Sugar Pines are dying.

[BigGthetree]

All the Sugar Pines on my property in southern Oregon are dying. Sometimes one at a time. Sometimes in groups. When I cut them down there is a blue/gray stain in the rings of the wood. Is there anything that can be done to save them?

 

[ch woodchuck]

This info may be helpful.I suggest you contact your local forestry service,as this problem seems to be more than just a few trees.

Mountain Pine Beetle FIDL 2

 

[BigGthetree]

Bark Beetles

Thanks for the info. I have spoken with the Oregon Dept. of Forestry. They said it was beetles and shrugged their shoulders and said "cut um down." Your info really helps. I'm going to contact the local agriculture folks for treatment options for my area. I would rather use non chemical and your info mentions a few other choices. What is really interesting is the ODF said the Woodpeckers were part of the problem by pecking into the trees. But your info says they help by eating the beetles. Thanks again.

 

[Loraxguy]

pine

The blueing in the wood is blue stain fungus introduced into the wood by the borers. Are your trees crowned like a dog hair stand? Trees under stress invite the borers to come in. Consider getting advice on the proper basal area your trees need to be thinned out to. I would guess but it proably down in that 40 to 60 sq. feet of basal area. Here in SD our ponderosa if the stand is thinned down to this level the mt. pine beetle is not succesful in attacking the trees. they might attack the tree but since the trees have less stress they are able to withstand the borer attack and produce enough pitch to "pitch out" the borer---------------

 

[BigGthetree]

Good advice about thinning. Here in Oregon, trees grow like weeds. Very few people or outfits thin enough, in my opinion. I think that is why we have ongoing problems with Oregon Black Oak Disease. Someplaces are dripping with moss and missletoe. Southern Oregon is very wet in the winter and then very dry in the summer. Lots of stress on the trees during the summer. So what you say makes lots of sense. You can see the bigger trees "pitching them out" during the summer. It's the medium to smaller trees, with the thinner bark that mostly seem to die rather quickly. It's amazing how fast a tree, here will go from healthy to dead. Seems like just a couple of weeks for some. Thanks for the help.