If you’ve never heard of Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea), you probably don't live in the tropics off the coast of Mexico or the American Southeast. In these locations, the Caribbean pine is known as an important timber tree and a useful tree to combat erosion. If you are interested in learning something about this tall, fast-growing conifer, read on.

Note: This tree is classified as an invasive species and causes problems to natural habitats in many countries.

Meet the Caribbean Pine

The Caribbean pine is an evergreen conifer that grows rapidly, yet produces wood that is strong enough for use as timber. Native to Central America, it grows in the wild in the tropics from Nicaragua to Mexico, and in the Caribbean region as well as the Bahamas. It prefers low level plains and smaller hillsides from sea level to 2,000 feet (600 m).

This pine grows to mature heights of 65 to 100 feet (20 to 30 m), sometimes even taller. Each tree has a single trunk -- straight, slender and erect. The trunks can grow up to 40 inches (1 m) in diameter measured at breast height. The irregular crown comprises almost a third of the tree height when the tree matures.

Caribbean Pine Wood

Caribbean pine has been grown and harvested as timber for centuries. The heartwood can be golden or reddish brown with a wide band of sapwood. The grain is straight, and the wood texture ranges from medium to coarse. The wood is moderately light in weight, but trees from natural stands grow more slowly and have a higher density.

Given the low timber density, Caribbean pine wood is judged inappropriate for structural work or even furniture. It is used for shutters and packaging, as well as toys, interior trim, veneer, plywood, piles, vats, and particle boards.

Pinus Caribaea Seeds

The Caribbean pine scientific name is Pinus caribbea, or Pinus caribaea var. Hondurensis. That’s why the seeds are often referred to as Pinus caribaea seeds. They are produced in seed cones less than 2 inches (5 cm) long that grow in pairs or even whorls of up to five cones. It takes two years for them to mature, each one releasing between 100 and 200 dark seeds.

These Pinus caribaea seeds are edible. Indigenous peoples consume them raw as well as cooked. In addition, oil squeezed from the tree's leaves has been used for medicinal baths, and turpentine obtained from the resin has been used as a remedy for kidney and bladder issues, as well as coughs, colds, influenza and tuberculosis.

How to Care for a Pinus Caribaea

Pinus caribaea is first and foremost a tropical plant. It requires sunshine and generous amounts of water to thrive. This conifer should only be planted in frost-free areas with good drainage and a high level of annual rainfall. Seasonal flooding is not an issue, nor are salt winds The best soils are loams or sand.

If you are considering planting Caribbean pine as an ornamental, take into the account the fact that it propagates rapidly and forms dense cultures that displace and shoulder out native vegetation. Regular pruning is recommended.

At some point you may have seen your dog eat a pinecone. Pinecones aren’t toxic to dogs, though their spines and tough exterior might irritate the dog's stomach or even worse. But what about us? Are pinecones edible for people? 

Most of us are familiar with edible pinecone seeds or nuts, which are indeed delicious, but interestingly, the entirety of some types of pinecone can be ingested if properly prepared. Read on to learn about edible pine nut trees.

Can you Eat a Pinecone?

As noted above, pinecones, at least some varieties, are indeed edible. In fact, most pine trees are completely edible with the exception of lodgepole, Norfolk, ponderosa, and yew, which are quite toxic.

If you want to eat pinecones, seek out the young, tightly closed, green cones. Female cones are less desirable due to their hard outer shell, but if that is all that is available, boil the cones to soften them before eating.

Male cones, on the other hand, can be eaten without cooking. Another benefit of eating male cones: pollen. Pine pollen, another super food, is rich in antioxidants, amino acids, and micronutrients.

Pinecones in general are rich in dietary fiber and vitamin C and in some cultures are ground for use as a flour replacement.

Edible Pine Nut Trees

How about pine nuts? Are all pine nuts edible? Yes, all pine nuts are edible. That said, there are only about 18 species that produce nuts worthy of harvesting; other species produce nuts that are exceptionally tiny.

Examples of pine trees with edible nuts include longleaf, Korean, pitch, red, sugar, Swiss sugar, and Western white pines. Again, yew, ponderosa, Norfolk, and lodgepole should not be eaten.

Another type of pine nut to be wary of is Pinus armandii, the Armand or Chinese white pine. Most pine nuts come from the U.S., Europe, or Turkey, but this particular type of pine nut is harvested and sold from China. It is identifiable by its smaller size, lower price, and often an absence of country of origin on the label.

While Chinese white pine nuts aren’t deadly, they may cause an unpleasant condition called dysgeusia which causes food and beverages to taste metallic after ingesting the nuts.

Other Edible Parts of a Pine Tree

Pine needles are also edible and have been brewed both for use as a refreshing tea and medicinally. Choose light green, young needles to make this piney brew.

The soft inner bark of pines is also edible but is most palatable when boiled prior to eating. If you want to try this yourself, only cut small strips from several trees rather than a single pine, which can kill the tree. Taking only a small amount from multiple trees will allow the trees to heal themselves.

Not everyone is familiar with longleaf pine trees. What does a longleaf pine look like? These evergreens are beautiful, native North American pine trees with extremely long needle leaves. They make attractive specimen trees in the landscape and work well as shade trees.

Are you interested in a few more longleaf pine facts? Read on. We’ll give you info on the longleaf pine growth rate as well as the cultural care it requires.

Longleaf Pine Facts

The longleaf pine tree is native to the Southeastern United States. These trees are quite tall, growing to a height of 80 feet (24 m.) or even 100 feet (30 m.), with a spread of half the height, and they shoot up in the blink of an eye. The longleaf pine growth rate is fast, up to 36 inches (91 cm.) a year. They stand erect and require quite a bit of growing room.

According to longleaf pine facts, these are quite long-lived for pines. They can live for 150 years. Historically, the longleaf pine tree was used for making boats and it is still used for lumber today. The wood is heavy, strong and durable.

What Does a Longleaf Pine Look Like?

The long, long needles are the defining feature of the longleaf pine tree. They are bright green and slender, growing to 14 inches (36 cm.) or even 18 inches (46 cm.) long. They appear in feathery clusters of three needles, tufted at the tip of the branches.

As the tree matures, the bark develops into flaky plates of irregular size. You might also notice the flowers in spring. Male flowers are long and yellow-red, females are purple. The male cone is purple-blue, while the female is a deep purple, up to 10 inches (25 cm.) long. 

Longleaf Pine Care

If you have these trees on your property, you’ll find that longleaf pine care isn’t very difficult as long as they are planted in an appropriate site. A longleaf pine tree does best in a site that gets full and direct sun and offers well-drained soil. It thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 10.

Select a planting site carefully, since this is a tree that doesn’t like to be moved. It is also vulnerable to ice and storm damage and doesn’t do well in lightning, high winds or drought. It starts its life in what is known as its “grass-like" stage, staying short and tufty for five years before starting to add height. 

A weeping conifer is a delight all year long, but especially appreciated in the winter landscape. Its graceful form adds charm and texture to the garden or backyard. Some weeping evergreens, like pines (?Pinus? spp.), can become quite large. Pruning weeping pine trees is not that different from other evergreen pruning, with certain important exceptions. Read on for tips on how to prune weeping conifers.

Weeping Conifer Pruning

If you are wondering how to prune weeping conifers, start with the most important cuts. Like with all trees, weeping pines pruning includes removing their dead, diseased, and broken branches. This type of pruning should be done as soon as the problem presents itself. It can be done at any time of the year.

Another important aspect of weeping pine tree prune procedure involves cutting back branches that touch the soil. This type of weeping conifer pruning should be done in late winter or early spring. These low conifer branches will start growing as groundcover in the soil or mulch. Prune out these branches at junctions with other branches at least 6 inches (15 cm.) above the soil surface.

Training a Weeping Pine

Training a tree involves pruning while the tree is young to set up the framework of the tree. Training a weeping pine or other conifer is essential to help the tree develop a central trunk. 

The way to tackle this task is to cut out any low branches that develop at the trunk while the tree is still young. Make a cut that leaves no more than a quarter inch (6 mm.) stub to safeguard the tree from disease. Training a weeping pine should be done during the tree’s dormancy, in the winter.

Weeping Pine Tree Prune

Thinning a weeping conifer is also important to open up the canopy to airflow. This reduces the chance of needle disease. For weeping conifers, thinning also keeps the tree from becoming too heavy, especially important in areas that get a lot of winter snow. To thin the tree, take some shoots back to the joint. 

Part of how to prune weeping conifers is a short list of moves to avoid. Never cut the top of the central leader, the topmost vertical twig. Always take care with pruning low branches of weeping pines back into lower bare areas. Pines rarely spout new buds and needle clusters from barren branches or the lowermost branches. 

There are many, many types of pine trees. Some make suitable additions to the landscape and others not so much. While the chir pine is one of those trees that can attain large heights, in the proper location, this tree can make a great specimen or hedgerow planting.

Chir Pine Information

Chir pine, also known as Indian Longleaf pine, is common to the most southern U.S. forests, although it is native to the Himalayas, where it is widely used for lumber. Needles of Pinus roxburghii are long and deciduous during dry seasons, but they usually remain on the tree for the better part of the year. Evergreen and coniferous, the trunk can grow to 6 feet (2 m.) around.

Using chir pine in landscapes is normal too, but you should allow plenty of room for the specimen, which can reach 150 feet (46 m.) at maturity. However, the tree more commonly reaches 60 to 80 feet (18-24 m.), still needing a good deal of space. It grows to a 30 to 40 foot (9-12 m.) spread too. Cones on mature trees grow in dense clusters.

Growing Chir Pine Trees

During the first few years of growing, chir pine trees offer an attractive shrub-like appearance. The trunk develops and the tree grows upward after eight to nine years. Plant these trees in groups or as a tall fence row. Remember, the large size they reach in maturity. Chir pine trees are sometimes used as a formal hedge, shade tree, or specimen plant in the landscape.

Chir pine tree care includes watering, fertilization, and possibly staking when the tree is young. Pine trees planted in fall may not have time to develop the large root system which holds them upright, so using a suitable stake to keep them from toppling in high winds during winter is important. Don’t secure too tightly though. You want to allow some movement to continue. This movement signals the roots to develop. Stakes and ties can usually be removed within the first year.

Fertilization is not always necessary for young pine trees. Amend the soil before planting if you have that option. These trees grow best in acidic soils amended with finished compost or other organic content. Take a soil test if you have questions about the acidity.

If you wish to feed chir pines that are already growing in your landscape, use a complete fertilizer or a compost tea if you wish it to be organic. You may also surround trees, both young and old, with an organic mulch (like pine needles) that slowly provides nutrients as it breaks down.

