mulch over the root zone, both over the root ball and over the intended area the roots will move into. Perhaps the landscaper did not put the mulch there fearing the already moist situation would be worse with a mulch. Not seeing your situation......I can only guess his intentions.

I'm not sure what you mean by "I am not dealing with the back of many of the trees dead and I can see many trees pines that are dead brown color in the inside of the tree..."

Pines naturally lose their needles each season from the inside retaining only outer needles. How many outer needles depends on the pine species, some drop more than others. Being transplants, they may be in stress and dropping a bit more than usual. And as someone said, insects can cause increased needle drop too.

I don't like hearing the tips of the branches are brown. Those are the growing points. Losing these is not good. However, if the brown is just the needle tips, that indicates drought damage.....or sometimes drowning. Too much water in the soil will rot the roots so the plant dies of thirst.

Sounds like you are doing the best you can. Just monitor the soil moisture, not letting things get too moist for too long a time.........or drying too much.

Answer 2

These pines enjoy living in arid,acid soils and spaces that are well drained. My experience dictates that you are forcing these trees to fullfil a poor vision . Clear-out the dead or dying ones to begin cultivating the survivors. These survivors should be allowed to reach a level of normalcy (in proper growth rate) before you begin to intersperse any additional plantings. It's good that you had so many to begin with-but now you must make difficult choices to ensure that what you started has lasting effect upon the generations to come.-whether it be many or one good example.

Answer 3

Do you have Bagworms?
They will kill pines fast.
Are all 11 dying? Because white pines are generally pretty hardy, so I would suspect pests, not too much/little water or sun.