No matter how healthy a pine tree may be, it will shed it’s oldest needles every year. They become brown before they fall from the tree. A pine tree with brown needles, only on the bottom branches, however, may not be indicative of a normal shed. There are several reasons why a pine tree could begin to die and start drying out from the bottom up. Here, you may find your answer as to why your pine tree may dying and drying from the bottom up, as well as some possible solutions for the cause of it.
Key Takeaways:
- Pines need sunshine to flourish, and branches that don’t get sun exposure can die
- 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.
- You can help your pine with blight by clipping out diseased sections. Then spray a fungicide on the pine in springtime
“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.”
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/pine/pine-tree-drying-bottom.htm