Most people associate pine trees with bundled evergreen needles and pine cones, and rightly so. All pine tree species are conifers, including the genus Pinus that gives them the common name. You may be surprised though by how many pine tree varieties exist. Read on for information about types of pine trees and tips for identifying pine trees in the landscape.

About Different Pine Trees

While the group of pine trees are all found in the family Pinaceae, they are not all the same. They are grouped into nine genera. Those in the genus Pinus are referred to as pine, while others in the Pinacea family include larch, spruce, and hemlock.

A key to identifying pine trees is the fact that the pine needles are attached together in bundles. The sheath holding them together is called a fascicle. The number of needles attached together in a fascicle differs among pine tree species.

Common Pine Tree Varieties

Different pine trees have different shapes, with heights ranging from quite short to soaring. Identifying pine trees requires inspection of the trees’ dimensions, as well as the number of needles per bundle and the size and shape of the pine cone.

For example, one pine tree species, the black pine (Pinus nigra) is quite tall and wide, growing to 60 feet tall (18 m.) and 40 feet (12 m.) wide. It is also called the Austrian pine and only groups two needles per bundle. The long-lived bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata) tops out at only 30 feet (9 m.) tall and 15 feet (4.5 m.) in breadth. Its fascicle holds groups of five needles.

The chir pine (Pinus roxburghii), native to Asia, shoots up to 180 feet (54 m.) tall and has three needles per bundle. In contrast, the mugo pine (Pinus mugo) is a dwarf, usually presenting as a creeping shrub. It is an interesting pine specimen in the landscape.

Some types of pine trees are native to the United States. One is the eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). It grows fast and lives a long time. Cultivated for ornamental purposes as well as for lumber, it is unquestionably one of the most important pine tree species on the continent.

Another native pine is the Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), native to the foggy Pacific coast. It grows very tall, with thick trunk and branches. It is used for landscapes as well as commercial purposes.

Can you root pine branches? Growing conifers from cuttings isn’t as easy as rooting most shrubs and flowers, but it can definitely be done. Plant several pine tree cuttings to increase your chances of success. Read on and learn about conifer cutting propagation and how to root pine cuttings.

When to Start a Pine Tree from Cuttings

You can take cuttings from pine trees anytime between summer and before new growth appears in spring, but the ideal time for rooting pine tree cuttings is from early to mid-autumn, or in midwinter.

How to Root Pine Cuttings

Growing a pine tree from cuttings successfully isn’t too complicated. Start by taking several 4- to 6-inch (10-15 cm.) cuttings from the current year’s growth. The cuttings should be healthy and disease free, preferably with new growth at the tips. 

Fill a celled planting tray with a loose, well-aerated rooting medium such as pine bark, peat or perlite mixed with an equal part of coarse sand. Water the rooting medium until it is evenly moist but not soggy. 

Remove the needles from the lower one-third to half of the cuttings. Then dip the bottom 1 inch (2.5 cm.) of each cutting in rooting hormone. Plant the cuttings in the moist cutting medium. Be sure no needles touch the soil. Cover the tray with clear plastic to create a greenhouse atmosphere. 

Cuttings will root faster if you place the tray on a heating mat set to 68 F. (20 C.). Also, place the tray in bright, indirect light. Water as needed to keep the rooting medium moist. Be careful not to overwater, which may rot the cuttings. Poke a few holes in the covering if you see water dripping down the inside of the plastic.

Remove the plastic as soon as new growth appears. Be patient. The cuttings may take up to a year to root. Once the cuttings are well-rooted, transplant each one into a pot with a soil-based potting mix. This is a good time to add a little slow-release fertilizer.

Put the pots in partial shade for a few days to allow the cuttings to adjust to their new surroundings before moving them into bright light. Allow the young pine trees to mature until they’re large enough to be transplanted into the ground.

Whether you are a fan of pine needle tea or want a home-based natural business, knowing how to harvest pine needles, and process and store them, is part of satisfying either goal. There are many pine needle uses in the landscape: weed repellent, mulch, soil acidifier, and even to line paths and stabilize soil. Read on for some tips on harvesting pine needles for edible, medicinal, or outdoor garden use.

Pine Needle Uses

Gardeners with pine trees in the yard may consider the debris from dropped needles a nuisance; however, these conifer leaves are actually useful in many different ways. Why should you harvest pine needles? The needles make excellent fire starters, flavoring for teas and vinegars, grill smoke to season meats, air fresheners, and, of course, mulch. They have many medicinal properties as well. Collecting pine needles and processing them correctly can help you harness any of these natural properties. Pine straw is often sold cleaned and bailed to use in the landscape. Care should be taken when collecting pine needles to keep them free of weeds and debris. Layers of the straw mulch will conserve moisture, enrich soil, and help reduce weed growth. They also help enhance the acidity of soil for such plants as hydrangea, azalea, and holly. The scent can also help repel certain insect and animal pests from digging in the garden. Outside of garden use, a tea made from the leaves is not only delicious, but the scent can help clear sinuses. Cooled, the tea is used as a cleaner and deodorizer. The needles have antibacterial properties which can help fight certain skin diseases when used as a foot soak. These tree cast-offs are helpful in many household uses.

How to Harvest Pine Needles

If you plan on making pine mulch, keep the area under the trees free of weeds and other debris. That way when you rake up the needles, they will be relatively clean, as the plants shed between August and January. Pine needles break down slowly and can be used as a mulch but also to line paths and don't need replacing as often as other organic amendments. Leave some of the needles as a bed around the tree roots to help nourish the trees and prevent moisture loss and excessive weeds. Spread out the needles to let them dry if they will be bailed for storage or for sale. For instant use, just move the needles to the location where they will be needed and spread a thick layer. When harvesting pine needles, consider their purpose – not all needles have to come strictly from pines. For teas, it’s best to harvest needles fresh from the tree, and few trees are better than Douglas fir. The needles are high in Vitamin C and make a healing soak for arthritis. Spruce tea is also tasty and can be made into a zingy beer. Redwood needles have antimicrobial properties that may be beneficial when treating colds and flu. Just remember to ascertain whether trees were treated with chemicals and avoid those which were, especially for consumption purposes. If you want pine straw for mulch, the type of tree isn't as important, but blue spruce needles are very sharp and make barefoot trekking a painful journey. Any pine, however, makes excellent garden amendments.

Collecting Pine Needles: Learn How To Harvest Pine Needles For The Garden

Whether you are a fan of pine needle tea or want a home-based natural business, knowing how to harvest pine needles, and process and store them, is part of satisfying either goal. These tree cast-offs are helpful in many household uses.

There are many pine needle uses in the landscape: weed repellent, mulch, soil acidifier, and even to line paths and stabilize soil. Care should be taken when collecting pine needles to keep them free of weeds and debris. Layers of the straw mulch will conserve moisture, enrich soil, and help reduce weed growth.

Read on for some tips on harvesting pine needles for edible, medicinal, or outdoor garden use.

Pine Needle Uses

• Gardeners with pine trees in the yard may consider the debris from dropped needles a nuisance, however, these conifer leaves are actually useful in many different ways. Why should you harvest pine needles?
• The needles make excellent fire starters
• Pine needles make wonderful flavoring for teas and vinegars
• They are used for smoke to season meats
• They make impressive air fresheners
• Pine mulch is used extensively in the landscape.
• Pine straw is often sold cleaned and bailed to use in the landscape.
• Pine needles help enhance the acidity of soil for such plants as hydrangea, azalea, and holly.
• The scent of pine needles can help repel certain insect and animal pests from digging in the garden as well.
• Outside of garden use, a tea made from the leaves is not only delicious, but the scent can help clear sinuses.
• Cooled, the tea is used as a cleaner and deodorizer.
• The needles have antibacterial properties which can help fight certain skin diseases when used as a foot soak.
• Pine needles have many medicinal properties as well.

How to Harvest Pine Needles

If you plan on making pine mulch, keep the area under the trees free of weeds and other debris. That way when you rake up the needles, they will be relatively clean, as the plants shed between August and January.

Pine needles break down slowly and can be used as a mulch but also to line paths and they don't need replacing as often as other organic amendments.

Leave some of the needles as a bed around the tree roots to help nourish the trees and prevent moisture loss and excessive weeds.

Spread out the needles to let them dry if they will be bailed for storage or for sale. For instant use, just move the needles to the location where they will be needed and spread a thick layer.

When harvesting pine needles, consider their purpose – not all needles have to come strictly from pines.

For teas, it’s best to harvest needles fresh from the tree. In addition to pines, few trees are better than Douglas fir. The needles are high in Vitamin C and make a healing soak for arthritis. Spruce tea is also tasty and can be made into a zingy beer. Redwood needles have antimicrobial properties that may be beneficial when treating colds and flu.

Just remember to ascertain whether trees were treated with chemicals and avoid those which were, especially for consumption purposes.

If you want pine straw for mulch, the type of tree isn't as important, but blue spruce needles are very sharp and make barefoot trekking a painful journey. Any pine, however, makes excellent garden amendments. Collecting pine needles and processing them correctly can help you harness their natural properties.

Do mugo pines need to be pruned? While mugo pine pruning is not necessary for the plant to develop a strong branch structure, many gardeners trim their trees to make them shorter and more compact. For more information on pruning mugo pines, read on.

Do Mugo Pine Need to Be Pruned?

There are two main reasons for pruning mugo pine: to limit the tree’s size and to shape the tree. If you do not want to do either of these things, there is no need to prune your mugo pine. Mugo pine is a small, pyramidal shrub that can grow between 4 and 10 feet (1-3 m.) tall. If yours looks like it will be on the taller side and you want it shorter, you’ll need to prune it to keep it small.

How to Prune a Mugo Pine

The principal rule when it comes to mugo pine pruning is this: do not prune in the fall. Pines do not produce new buds from old growth. That means that the tree will stop growing from any pruning points if you cut branches out of season. Instead, prune mugo pine in spring and only trim the new growth. Tender new growth on mugo pines appears as “candles” on the branch tips. To keep the mugo pine from getting too tall, cut the mugo pine candles in half in springtime. This reduces the size of the new growth that it will achieve in the season. Done annually, this keeps the mugo pine to a reasonable size. It also makes the shrub/tree’s canopy thicker. If it gets too thick, you may want to remove some exterior candles.

Pruning Mugo Pine to Shape

The ideal shape for mugo pine is smooth and rounded. If your mugo pine had holes in its canopy, you can correct them by shape pruning. Pruning mugo pines to shape involves not pruning candles in areas where more growth is required. Figure out which candles can grow to fill in a canopy hole, then skip these when you are pruning.

Japanese red pine is a very attractive, interesting looking specimen tree native to east Asia but currently grown all over the U.S. Keep reading to learn more Japanese red pine info, including Japanese red pine care and how to grow a Japanese red pine tree.

What is a Japanese Red Pine?

Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) is an evergreen conifer native to Japan. In the wild, it can reach up to 100 feet (30.5 m.) in height, but in landscapes, it tends to top out between 30 and 50 feet (9-15 m.). Its dark green needles measure 3 to 5 inches (8-13 cm.) and grow up out of the branches in tufts. In the spring, male flowers are yellow and female flowers are yellow to purple. These flowers give way to cones that are dull brown and about 2 inches (5 cm.) long. Despite the name, the Japanese red pine needles do not change color in the fall but stay green throughout the year. The tree gets its name from its bark, which peels away in scales to reveal a showy red underneath. As the tree ages, the bark on the main trunk tends to fade to brown or gray. Japanese red pines are hardy in USDA zones 3b to 7a. They require little pruning and can tolerate at least some drought.

How to Grow a Japanese Red Pine

Japanese red pine care is relatively easy and is similar to that of any pine tree. The trees need slightly acidic, well-drained soil and will thrive in most types except clay. They prefer full sun. Japanese red pine trees are, for the most part, disease and pest free. The branches tend to grow out horizontally from the trunk, which itself often grows at an angle and gives the tree an attractive windswept look. Due to this, Japanese red pines are best grown individually as specimen trees, instead of in groves.

Austrian pine trees are also called European black pines, and that common name more accurately reflects its native habitat. A handsome conifer with dark, dense foliage, the tree’s lowest branches can touch the ground. For more Austrian pine information, including Austrian pine growing conditions, read on.

Austrian Pine Information

Austrian pine trees (Pinus nigra) are native to Austria, but also Spain, Morocco, Turkey, and Crimea. In North America, you can see Austrian pines in the landscape in Canada, as well as in the eastern U.S. The tree is very attractive, with dark green needles up to 6 inches (15 cm.) long that grow in groups of two. The trees hold onto the needles for up to four years, resulting in a very dense canopy. If you see Austrian pines in the landscape, you may notice their cones. These grow in yellow and mature at about 3 inches (8 cm.) long.

Cultivation of Austrian Pine Trees

Austrian pines are happiest and grow best in chilly regions, thriving in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7. This tree may also grow in areas of zone 8. If you are thinking of growing Austrian pine trees in your backyard, be sure you have enough space. Cultivation of Austrian pine is only possible if you have plenty of space. The trees can grow to 100 feet (30.5 m.) tall with a 40 foot (12 m.) spread. Austrian pine trees left to their own devices grow their lowest branches very close to the ground. This creates an exceptionally attractive natural shape. You’ll find that they are very flexible and adaptable, although they prefer a site with direct sun for most of the day. Austrian pine trees can adapt to a wide range of soil types, including acidic, alkaline, loamy, sand, and clay soil. The trees must have deep soil, however. These trees can thrive in high and low terrain. In Europe, you’ll see Austrian pines in the landscape in mountainous areas and lowlands, from 820 feet (250 m.) to 5,910 feet (1,800 m.) above sea level. This tree tolerates urban pollution better than most pine trees. It also does well by the sea. Although ideal Australian pine growing conditions include moist soil, the trees can tolerate some dryness and exposure.

Few plants are more interesting than bristlecone pine trees (Pinus aristata), short evergreens that are native to mountains in this country. They grow very slowly but live a very long time. For more bristlecone pine information, including tips on planting bristlecone pines, read on.

Bristlecone Pine Information

Remarkable bristlecone pine trees grow in the mountains in the west. You’ll find them in New Mexico and Colorado, and across to the California-Nevada border. They grow in rocky, dry sites where conditions simply do not permit fast growth. And, in fact, they grow very slowly. A typical 14-year-old bristlecone pine tree growing in the wild is only about 4 feet (1.2 m.) tall. Bristlecone pine trees cannot be called classically beautiful, with their gnarled, twisted trunks, but they are certainly picturesque. They have curved, dark green needles about 1 inch (2.5 cm.) long in groups of five. Branches look a little like bottle brushes. Bristlecone pine trees’ fruit are woody, reddish cones, with thick scales. They are tipped with a long bristle, giving them their common name. The tiny seeds inside the cone are winged. And they truly have long lives. In fact, it isn't uncommon for these trees to live thousands of years in the wild. The Great Basin bristlecone (P. longaeva), for instance, has been found to live about 5,000 years old.

Bristlecone Pines in Landscapes

If you are thinking of putting bristlecone pines in landscapes in your backyard, you’ll need a little information. These tree’s slow growth rate is a big plus in a rock garden or small area. They thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7. Bristlecone pine tree growing is not difficult. These native trees accept most soils including poor soil, rocky soil, alkaline soil or acidic soil. Don’t try planting bristlecone pine trees in areas with clay soil, however, since good drainage is essential. Bristlecone pines in landscapes also need full sun. They cannot grow in shady areas. They also require some protection from drying winds. They do not tolerate urban pollution, so big city planting is probably not possible. However, they sink deep roots into the soil and, when established, are extremely drought resistant. The root makes it difficult to transplant bristlecone pine trees that have been in the ground for a while.

There are three different cultivars of Monterey pine, but the most common is indigenous to the California coast. In fact, a large specimen of the tree is a registered California big tree, measuring 160 feet tall (49 m.). More common is a height of 80 to 100 feet (24-30.5 m.). Growing a Monterey pine as a landscape tree requires ample growing space and should not be situated near power lines. Some interesting Monterey pine info follows which can help you determine if the tree is right for your gardening needs.

Monterey Pine Info

What is a Monterey pine? The Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) is an elegant plant tolerant of a range of conditions but is best suited in warmer regions. The tree is an evergreen conifer with an irregular open crown which may be vase-shaped, conical, or even slightly rounded. It is not a small tree and should be given plenty of space in which to grow. Learn how to grow Monterey pine trees as part of a land management and habitat program or just simply to enjoy this towering plant on your property. Monterey pines are found along the California coast but some varieties hail from Mexico. Pinus radiata has hybridized extensively with Knobcone pine and Bishop pine. This plant has a low frost tolerance and is suitable for United States Department of Agriculture zones 7 to 10. The bark is extremely attractive, being reddish brown and developing deep fissures as it ages. Needles are held in groups of three and may persist on the tree for up to three years. The female flowers appear as purple clusters of scales while male blooms are yellow spikes. The fruit is a cone, 3 to 6 inches (8-15 cm.) long. Cones may pose a litter problem.

How to Grow Monterey Pine Trees

This is a fast-growing tree that will produce 36 or more inches (91 cm.) per year. While the tree is not frost-tolerant, it also cannot withstand extreme heat. Coastal climates are ideal, where sea breezes and high humidity promote the best growth. Once established, the plant can thrive in either moist or dry soil, but regular supplemental watering is necessary early after planting. Soil textures may be loam to sandy, acidic to slightly alkaline in pH. Growing a Monterey pine in full to partial sun is ideal. The tree is not bothered by salinity, deer, oak root fungus, verticillium, or Texas root rot. As an added bonus, it is attractive to squirrels, birds, and other tree-dwelling animals.

Monterey Pine Care

Plant new trees at the same depth they are growing in the nursery pot. Prior to planting, loosen the soil to twice as deep and twice as wide as the container. Use a thick layer of organic mulch around the root zone of young pine trees to conserve energy and prevent competitive weeds. Provide water when the top of the soil is dry for the first few months. Thereafter, irrigate during dry periods. Excessive needle drop will be a clue that the tree needs extra moisture. Pruning should only be done to remove dead plant material, low-hanging branches, and diseased stems. Monterey pine is quite stoic once established and will not require extensive maintenance. For most gardeners, Monterey pine care will require regular raking of the dropped needles and cones, especially in areas prone to wildfires.

Native to the Mediterranean region, Aleppo pine trees (Pinus halepensis) require a warm climate to thrive. When you see cultivated Aleppo pines in the landscape, they will usually be in parks or commercial areas, not home gardens, because of their size. Read on for more Aleppo pine information.

About Aleppo Pine Trees

These tall pine trees grow naturally from Spain to Jordan and take their common name from a historic city in Syria. They only thrive in the United States in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. If you see Aleppo pines in the landscape, you’ll notice that the trees are large, rugged, and upright with an irregular branching structure. They can grow to 80 feet (24 m.) tall. According to Aleppo pine information, these are survivor trees, accepting poor soil and difficult growing conditions. Drought resistant, they are extremely tolerant of desert conditions as well as urban conditions. That’s what makes Aleppo pine trees the most cultivated ornamental pine in the southwest United States.

Aleppo Pine Tree Care

If you live in a warm region and have a very large yard, there is no reason why you cannot start growing an Aleppo pine. They are evergreen conifers with soft needles about 3 inches (8 cm.) long. Aleppo pine trees have gray bark, smooth when young but dark and furrowed as they mature. The trees often develop a romantically twisted trunk. The pinecones can grow to about the size of your fist. You can propagate the tree by planting the seeds found in the cones. The one thing to remember if you want to grow an Aleppo pine is to site it in direct sun. Aleppo pines in the landscape require sun to survive. Otherwise, Aleppo pine care won’t require much thought or effort. They are heat tolerant trees and only require deep, infrequent irrigation even in the hottest months. That’s why they make excellent street trees. Does Aleppo pine tree care include pruning? According to Aleppo pine information, the only time you need to prune these trees is if you require additional space beneath the canopy.

Everybody’s seen some type of weeping tree, garden ornamentals with branches that dip gracefully toward the earth. The most famous example might be the weeping willow. On the other hand, you may never have heard of weeping white pine. What is a weeping white pine? Read on for information on “Pendula” and tips on how to grow a weeping white pine.

What is a Weeping White Pine?

Weeping white pine (Pinus strubus “Pendula”) is a small cultivar of the white pine family. According to pendula information, it is a short shrub with many stems. The branches grow downward and spread across the soil surface like a groundcover. However, with proper early pruning, weeping white pine can develop into a small tree up to 12 feet (4 m.) tall. Its canopy outline is irregular. Weeping white pine’s canopy spread can be two to three times its height. Weeping white pine trees have smooth trunks covered with silvery gray bark. The bark is attractive when the trees are young, but as they age, the foliage covers the trunks all the way to the ground. The needles of a weeping white pine are evergreen and smell good. They are blue or blue-green, and between 2 and 4 inches (5-10 cm.) long.

Pendula White Pine Care

If you want to know how to grow a weeping white pine, first check your hardiness zone. These are hardy trees and thrive in USDA zones 3 through 7. If you live in a warm climate, you will not be able to invite a weeping white pine into your yard. According to pendula information, the weeping white pine is generally an easy-care, undemanding tree. It accepts most soils if they are acidic and well-draining. This includes loam and sand. Plant your tree in direct sun or a mix of sun and shade. Information on how to grow a weeping white palm indicates that the species has little tolerance for heat, salt, or drought. Water them regularly, keep them away from winter-salted roads, and do not try to plant them in zone 8 or above. The only arduous part of pendula white pine care is the pruning. If you do not shape this tree while it is young, it tops out at about knee height, growing as an evergreen groundcover. To make this plant into a small tree, reduce its many leaders to one by early structural pruning. If you want to be able to walk under the tree, you’ll need to trim the weeping branches as well.

