Archive for May, 2011
By now you have undoubtedly heard of or have seen the disease called Diplodia Tip Blight that is affecting mostly the Austrian Pine and Scotch Pine in the Kansas City area. However, no Pinus species is immune including Douglass Fir, White Pine, Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Vanderwolf Pine. While this disease is not confined to our area alone, the Kansas City Metro is already seeing many dead pines and will continue to see the devastating effects of this disease for many years to come. Fungicide applications can slow down the inevitable demise of these species but applications must be timed properly at two different intervals in the spring when the new candles are forming to be effective.
Helpful tips: Prune and remove affected branches, rake up all blighted needles, twigs, and especially cones which harbor the fungus and destroy or discard them. Call a professional for fungicide treatment plan or removal.
If you would like more information or have one of these pines in your yard that needs help or complete removal please contact me to discuss.
(Photos provided by Dr. George W. Hudler, Cornell University)




