Hi Guys.
see attached photos of my Scot’s pine purchased back in May. Has been doing really well but some needles are now starting to brown and fall off. Is this normal shedding of old needles or something else?
thanks
It looks like most of the browning needles are older needles that the tree is preparing to drop. There are a few on branches that don’t seem to have many newer needles so you might what to check those for buds. If there are no buds, then the branch will probably die.
I suggest you go through and clear off the top and bottom needles from all of the branches help stimulate some back budding. I then needle pluck along the sides leaving as few as 12 to 24 pairs (fewer on the stronger branches). I pluck so I leave 3-4 pairs on the left and then 3-4 on the right, then the left, alternating sides until I run out of pairs. I am not currently brave enough to reduce to 8-12 pairs, but I am getting there as my Scots pines become more refined. I find that Scots pine will back bud fairly well under these conditions.
Thank you, very helpful