What is a lacebark pine? Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) is native to China, but this attractive conifer has found favor with gardeners and landscapers across all but the warmest and coldest climates of the United States. Lacebark pine is suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. The pine trees are appreciated for their pyramidal, somewhat rounded shape, and striking bark. Read on for more lacebark pine information.

Growing Lacebark Pines

Lacebark pine is a slow-growing tree that, in the garden, reaches heights of 40 to 50 feet (12-15 m.). The width of this picturesque tree is usually at least 30 feet (9 m.), so allow plenty of space for growing lacebark pines. If you’re short on space, dwarf lacebark pine trees are available. For example, ‘Diamant’ is a miniature variety that tops out at 2 feet (61 cm.) with a 2 to 3 foot (61-91.5 cm.) spread.

If you’re thinking about growing lacebark pines, select a planting site carefully, as these trees perform best in full sunlight and moist, well-drained soil. Like most pines, lacebark prefers slightly acidic soil but tolerates soil with a slightly higher pH than most others.

Although the unique, exfoliating bark sets this tree apart from other pines, the bark doesn’t begin to peel for about 10 years. Once it begins, however, peeling lacebark pine trees put on a real show by revealing patches of green, white, and purple underneath the bark. This distinctive feature is most apparent during the winter months.

Caring for Lacebark Pine Trees

As long as you provide the proper growing conditions, there isn’t much labor involved in growing lacebark pine trees. Just water regularly until the tree is well established. At that point, lacebark pine is fairly drought tolerant and requires little attention, although it appreciates a little extra water during extended dry periods.

Fertilizer generally isn't necessary, but if you think growth is lagging, apply a general-purpose fertilizer before mid-July. Never fertilize if the tree is drought-stressed and always water deeply after fertilizing.

You may want to train the tree to grow from a single trunk, which creates stronger branches less prone to breaking when laden with snow and ice. The fascinating bark is also more visible on single-trunked trees.

The mighty Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), also sometimes called the scots pine, is a rugged evergreen tree native to Europe. It grows across a large portion of North America, where it’s popular in site reclamation. It has an attractive and distinctive look, but it’s not always a good choice for the home landscape in some areas. Keep reading for more Scotch pine information, including tips for caring for a Scotch pine.

What is a Scotch Pine?

What is a Scotch pine? Scotch pine trees usually reach a height of 40 to 50 feet (12-15 m.) and a spread of 30 feet (9 m.). Their needles are blue-green in the summer and usually 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.) long. The needles will often change color in the winter, turning more of a yellow-green. The bark is orange and peels away from the trunk and branches in an attractive pattern.

Growing Scotch Pine Trees

Scotch pine trees are hardy in USDA zones 3a through 8a, an area that covers most of the U.S. and Canada. They are very durable and adaptable. They will tolerate alkaline soil up to a pH of 7.5 and will grow in most types of soil. They prefer moist, well-drained soil, however, and do best in full sun. Since they’re so tough, Scotch pines are popular in spots that can’t support a lot of other life, and they’re especially good at reclaiming undesirable areas. Planting Scotch pines isn’t ideal everywhere, however, because the trees are very susceptible to pine wilt nematodes. It’s especially a problem in the Midwest, where trees will often grow normally for ten years, then become infected and die quickly. If you live outside the Midwest, it’s not likely to be a problem. Choosing the best scotch pines for gardens depends on how large of an area you have for its overall growth. There are, however, dwarf options available for those having little space but wish to enjoy these interesting pine trees. If grown in suitable conditions, caring for a Scotch pine tree in the home landscape requires little, if any, maintenance.

The Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) is a common sight in North America from Alabama to New York. It is not considered a landscape tree due to its unruly growth and rugged character, but it is an excellent specimen for naturalizing large spaces, re-foresting, and providing habitat and food for animals and birds. Growing Virginia pine trees has become useful for taking over vacant land, which they colonize for 75 years or so before new tree species become dominant. Read on for more Virginia pine tree information and see if this plant is right for your needs.

What is a Virginia Pine Tree?

Virginia pine trees in the landscape are primarily used as barriers, naturalized forests, and inexpensive, slow growing forests. They are scrubby plants with little ornamental appeal and become gnarled and bent in advanced years. Interestingly, the trees are grown in the south as Christmas trees. The Virginia pine is a classic, evergreen conifer. Most specimens reach between 15 and 40 feet (5-12 m.) in height with low branches and a pyramid shape when young. At maturity, trees develop disproportionately long limbs and a scraggly silhouette. Cones come in groups of two or four, are 1 to 3 inches (2.5-8 cm.) long and have a sharp prickle at the tip of the scale. The needles identify the plant as a pine. These are arranged in bundles of two and grow up to 3 inches (8 cm.) long. Their color is yellow-green to dark green.

Virginia Pine Tree Information

Virginia pine is also known as scrub pine due to its untidy appearance and scraggly growth. This pine tree is related to the coniferous group that includes larch, fir, spruce, and hemlock. The tree is also known as the Jersey pine because New Jersey and southern New York are the northern limits of the tree's habitat. Since the needles remain on the tree for up to three years and are stiff and long, the plant also bears the name spruce pine. The pinecones also remain on the tree for years after they have opened and released the seeds. In the wild, Virginia pine grows in un-glaciated soil and rocky outcrops where nutrients are scarce. This makes the tree a very hardy specimen and worthy of planting to reclaim lumbered acreage. USDA zones 4 to 8 are appropriate for growing Virginia pine trees. Although growing Virginia pine trees in the landscape isn't common, it is a useful tree when vacant acreage is present. Many animals and birds use the trees as a home and eat the seeds. The tree grows beautifully in almost any soil but prefers well-drained areas with neutral to acidic pH. Sandy loam or clay soil provides ideal conditions. That said, this tree is so adaptable it can grow where other pines won't and is useful to cover abandoned and infertile areas, giving it yet another name – poverty pine. For the first few years, it is a good idea to stake the tree, train the limbs, and provide average water. Once established, Virginia pine tree care is negligible. The plant is susceptible to breakage, as the wood is weak. It may also be plagued by pine wood nematode and Diplodia tip blight.

What is a slash pine tree? This attractive evergreen tree, a type of yellow pine native to the southeastern United States, produces sturdy, strong wood, which makes it valuable for the area’s timber plantations and reforestation projects. Slash pine (Pinus elliottii) is known by a number of alternative names, including swamp pine, Cuban pine, yellow slash pine, southern pine, and pitch pine. Read on for more slash pine tree information.

Slash Pine Tree Facts

Slash pine tree is suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. It grows at a relatively fast rate, attaining about 14 to 24 inches (35.5 to 61 cm.) of growth per year. This is a good-sized tree that reaches heights of 75 to 100 feet (23 to 30.5 m.) at maturity. Slash pine is an attractive tree with a pyramidal, somewhat oval shape. The shiny, deep green needles, which are arranged in bunches that look a little like brooms, can reach lengths of up to 11 inches (28 cm.). The seeds, hidden in glossy brown cones, provide sustenance for a variety of wildlife, including wild turkeys and squirrels.

Planting Slash Pine Trees

Slash pine trees are generally planted in spring when seedlings are easily found at greenhouses and nurseries. Growing a slash pine tree isn’t difficult, as the tree tolerates a variety of soils, including loam, acidic soil, sandy soil, and clay-based soil. This tree tolerates wet conditions better than most pines, but it also withstands a certain amount of drought. However, it doesn’t do well in soil with a high pH level. Slash pine trees need at least four hours of direct sunlight per day. Fertilize newly planted trees using a slow-release, general-purpose fertilizer that won’t burn the sensitive roots. A regular balanced fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 is fine once the tree is a couple of years old. Slash pine trees also benefit from a layer of mulch around the base, which keeps weeds in check and helps keep the soil evenly moist. Mulch should be replaced as it deteriorates or blows away.

Japanese black pine is ideal for coastal landscapes where it grows to heights of 20 feet (6 m.). When grown further inland, it can reach a remarkable height of 100 feet (30.5 m.). Read on to find out more about this big, beautiful tree.

What is a Japanese Black Pine?

Introduced from Japan, Japanese black pine trees (Pinus thunbergii) tolerate sandy, salty soil and salt spray much better than native species. This makes it a valuable asset to coastal landscapes. If you're growing it in an inland setting, give it lots of room because it grows much larger. The average height of a mature tree is about 60 feet (18 m.) but can grow up to 100 feet (30.5 m.) tall in the ideal setting.

One of the first things you'll notice about this tree is the white terminal buds that contrast beautifully with the thick masses of dark green needles. The needles are typically about 4.5 inches (11 cm.) long and bundled in pairs. The tree grows into a conical shape that is tight and neat while the tree is young but becomes loose and more irregular with age.

Japanese Black Pine Planting Information

Japanese black pine care is easy. Make sure you have an open site with lots of sunlight. The branches can spread as much as 25 feet (8 m.), so give it lots of room.

You won't have any trouble establishing a balled and burlapped tree in an inland site with good soil, but when planting on a sand dune, buy container grown saplings. Dig the hole two to three times wider than the container and mix the sand with lots of peat moss to fill in around the roots. Sand drains very quickly, but the peat moss will help it hold water.

Water weekly in the absence of rain until the tree is established and growing on its own. Once established, the tree is drought tolerant.

Although the tree adapts to most soil types, it will need a dose of fertilizer every year or two in poor soils. If you don't have access to a fertilizer designed for pine trees, any complete and balanced fertilizer will do. Follow the package instructions, determining the amount of fertilizer by the size of the tree. Protect the tree from strong winds for the first two years.

Pine trees are evergreen, so you don’t expect to see dead, brown needles. If you see dead needles on pine trees, take the time to figure out the cause. Start by noting the season and which part of the tree is affected. If you find dead needles on lower pine branches only, you are probably not looking at a normal needle shed. Read on for information about what it means when you have a pine tree with dead lower branches.

Dead Needles on Pine Trees

Although you planted pine trees to provide year-round color and texture in your backyard, pine needles don’t always stay a lovely green. Even the healthiest of pines lose their oldest needles every year. If you see dead needles on pine trees in the autumn, it may be nothing more than an annual needle drop. If you see dead needles at other times of the year, or dead needles on lower pine branches only, read on.

