Evergreen Needle Drop in Fall

If you’re experience needle drop from your evergreens, it’s normal to be alarmed. Doesn’t this mean that your trees are damaged or disease? Well, that’s not necessarily the case.

Yellowing or Browning Needles Are Normal

If your needles look a little yellow or brown, as if they’re threatening to fall, they could just be going through their normal shedding process. They’re not infested with anything such as a disease or a bark beetle. It’s all part of the growth cycle. After all, even evergreens will grow new sets of leaves and had to shed some of them.
Sometimes the shedding is due to more serious issues. For example, if there was drought in the area, you may find that the needles shed a few more needles one fall. It’s just to balance the tree with the root system to keep it protected and healthy.

Knowing the Difference Between Natural and Unnatural Needle Fall

Of course, needle fall can also be a sign of damage. How do you know which reason your needles are falling?
When it is through natural processes, you’ll usually find that the interior needles start to change color and fall. The others around the tree won’t be affected. When there are bark beetles or a disease present, the color of the needles change throughout the tree.
When it is due to beetles or disease, you will also usually find other evidence. You may see the creatures creating their nests high in the branches or notice some resin on the trunk. You can also start seeing signs of the bark dying and flaking away. These signs don’t appear when the needle fall is normal and just part of shedding. You’ll just see a few needles discolored and dropping gradually around the area.

If you are concerned about the health of your evergreens, please contact SprayTech at (720)248-0000 to see if we can recommend any treatment options.