Pest
Management Home Page Dr. John F. Baniecki Needle blight is a nonparasitic disease common on ornamental evergreens. The disease occurs most frequently on Eastern White Pine. Norway Spruce is also commonly affected. Symptoms The symptoms of this disease begins as a reddish brown dieback from the tips of the needles. In many cases, the dying may not extend beyond the tips, but in other cases, the entire needle may be killed. So many needles may be affected that the whole tree will have a brownish appearance. After several consecutive seasons of this disease, the tree may die. Needle Cast, a fungus disease, has similar symptoms, but can be distinguished by the appearance of shiny black oval spots in the affected areas. Cause The disease is attributed mainly to an improper water supply, but is also complicated by such factors as unfavorable soil and adverse weather conditions. Drought conditions or excessive rainfall causes the death of the fine feeding rootlets. Because of the delicate balance between the root system and the foliage of the tree, needle blight occurs when these rootlets die. Treatment As long as new growth appears each year, there is hope of saving the tree. Some measures used to control the disease are:
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