Lower Branches of Pine Tree Dying

If you have a pine tree with dead lower branches, it may look like a pine tree dying from the bottom up. Occasionally, this may be normal aging, but you have to consider other possibilities too. Not enough light – Pines need sunshine to flourish, and branches that don’t get sun exposure can die. Lower branches may have more trouble getting a share of sunlight than upper branches. If you see so many dead needles on lower pine branches that it looks like they are dying, it may be for lack of sunlight. Trimming nearby shade trees may help. Water stress – A pine tree dying from the bottom up might actually be a pine tree drying from the bottom up. Water stress in pines can cause needles to die. Lower branches may die from water stress in order to prolong the life of the rest of the tree. Prevent dead needles on lower pine branches by preventing water stress. Give your pines a drink during especially dry periods. It also helps to apply organic mulch over the root area of your pine to hold in moisture. Salt de-icer – If you de-ice your driveway with salt, this can also result in dead pine needles. Since the part of the pine closest to the salty ground are the lower branches, it can look like the pine tree is drying from the bottom up. Stop using salt for de-icing if this is a problem. It can kill your trees. Disease – If you see the lower branches of pine tree dying, your tree may have Sphaeropsis tip blight, a fungal disease, or some other kind of blight. Confirm this by looking for cankers at the base of new growth. As the pathogen attacks the pine tree, the branch tips die first, then the lower branches. You can help your pine with blight by clipping out diseased sections. Then spray a fungicide on the pine in springtime. Repeat the fungicide application until all of the new needles are fully grown.

Both western and eastern pine gall rust are caused by fungi. You can learn more about these destructive pine trees diseases in this article.

Rust Pine Tree Diseases

There are essentially two types of pine gall rust diseases: western pine gall and eastern pine gall.

Western Pine Gall Rust (Pine-Pine)

Also known as western pine gall rust or as pine-pine gall rust for its proclivity to spread from pine to pine, pine gall rust disease is a fungal disease that affects two and three needle pine trees. The disease, caused by a rust fungus known as Endocronartium harknesii, affects Scots pine, jack pine, and others. Although the disease is found across much of the country, it is especially widespread in the Pacific Northwest, where it has infected nearly all lodgepole pines.

Eastern Pine Gall Rust (Pine-Oak)

Eastern pine gall rust, also known as pine-oak gall rust, is a similar disease caused by Cronartium quercuum rust. It affects a large number of oak and pine trees. Although there are some differences between the two diseases, both types of gall rust are easily recognized by round or pear-shaped galls on branches or stems. Although the galls are initially less than an inch (2.5 cm.) across, they grow year by year and can eventually reach several inches (8 cm.) in diameter. In time, they may become large enough to girdle stems. However, they often aren’t noticeable until about the third year. In spring, the surfaces of mature branches are typically coated with masses of orange-yellow spores, which can infect nearby plants when they are dispersed in the wind. Western pine gall rust requires only one host, as spores from one pine tree can directly infect another pine tree. However, eastern pine gall rust requires both an oak tree and a pine tree.

Pine Gall Rust Treatment

Maintain proper care of trees, including irrigation as needed, as healthy trees are more disease resistant. Although some professionals advise regular fertilization, evidence indicates that the fungus is more likely to affect fast-growing trees, which suggests that use of fertilizer may be counterproductive. Western pine gall rust generally doesn’t present a serious danger to trees, unless the galls are large or numerous. Fungicides may help prevent the disease when applied at bud break, before spores are released. Control measures are generally not recommended on oak trees. The best way to control pine gall rust disease is to prune affected areas and remove galls in late winter or early spring, before they have time to produce spores. Remove the galls before they grow too large; otherwise, extensive pruning to remove the growths will affect the shape and appearance of the tree.

When it comes to the number of pests that can attack our plants, especially outdoors, the list is long and covered with suspects. Pine trees are vigorous giants who seem to be so firmly rooted and powerfully strong that nothing can hurt them. However, scale on pines can take down even the biggest, most vigorous tree over time. What is pine needle scale? Read this article and we'll learn together the signs and pine needle scale control for this silent killer.

What is Pine Needle Scale?

Pine needle scale is a common issue on pine trees. It primarily infects Scotch, Mugo, and Ponderosa, but it is also found in some firs and other species of pine. Scale starts out slowly and can gradually infest all the parts of the plant, but it takes several seasons with perfect weather conditions and often starts in stressed plants. Park managers know how to treat pine needle scale and prevent it from spreading to other plants. At home, management of your trees is important to confine the insects and save your trees. Pine needle scale will appear to be whitish scabs on the needles and stems of the plant. The scabs, or scales, will cover the insect and protect it over winter. Eggs that overwintered will hatch in May releasing crawlers, the nymph stage of development. This is the optimum time for chemical pine needle scale control. Crawlers move away from the hatch sight and find a new home. They then attach themselves to the plant and form a new scale crust over their bodies. As they feed under this armor, they undergo several molts, feeding on plant juices the whole time. Finally, pairs mate, and the next generation of eggs is laid. Pine needle scale can produce two generations per year.

How to Treat Pine Needle Scale

Early detection is key to successfully treating pine needle scale. The scales are 1/10 inch (2.5 mm.) long and may be hard to find, but heavily infested plant parts will have a distinctive whitish cast to the needles and stems, almost as if they have been dipped in wax. May to June is when nymphs or crawlers emerge, and the adults are mating and laying eggs by July. The next generation is laid by August. If you see an infested branch, prune it out to prevent the insects from spreading. Keep the plant watered and fed to reduce any stress and keep it healthy enough to deal with mild infestations. Several lady beetles and wasps are important pests of scale, so reduced use of non-specific pesticides is recommended to encourage these insects.

Chemical Pine Needle Scale Control

Dormant oil applied in March to early April can have some impact on the population, but insecticidal soaps are even more effective. Apply after eggs have hatched and while crawlers are active, but before they settle down and form scales. Most chemicals have little effect on scale when they are in their cocoons. You have to get them when the crawlers are moving about. Registered pesticides may be used from May through early July. It is most important to get the first generation, as they will be the parents of the second generation. Use all cautions if you apply a chemical solution and be aware that some of the non-selective types are also targeting beneficial insects.

We treasure pine trees because they remain green throughout the year, breaking the winter monotony. They seldom need pruning except to correct damage and control growth. Find out when and how to prune a pine tree in this article.

When to Prune a Pine Tree

Pines are among the easiest trees to maintain because they have a naturally neat shape that seldom needs correction. About the only time you’ll find yourself pruning pine trees is to correct damage from severe weather or vandalism. There’s also a pruning technique you might want to try if you’d like to encourage a compact growth habit. The best time for pruning pine trees is in spring, but you can prune to correct damage any time of year. Although it’s best to take care of broken and mangled branches right away, you should avoid pruning in late summer or fall whenever possible. Cuts made late in the season won’t have time to heal before winter weather sets in. Wound dressing and paint don’t provide winter protection for pruning cuts. Give a pine tree a dense, compact growth pattern by pinching back the candles, or new growth tips, in spring. Break them of at about the middle by hand. Cutting them with shears clips into the needles, causing them to turn brown. Trimming pine trees to shorten the branches is usually a bad idea. Cutting into the woody part of a branch stops the growth of that branch and, over time, it will look stunted. It’s best to remove damaged branches completely.

Pine Tree Pruning How To

When you remove a branch, cut all the way back to the collar, or thickened area near the trunk. If you are cutting a branch that is more than an inch (2.5 cm.) in diameter, don’t make one cut from top to bottom, as this may strip the bark down the trunk when the branch breaks free. Instead, move about a foot (31 cm.) out from the trunk and make a cut from the bottom about halfway through the width of the branch. Move out another inch or two (2.5-5 cm.) and make a cut all the way through the branch from top to bottom. Cut off the stub flush with the collar. Make sure your pine tree doesn’t have any branches that rub each other. This situation is rare in pines, but when it happens, one of the branches should be removed to protect the health of the tree. Rubbing causes wounds that provide entry points for insects and disease.

Conifer trees add color and texture to a backyard or garden, especially in winter when deciduous trees have lost their leaves. Most conifers grow slowly, but that young pine you plant today will, in time, tower over your home. One way of keeping your conifers small is to start growing dwarf pines instead of standard pine trees. Dwarf pine trees look as attractive as standard pines, yet they never get so big that they become a problem. Read on for information on planting dwarf pines and tips on dwarf pine varieties that might work well in your yard.

Dwarf Pine Trees

Planting dwarf pines is a great idea when you want the green color and the conifer texture, but your space is too tall for a forest. There are a large number of dwarf pie varieties that make growing dwarf pines easy. Your best bet is to review the different dwarf pine varieties. Pick dwarf pine trees based on their mature size, hue of needles, hardiness zone, and other particulars.

Dwarf Pine Varieties

If you want very low pines, conifer groundcover rather than a tree, consider Pinus strobus ‘Minuta.’ This low, mounding cultivar looks like white pine (found in the northeast of the country). However, given its dwarf status, this conifer won’t fall over and crush your car or house in high winds or storms. If you are thinking of growing dwarf pines that are slightly larger, consider Pinus parviflora ‘Adcock’s Dwarf’ that gets 3 or 4 feet (1 m.) in both directions. This is a type of Japanese white pine with twisted blue-green needles and a rounded growth habit. To start growing dwarf pines that are slightly larger, plant Pinus strobus ‘Nana.’ It grows to 7 feet tall (2 m.) and can grow wider than its height. This is one of the taller dwarf pine varieties with a mounded, spreading growth habit, and is a low-maintenance selection.

Dwarf Pine Growing Conditions

Optimal dwarf pine growing conditions vary among species, so be sure to ask at the garden store when you buy. Obviously, you want to pick a site with adequate space for the tree’s mature shape. Since “dwarf” is a relative term, pin down the potential height and width of your selection before planting. You’ll also have to tailor site selection to whatever dwarf pine varieties you decide to plant. While many conifers prefer shady areas, some specialty conifers require full sun. All conifers like cool, moist soil. When you are growing dwarf pines, apply a layer of wood chips around the base of the trees to achieve this end. In addition, water the pines during dry weather.

If you’ve thought about growing a pine tree by sprouting a whole pine cone, don’t waste your time and energy because unfortunately, it won’t work. Although planting entire pine cones sounds like a great idea, it isn’t a viable method for growing a pine tree. Read on to learn why.

Can I Plant a Pine Cone?

You can’t plant a pine cone and expect it to grow. There are several reasons why this won’t work. The cone serves as a woody container for the seeds, which are released from the cone only when environmental conditions are exactly right. By the time you gather cones that fall from the tree, the seeds have probably already been released from the cone.

Even if the seeds in the cones are at the exact perfect stage of ripeness, sprouting pine cones by planting entire pine cones still won’t work. The seeds need sunlight, which they can’t get when they are enclosed in the cone. Also, planting entire pine cones would mean the seeds are actually much too deep in the soil. Again, this prevents the seeds from receiving sunlight they need in order to germinate.

