My Limber Pine (vanderwolf) Has Suddenly Started To Turn Brown…
Brenda Asked
My limber pine (Vanderwolf) has suddenly started to turn brown on the ends of all branches. I suspect it’s had too much water. Can it survive?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Brenda: Vanderwolf pine is a cultivar of Pinus flexilis, commonly known as a limber pine. This evergreen is a slow grower, reaching 20-25 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide at maturity. The foliage is bluish-green with twisted needles. These pines will perform best when planted in a space where they will receive at least six hours of sunlight each day. They are adaptable to soil conditions but prefer moist but well-drained sites. This pine is resistant to most insect and disease problems, so it may very well be that it is receiving too much moisture. Does the soil drain well where it is planted? If not, you can amend the soil with a product such as PermaTill. This is an expanded slate material that will help improve drainage problems. Too much moisture and drainage may be an issue, but from the symptoms you have described, this would not be my first thought. Another possibility is if you or your lawn care service has sprayed any chemicals recently. We see a lot of tip damage on plant material when chemicals are sprayed in the vicinity, especially on a windy day. This is usually only found on one side of the plant. As with most evergreens, once the foliage turns brown and drops they typically do not put on any new growth to replace what has been lost. Without being able to see your evergreen, I cannot say for certain what is going on so taking a sample to your County Cooperative Extension Service for a positive diagnosis will be beneficial in saving your tree.
