What is the chemical content of pine trees?

Question about Austrian Pine Trees.?

• I have Austrian Pine trees that have pine needle browning or yellowing that continues to get worse every year. They do not die just slowly lose needles much like pine wilt in the Scotch Pine trees. The problem seems to start at the base and slowly goes up the tree. What can be done for this?

• Answer:

  First of all, you know pines lose their old needles from the inside out. Most species keep only a few years worth of needles on each branch; however, if you are down to just one year's needles and your branch looks like a shave poodle tail, you may have insect problems. My first though is some type of needle scale that is sucking the juices from the needles causing them to crash. Each needle would have an unwelcome extra bump or two or three. There are simple sprays...oils..that will solve this but also catching the egg mass in the late winter at the bottom of the tree does wonders. You may also have one of several other insects. First you need to look really look for foreign critters. Check for fuzzy masses in the branch "arm pits", base of needles, in the bark also look for holes. You may end up hiring a licensed, bonded and certified arborist to examine the tree. I stress certified arborist with either ISA or NAA......as they are well trained and have a code of ethics.....unlike "Joe Chainsaw." You can also...and probably should...first call the Master Gardener for your county or nearby county. You can find them thru the Cooperative Extension Service for your state/county. Telephone book, blue pages under either County or State. Or you can do a web search for (your state) Cooperative Extension Service.