Planting Pine Tree Seeds

If you have your heart set on a pine tree in your garden, your best bet is start with a seedling or small tree. However, if you’re curious and enjoy experimentation, planting pine tree seeds is an interesting project.

Although sprouting pine cones won’t work, there’s a way that you can harvest the seeds from the cone, and you may – if conditions are just right – successfully grow a tree. Here’s how to go about it:

• Harvest a pine cone (or two) from a tree in autumn. Place the cones in a paper sack and put them in a warm, well-ventilated room. Shake the sack every few days. When the cone is dry enough to release the seeds, you’ll hear them rattling around in the bag.
• Place the pine seeds in a resealable plastic bag and store them in the freezer for three months. Why? This process, called stratification, mimics three months of winter, which many seeds require (outdoors, the seeds would lie buried under pine needles and other plant debris until spring).
• Once three months have passed, plant the seeds in a 4 inch (10 cm.) container filled with a well-drained potting medium such as a combination of potting mix, sand, fine pine bark, and peat moss. Be sure the container has a drainage hole in the bottom.
• Plant one pine seed in each container and cover it with no more than ¼-inch (6 mm.) of potting mix. Place the containers in a sunny window and water as needed to keep the potting mix slightly moist. Never allow the mix to dry out, but don’t water to the point of sogginess. Both conditions can kill the seed.
• Once the seedling is at least 8 inches tall (20 cm.) transplant the tree outdoors.

Most trees produce sap, and pine is no exception. Pine trees are coniferous trees that have long needles. These resilient trees often live and thrive at elevations and in climates where other tree species cannot. Read on for more information about pine trees and sap.

Pine Trees and Sap

Sap is essential to a tree. Roots take up water and nutrients, and these need to be spread throughout the tree. Sap is a viscous liquid that carries nutrients throughout the tree to the areas where they are most needed. Tree leaves produce simple sugars that must get transported through the tree’s fibers. Sap also is the means of transportation for these sugars. Although many think of sap as a tree’s blood, it circulates through the tree much slower than blood circulates through the body. Sap is mostly made up of water, but the sugar compounds it carries make it rich and thick – and prevents freezing in cold weather. As to the sap in pines, there really is no pine tree sap season. Pine trees produce sap all year long but, during the winter, some of the sap leaves the branches and trunk.

Pine Tree Sap Uses

Pine tree sap is used by the tree to transport nutrients. Pine tree sap uses include glue, candles, and fire starting. Pine sap is also used for making turpentine, a flammable substance used for coating objects. If you use a knife to harvest sap, you’ll find that pine tree sap removal is not always easy. One way to attack pine tree sap removal from your knife is to soak a rag in Everclear (190 proof) and use it to wipe the blade. Find other tips for removing sap here.

Excessive Pine Tree Sap

Healthy pine trees drip a little sap, and it should not be a cause for concern if the bark looks healthy. However, sap loss can damage the tree. Excessive pine tree sap loss results from injuries like broken branches in a storm, or accidental cuts made by weed whackers. It can also result from borer insects who dig holes in the tree. If the sap is dripping from multiple holes in the trunk, it is likely borers. Talk with a county extension service office to find the right treatment. Excessive sap can also result from cankers, dead spots on your pine caused by fungi growing under the bark. Cankers can be sunken areas or cracks. There are no chemical treatments to control canker, but you can help the tree by pruning out affected branches if you catch it early.

What is a sugar pine tree? Everyone knows about sugar maples, but sugar pine trees are less familiar. Yet, facts about sugar pine trees (Pinus lambertiana) make clear their status as important and noble trees. Sugar pine wood – even-grained and satin-textured – is even considered as good as it gets in terms of quality and value. Read on for more sugar pine tree information.

Facts About Sugar Pine Trees

Sugar pines are the tallest and biggest of the pine tree clan, second only to the giant sequoia in sheer bulk. These pine trees can grow to 200 feet (60 m.) tall with a trunk diameter of 5 feet (1.5 m.) and live past 500 years. Sugar pines bear three-sided needles, about 2 inches (5 cm.) long, in clusters of five. Each side of each needle is marked by a white line. The pine tree seedlings grow deep taproots at a young age. Their early growth is slow, but it becomes more rapid as the tree gets older. Sugar pine trees support some shade when they are young but become less shade tolerant as they age. Trees that grow in stands with taller specimens decline over time. Wildlife appreciate sugar pines when the trees are young, and even larger mammals use dense stands of seedlings as cover. As the trees grow taller, birds and squirrels build nests in them, and tree cavities are occupied by woodpeckers and owls. Lumbermen also prize the sugar pine tree. They admire its wood, which is light-weight but stable and workable. It is used for window and door frames, doors, molding, and specialty products like piano keys.

Where Do Sugar Pine Grow?

If you hope to see a sugar pine, you may ask “Where does sugar pine grow?” Emblematic of the Sierra Nevada, sugar pines also grow in other parts of the west. Their range stretches from the Cascade Range in Oregon through the Klamath and Siskiyou Mountain and into Baja California. You will generally find these mighty trees growing from 2,300 to 9,200 feet (700-2805 m.) above sea level in forests of mixed conifers.

How to Identify Sugar Pine

If you are wondering how to identify sugar pine, it is not very difficult once you know what you are looking for. You can readily identify sugar pine trees by their massive trunks and large, asymmetrical branches. The branches dip slightly from the weight of huge, woody cones. The cones grow up to 20 inches (51 cm.) long, with straight, thick scales.

Many gardeners are unfamiliar with pinyon pines (Pinus edulis) and may ask “what does a pinyon pine look like?” Yet this little, water-thrifty pine may yet have its day in the sun as the entire country moves toward reducing water usage. Read on for more facts about pinyon pines.

Facts About Pinyon Pines

If you read pinyon pine information, you find that the pinyon pine – a small pine tree that rarely grows above 20 feet (6 m.) tall – is extremely water efficient. It thrives in its native range in the American southwest on 15 inches (38 cm.) or less of annual precipitation. Pinyon pine grows yellow-green needles, about 2 inches (5 cm.) long, that remain on the tree for some eight or nine years. The cones are small and resemble brown roses. Inside the cones you will find the treasured pine nuts, so it is no surprise that it is also written “pinon,” meaning pine nut in Spanish.

Pinyon Pine Information

The pinyon pine is not a fast-growing tree. It grows slowly and steadily, developing a crown almost as wide as the tree is tall. After some 60 years growth, the tree might be 6 or 7 feet (2 m.) high. Pinyon pines can live long lives, even exceeding 600 years. Homeowners in Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico will not ask “What does a pinyon pine look like?” or “Where do pinyon pines grow?” The trees are among the predominant pines in the Great Basin region, and selected state trees of Nevada and New Mexico.

Growing Pinyon Pine Trees

If you are looking for trees that grow in dry soil and truly require minimal maintenance, think of the pinyon pine tree. Growing this tough tree is not difficult, as long as you do not try to offer too much pinyon pine tree care. Plant pinyon pines in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8 in well-drained soil in a full sun location. The trees generally do best at an elevation of less than 7,500 feet (2,286 m.). Install them in dry locations on hillsides, not lowlands where water collects. Although the trees need regular irrigation at the time of transplant, you can and should reduce watering after they are established. Match your irrigation schedule to the tree and its growing conditions. If you want a general rule of thumb for watering, irrigate twice a month in summer and once a month in other seasons. Despite the drought tolerance of these trees, pinyon pine tree growing works best with some irrigation. Repeated years of severe drought can stress the trees and lead to an attack by an insect called the pinyon Ips beetle. However important it is to irrigate these trees occasionally, equally important in pinyon pine care is making a conscious effort not to overwater these trees. Many cultivated trees die from overwatering each year. Avoid offering frequent water, and never plant them on lawns.

If you are looking for a pine tree that grows fast with a straight trunk and attractive needles, the loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) may be your tree. It is a fast-growing pine and the most commercially significant in the southeastern United States. Many commercial timber enterprises select loblolly as the tree of choice, but growing loblolly pine trees is not exclusively a business endeavor. Once you learn some loblolly pine tree facts, you’ll see why homeowners also enjoy planting these easy and beautiful evergreens. These pines are not difficult to grow. Read on for tips on growing loblolly pine trees.

What are Loblolly Pine Trees?

The loblolly pine is more than just a pretty face. It’s an important timber tree and a prime choice for wind and privacy screens. This pine is also important to wildlife, providing food and habitat. The loblolly’s native range runs across the American southeast. Its straight trunk can soar to 100 feet (31 m.) or more in the wild, with a diameter up to 4 feet (2 m.). However, it usually stays considerably smaller in cultivation.

Loblolly Pine Tree Facts

The loblolly is a tall, attractive evergreen with yellow to dark green needles up to 10 inches (25 cm.) long. The columnar trunk of the loblolly is also very lovely, covered with reddish brown plates of bark. If you are thinking of growing loblolly pine trees, you’ll see that each loblolly produces both male and female cones. Both are initially yellow, but females turn green and then brown after pollination. You’ll have to wait about 18 months for a cone to mature to collect seeds. Identify mature cones by their brown color. Read on to learn about loblolly pine tree care.

Care of Loblolly Pine Tree

Loblolly pine tree care won’t take much of your time. The evergreen is an adaptable tree that grows on most sites and soils. It only fails to thrive when the soil is very wet and infertile. The loblolly will grow in shade, but it prefers direct sunlight and grows faster with sun. Growing loblolly pine trees is easier now than at any time, given the new, disease-resistance varieties. This makes care of loblolly pine tree a matter of proper planting and adequate irrigation.

Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea) is an ornamental evergreen with a full, high canopy that resembles an umbrella. For this reason, it is also called the "umbrella pine". These pine trees are native to southern Europe and Turkey, and prefer warm, dry climates. However, they are also cultivated as popular landscape choices. Gardeners around the world are growing Italian stone pine trees. Read on for more Italian stone pine information.

Italian Stone Pine Information

Italian stone pine is easily recognizable, as it is one of the only pines to form a high, rounded crown. Hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 8, this pine doesn’t tolerate lower temperatures happily. Its needles brown in colder weather or wind. If you grow Italian stone pine trees, you will notice that as they mature, they develop multiple trunks close to one another. They grow between 40 and 80 feet (12.2 - 24.4 m.) tall, but occasionally get taller. Although these trees develop lower branches, they are usually shaded out as the crown matures. The pine cones of the Italian stone pine mature in autumn. This is important Italian stone pine information if you plan on growing Italian stone pine trees from seeds. The seeds appear in cones and provide food for wildlife.

