I planted two white pines next to each other about 6 years ago. Around late August/early September I noticed that on one of them, the needles turned a pale green color. Over the next several weeks the color rapdily changed from the needles.

After 4-6 weeks, the entire tree was dead. The needles' color all turned uniformly brown. The symptoms apprear to be Pine Wilt, but it is a white pine. The pine next to it is unaffected.

I am in the process of burning the tree. Should I have it tested first to ensure it is Pine Wilt?

Thanks

Greetings Les:

We have isolated the pinewood nematode from white pine, but it is not common. I would not rule it out in this instance. However, I wonder about the tree's physical location, i.e., soil texture and drainage as this is a major issue with eastern white pine here in Illinois. I suspect the tree has already been burned, which is certainly a good procedure in this case. Branch samples if taken just after it appears can be used to isolate nematodes, but if a tree has been dead for some 5 months or more then a core sample or a large slice of the tree trunk is more desirable for nematode isolation.

James E. Appleby Ph.D. Entomologist Dept. NRES, Univ. of Illinois

I believe my stand of white pine is suffering the same fate. I started with 7 currently 12 years old and have lost 2 in the last 36 months. It appears that I will lose at least 2 more.

What do you suggest for wind break and privacy? I am reluctant to replace with pines. I am considering a leafy bamboo.

Greetings Don,

Have you submitted a plant sample to the U of I Plant Clinic?

UI Plant Clinic: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/plantclinic/

I'm a staunch advocate of using a diversity of species when establishing windbreaks (white fir; Norway spruce; Serbian spruce; eastern redcedar; Thuja Green Giant; baldcypress; etc.). I would not use bamboo!