Italian Stone Pine Tree Growing

Italian stone pine grows best in the drier regions in the American west. It thrives in California as a street tree, indicating a tolerance for urban pollution. If you are growing Italian stone pine trees, plant them in well-drained soil. The trees do well in acidic soil, but also grow in soil that is slightly alkaline. Always plant your pine trees in full sun. Expect your tree to grow to about 15 feet (4.6 m.) in the first five years of its life. Once the tree is established, care for Italian stone pines is minimal. Italian stone pine tree growing requires little water or fertilizer.

Italian Stone Pine Tree Care

Italian stone pine tree care is fairly easy if the tree is planted in appropriate soil in the sun. The trees are drought and sea-salt tolerant, but susceptible to ice damage. Their horizontal branches can crack and break when they are coated with ice. Italian stone pine tree care does not include mandatory pruning. However, some gardeners like to shape the canopy of the tree. If you do decide to prune or trim the tree, this should be accomplished in the winter season, basically October through January. Pruning during the winter months rather than spring and summer helps protect the tree from pitch moths.

Cedar pine (Pinus glabra) is a tough, attractive evergreen that doesn’t grow into a cookie-cutter Christmas tree shape. Its many branches form a bushy, irregular canopy of soft, dark green needles and the shape of each tree is unique. The branches grow low enough on the trunk of the cedar pine to make this tree an excellent choice for a wind row or tall hedgerow. If you are thinking of planting cedar pine hedges, read on for additional cedar pine tree information.

Cedar Pine Facts

It is not surprising if you ask, “What is a cedar pine?”. Although it is a North American native tree, it is one of the least-seen pines in this country. Cedar pine is an attractive pine with an open crown. The tree grows to over 100 feet (30.5 m.) in the wild with a diameter of 4 feet (1 m.). In cultivation, it often stays considerably shorter. The species is also known as spruce pine because of the texture of the bark of a mature tree. Young trees have grayish bark, but over time develop rounded ridges and scales like spruce trees, turning a deep shade of reddish brown.

Additional Cedar Pine Tree Information

The needles on the cedar pine grow in bundles of two. They are slender, soft, and twisted, usually a dark green but occasionally slightly gray. Needles remain on the tree for up to three seasons. Once the trees are about 10 years old, they begin producing seeds. Seeds grow in reddish brown cones that are shaped like eggs and bear small thorny prickles on the tips. They remain on the trees for up to four years, providing a valuable source of food for wildlife. Cedar pines grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 9. The trees are tolerant of shade and stress and grow best in moist, sandy soils. Appropriately planted, they can live up to 80 years.

Planting Cedar Pine Hedges

If you read up on cedar pine facts, you will find that these trees have many qualities that make them excellent choices for hedges or windbreaks. They are slow growers and generally anchored well into the ground with long tap roots. A cedar pine hedge will be attractive, strong, and long-lived. It will not provide a uniformly shaped line of pine trees for a hedge, as the branches create irregular crowns. However, the branches on cedar pines grow lower than many other species, and their strong roots stand up to the wind.

It’s easy to identify a white pine (Pinus strobus), but don’t look for white needles. You’ll be able to recognize these native trees because their bluish-green needles are attached to the branches in bundles of five. Gardeners living in USDA zones 5 through 7 are planting white pines as ornamental trees. The young trees grow rapidly in an appropriate site. Read on to learn how to plant a white pine tree.

White Pine Tree Information

White pines are lovely evergreens with graceful habits. The lush, 3- to 5-inch (7.5-12.5 cm.) needles make the tree look soft and attractive. White pine makes a fine specimen tree, but can also serve as a background plant, given its evergreen foliage. These trees grow in a pyramidal Christmas tree shape, with the tiered branches emerging at right angles from the central trunk.

How to Plant a White Pine Tree

Before you start planting white pines in the backyard, make sure you can offer the optimal growing conditions for this pine tree. The trees will not thrive in a poor location. You will need to give your white pines rich, moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Ideally, the site you choose for white pines should get full sun, but the species tolerates some shade. If you plant in an appropriate site, white pine tree care is not difficult. The size of the tree is an important piece of white pine tree information. Gardeners with small backyards should avoid planting white pines. The tree can grow to 80 feet (24 m.) tall with a 40 foot (12 m.) spread. Occasionally, white pines grow to 150 feet (45.5 m.) or more. If the sheer size of white pine trees is a problem, consider one of the smaller cultivars available in commerce. Both ‘Compacta’ and ‘Nana’ offer much smaller trees than the species tree.

Care of White Pine Trees

White pine tree care includes protecting the tree from conditions that will damage it. The species can be injured by road salt, winter wind, air pollution, and ice and snow. It is very susceptible to white pine blister rust, a disease that can kill the tree. Both gooseberry and wild currant bushes harbor rust. If you are planting white pines, eradicate these shrubs from the planting area.

If you are looking for a pine that hits the ground running, you may want to read up on ponderosa pine facts. Hardy and drought resistant, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) grows rapidly, and its roots dig deep into most types of soil.

Ponderosa Pine Facts

Ponderosa pines are large trees native to the Rocky Mountain region of North America. A typical cultivated ponderosa pine grows to around 60 feet (18 m.) tall with a branch spread of about 25 feet (8 m.). Planting ponderosa pine trees requires a big backyard. The lower half of the straight trunk is bare, while the top half has branches with needles. Needles are stiff and between 5 to 8 inches (13-20 cm.) long. The bark of the ponderosa pine is orange-brown and looks scaly. Ponderosa pine trees flower in spring of their first year. They produce both male and female cones. The female cones release their winged seeds in autumn of the tree’s second year.

Planting Ponderosa Pine Trees

Ponderosa pines are known for the speed with which they drop roots into soil. For that reason, they are often planted for erosion control. It helps that they tolerate most soil types, shallow and deep, sandy and clay, as long as it is at least slightly acidic. Attracted by the pine’s lush green needles and fresh fragrance, many gardeners are planting ponderosa pine trees in backyards and gardens. Most gardeners can consider planting these pine trees since they thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7.

Ponderosa Pine Tree Care

If you want a do-it-yourself tree planting experience, collect ponderosa pinecones in late fall when they turn reddish brown. This is likely to happen in October or November. The hard, brown seeds will drop from the cones if you dry them on a tarp in a well-ventilated area. You can use them for growing ponderosa pines. Alternatively, purchase a young ponderosa pine from your garden store. Ponderosa pine care is easier if you plant the tree in a sunny location on loamy, well-drained soil. Don’t neglect water in the period of establishment when you are growing ponderosa pines. Young pines don’t appreciate water stress, although mature specimens are drought tolerant. Planting ponderosa pine trees is a good investment. When you look into ponderosa pine facts, you find that these trees can live and thrive for up to 600 years.

Mugo pines are a great alternative to junipers for gardeners who want something different in the landscape. Like their towering cousins the pine trees, mugos have dark green color and fresh pine smell year round, but in a much smaller package. Find out about caring for mugo pines in this article.

What is a Mugo Pine?

Mugo pine (Pinus mugo) is a carefree evergreen that can take the place of overused landscape ground cover plants such as junipers. Short, shrubby varieties are neat in appearance with branches that grow to within inches of the soil. It has a naturally spreading habit and tolerates light shearing. In spring, new growth shoots almost straight up at the tips of the horizontal stems to form “candles.” Lighter in color than the older foliage, the candles form an attractive accent that rises above the shrub. Shearing off the candles results in dense growth the following season. These versatile, dense plants make good screens and barriers that can add privacy to the landscape and direct the flow of foot traffic. Use them to divide sections of the garden and create garden rooms. Low-growing varieties make excellent foundation plants. Native to European mountain areas such as the Alps, Carpathians and Pyrenees, mugo pine trees thrive in cool temperatures and high elevations. This group of evergreen trees grows to between 3 and 20 feet (91 cm.-6 m.) in height, and they can spread to widths of between 5 and 30 (3-9 m.) feet. If you live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 7 and don’t have particularly hot summers, you can grow mugo pines in your landscape.

Mugo Pine Growing

Gardeners looking for a dense shrub or small tree to serve as a screen or a low-maintenance ground cover and those who need a plant to help with erosion control should consider planting mugo pine. Growing these rugged little evergreens is a snap. They adapt to a wide range of soil types, and they resist drought so well that they never need watering. All they ask for is full sun, perhaps with a little afternoon shade, and room to spread to their mature size. These mugo pine varieties are available in nurseries or from mail order sources:

• 'Compacta' is labeled as growing 5 feet (1 m.) tall and 8 feet (3 m.) wide, but it usually grows a good bit larger.
• 'Enci' grows very slowly to a height of about three feet (91 cm.). It has a flat top and very dense growth habit.
• ‘Mops’ grows 3 feet (91 cm.) tall and wide with a neat, round shape.
• ‘Pumilio’ grows taller than Enci and Mops. It forms a shrubby mound up to 10 feet (3 m.) wide.
• 'Gnome' is the smallest of the mugos, forming a mound of dense foliage only 1.5 feet (46 cm.) tall and 3 feet (91 cm.) wide.

By Jackie Carroll

One of the most ecologically important groups of plants is the conifers, or plants that have cones, and one conifer that is familiar to everyone is the pine tree. Growing and caring for pine trees is easy. Pine trees (Pinus spp.) range in size from the 4 foot (1 m.) dwarf mugo to the white pine, which soars to heights of over 100 feet (30 m.). The trees vary in other subtle ways as well, including the length, shape, and texture of their needles and cones.

How to Grow Your Own Pine Trees

To make pine tree care a snap later on, begin by choosing a good site and planting the tree properly. In fact, once established in a good location, it needs almost no care at all. Make sure the tree will have plenty of sunlight as it grows. It also needs moist, rich soil that drains freely. If you aren't sure about the drainage, dig a hole about a foot (31 cm.) deep and fill it with water. Twelve hours later the hole should be empty.

Begin by digging a hole about twice the size of the container or root ball. Save the dirt you remove from the hole and use it as backfill after you have the tree in position. You want a hole that is exactly deep enough so that the tree sits with the soil line even with the surrounding soil. If you bury the tree too deep, you risk rot.

Remove the tree from its pot and spread the roots so that they aren't circling the mass of roots. If necessary, cut through them to keep them from circling. If the tree is balled and burlapped, cut the wires holding the burlap in place and remove the burlap.

Make sure the tree is standing straight and with its best side forward and then backfill. Press down the soil to remove air pockets as you go. When the hole is half full, fill it with water and let the water drain before you continue. Flush with water again when the hole is full. If the soil settles, top it off with more soil, but don't mound the soil around the trunk. Apply mulch around the tree, but don't let it touch the trunk.

If pine tree growing from seed, you can use the same planting instructions above once the seedling has grown 6 inches to a foot (15-31 cm.) in height.

Pine Tree Care

Water newly planted trees every few days to keep the soil thoroughly moist but not soggy. After a month water weekly in the absence of rain. Once established and growing, pine trees only need water during prolonged dry spells.

Don't fertilize the tree during the first year. The first time you fertilize, use 2 to 4 pounds (1-2 kg.) of 10-10-10 fertilizer for every square foot (929 sq. cm.) of soil. In subsequent years, use 2 pounds (1 kg.) of fertilizer for each inch (2.5 cm.) of trunk diameter every other year.

Pine trees are beautiful additions to the landscape, providing shade and screening out the rest of the world all year long. The long, elegant needles and hardy pine cones only add to the aesthetic value of your living Christmas tree. Sadly, white pine blister rust is a widespread and serious disease of pines everywhere, but by knowing the early warning signs you may be able to protect your tree for years to come.

What is Pine Blister Rust?

Pine blister rust is a fungal disease of white pines caused by Cronartium ribicola. This fungus has a complicated life cycle, requiring nearby plants in the genus Ribes for intermediary hosts. Ribes plants, like gooseberry and currant, often develop leaf symptoms, but rarely see serious damage from pine blister rust, unlike white pine. Pine blister rust symptoms on white pines are much more dramatic and severe, including flagging of entire branches; swellings, cankers, and blisters on branches and trunks; and resin flow or orange pustules erupting from branches and trunks. Infected areas within about four inches (10 cm.) of the trunk are at serious risk of spreading into the trunk itself, leading to a slow tree death.

White Pine Blister Rust Treatment

Regular inspections of white pines are a must since white pine blister rust caught early may be able to be stopped, whereas an advanced disease that's spread to the trunk will inevitably kill your tree. Pruning white pine blister rust is the treatment of choice for localized infections, but take care not to spread the spores when you're cutting out diseased tissue. Dispose of any pruned materials immediately in a fire or by double bagging in plastic. It was once thought necessary to destroy all Ribes plants in the area to prevent the spread of white pine blister rust, but after decades of such efforts, little progress has been made in slowing the disease. White pine blister rust-resistant individuals are being discovered in the wild and used to develop more hardy specimens for future plantings. For the time being, keep a close eye on your white pine and cut out any white pine blister as soon as it's noticed; there's no effective chemical treatment available. When the time comes to replace your tree, look for white pine blister rust-resistant varieties at your local nursery.

Pine trees fill a very specific role in the landscape, serving as year-round shade trees as well as windbreaks and privacy barriers. When your pine trees turn brown from the inside out, you may wonder how to save a dying pine tree. The sad truth is that not all pine tree browning can be stopped and many trees die from this condition.

Environmental Causes of Pine Tree Browning

In years of heavy rain or extreme drought, pine trees may brown in response. Browning is often caused by an inability of the pine tree to uptake enough water to keep its needles alive. When moisture is overly abundant and drainage is poor, root rot is often the culprit. As roots die, you may notice your pine tree dying from the inside out. This is a way for the tree to protect itself from total collapse. Increase drainage and take measures to prevent pines from standing in water-- if the tree is young, you may be able to trim the rotted roots away from the plant. Proper watering should allow this condition to correct itself over time, though the browned needles will never re-green. If drought is the culprit for needles browning in center of pine trees, increase watering, especially in the fall. Wait until the soil around your pine tree is dry to the touch before watering again, even in the heat of summer. Pines don't tolerate wet conditions-- watering them is a delicate balance.

Pine Needle Fungus

Many types of fungus cause brown banding in the center of needles, but needles browning in the center of pine trees is not always indicative of any particular fungal disease. If you're certain that your tree is getting the right amount of water and no signs of pests are present, you may be able to save your tree with a broad-spectrum fungicide containing neem oil or copper salts. Always read all directions, since some fungicides can cause discoloration on certain pines.

Pine Trees and Bark Beetles

Bark beetles are insidious beasts that tunnel into trees to lay their eggs; some species may spend most of their lives inside your tree. Usually, they won't attack trees that aren't already stressed, so keeping your tree well watered and fertilized is a good prevention. However, if your tree has many small holes bored through branches or the trunk weeps sap or has a sawdust-like material coming from them, it may already be infected. Your pine tree may suddenly collapse, or it may give a warning with droopy, brown needles. The damage is caused by a combination of bark beetle tunneling activities and the nematodes that ride along with them into the heart of pine trees. If you're seeing symptoms and signs of bark beetles, it's already too late. Your tree needs to be removed because it poses a very real safety hazard, especially if branches contain bark beetle galleries. Limb collapse can cause serious damage to anything on the ground below. As you can see, pine trees turn brown from inside out for a variety of reasons. Pinpointing the most likely cause in your tree is important to keeping it healthy.

The Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is a monster tree easily recognizable in the natural vista. This evergreen tree may get up to 165 feet (50 m.) tall and has a soaring straight trunk topped by a relatively small crown. The majestic pines are native to North America and are common across the United States in mountainous terrain and high plateaus. Ponderosa pine information must mention their economic importance as a wood source, but stands still remain of these fast growing giants of the forest. Planting one in the home landscape will eventually add dimension to your yard and provide generations of fragrance and evergreen beauty.

About Ponderosa Pines

Ponderosa pines grow in high elevations where they are exposed to winds, heavy snow, and scorching sun. They produce a massive taproot to help the tree anchor its extreme height and delve deep into the earth for water and nutrients. An interesting fact about Ponderosa pines is the number of years to maturity. The trees do not mature until they are 300 to 400 years of age. One of the most important Ponderosa pine growing tips for the home gardener is the space required for this amazing tree. Trunks grow 42 inches (107 cm.) wide and the future height of the tree could threaten power lines and home owner views. Consider these facts if you are installing a young tree.

Ponderosa Pine Information for Mature Trees

These perennial evergreen trees have needle-like leaves that are grouped in bundles of two or three. The bark is grayish black and scaly when trees are young, but as they mature the bark ages to a yellow brown. The mature trees are called yellow pines because of this characteristic. The older bark grows up to 4 inches (10 cm.) thick and breaks up into large plates on the surface of the trunk. If you are fortunate enough to have one in your landscape, they need little care, but you need to watch for pests and disease. Contact a licensed arborist for assistance on these tall beauties. Caring for Ponderosa pine trees in the home landscape usually requires professional assistance due to their size and the physical difficulty of reaching the upper story to assess problems in the tree.

Ponderosa Pine Plant Guide

Building a good structure and scaffold is important when caring for Ponderosa pines at installation. Young trees benefit from light pruning to form balanced branches and ensure a strong central leader or trunk. Newly planted Ponderosa pine growing tips include providing supplemental water for the first year, providing a stake or other support and fertilizing with a phosphorus high food to encourage root growth. Plant them in moist, well-drained soil in full sun in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 7. No Ponderosa pine plant guide would be complete without mentioning protection from rodents, deer and other pests. Place a collar around young trees to protect them from nibbling damage.

Diplodia tip blight is a disease of pine trees and no species is immune, although some are more susceptible than others. Australian pine, black pine, Mugo pine, Scotts pine, and red pine are the worst afflicted species. The disease can reappear year after year and over time cause death to even large pine varieties. Sphaeropsis sapina causes tip blight of pine but it was once known as Diplodia pinea.

Pine Tip Blight Overview

Pine tip blight is a fungus that frequently attacks trees that are planted outside their natural range. The disease travels by spores, which require water as an activating substance. Tip blight of pine overwinters on needles, cankers, and two-year-old cones, which is the reason older trees are more frequently infected. Tip blight fungus can become active in a wide range of temperatures and will begin producing spores within a year of infection. Tree nurseries are not often affected by the fungus due to the youth of the trees but older stands in forested areas can become decimated by sphaeropsis sapina blight.

Tip Blight Fungus Symptoms

The current year's growth is the frequent target of the tip blight fungus. The tender, young needles will turn yellow and then brown before they have even emerged. The needles then curl and eventually die. A magnifying glass would reveal the presence of small, black, fruiting bodies at the base of the needles. In severe infections, the tree can become girdled by cankers, preventing water and nutrient uptake. The fungus will cause death without pine tip blight control. There are many other tree problems that will mimic the symptoms of pine tip blight. Insect injury, winter drying, moth damage, and some other needle diseases look similar. Cankers are an excellent clue that the damage is due to tip blight fungus.

Pine Tip Blight Control

Good hygiene is an easy way to minimize and prevent the disease. The tip blight fungus overwinters in debris, which means the removal of dropped needles and leaves will limit the tree's exposure. Any infected plant material needs to be removed so the spores cannot jump to previously healthy tissue. When pruning out infected wood, make certain you sanitize the pruners between cuts to prevent further spread. Fungicides have offered some control. The first application must be before bud break with at least two more applications in ten-day intervals for effective pine tip blight control.

Pine Tree Care to Help Prevent Pine Tip Blight

Trees that have been well cared for and have no other stresses are less likely to acquire the fungus. Pine trees in the landscape need to receive supplemental watering in drought periods. Apply annual fertilizer and manage any insect pests for the healthiest aspect. Vertical mulching is also beneficial, as it opens up the soil and increases drainage and the formation of feeder roots. Vertical mulching is accomplished by drilling 18-inch (45.5 cm.) holes near feeder roots and filling them with a mix of peat and pumice.

Growing pine and fir trees from seed can be a challenge, to say the least. However, with a little (actually a lot) of patience and determination, it is possible to find success when growing pine and fir trees. Let's take a look at how to grow a pine tree from seed.

How to Grow a Pine Tree from Seed

You can grow pine trees using seed in pine cone scales that are harvested from female cones. Female pine cones are considerably larger than their male counterparts. Mature pine cones are woody and brown in appearance. One cone produces about two seeds beneath each scale. These seeds will remain in the cone until it dries out and opens up completely. 

Seed in pine cones can usually be identified by the prominent-looking wing, which is attached to the seed for aid in dispersal. Seeds can be collected once they fall from the tree in autumn, usually between the months of September and November.

Germinating Pine Seeds

Collect seeds from fallen cones by lightly shaking them upside down. It may take numerous seeds before you find any that are viable for planting. In order to achieve success when germinating pine seeds, it's important to have good, healthy seeds. 

To test the viability of your seeds, put them in a container filled with water, separating those that sink from those that float. The seeds that remain suspended in the water (floating) are generally the ones that are least likely to germinate.

How to Plant Pine Tree Seeds

Once you have enough viable seed, they should be dried and stored in an airtight container or planted immediately, depending on when they were harvested, as pine tree seeds are usually planted around the first of the year. Start the seeds indoors, placing them in individual pots with well-drained potting soil. 

Push each seed just beneath the soil surface, making sure that it's in a vertical position with the pointy end facing downward. Place the pots in a sunny window and water thoroughly. Keep the seeds moist and wait, as germination can take months, but should occur by March or April. Once the seedlings have reached between 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) tall, they can be transplanted outdoors.