Pine Trees Dying

[joemd11]

Beltzington, thanks for sharing the final verdict with us. I have two pine trees left that I really hope stay healthy. Although, one of them is leaning toward the house and is making me a little nervous. I see lots of big pines flopped over, root ball and all.

 

[s219]

The only downside to wood I have seen from beetle-damaged pines is that the wood has areas with a bluish tint in it. This comes from a fungus the beetles start in the tree, which eventually cuts of flow of water/nutrients in the tree. That may limit the use of the wood for appearance-grade work, but probably won't make a difference for structural use.

If you let pine dry long enough (at least 1 year) and burn it hot enough, creosote shouldn't be a real issue. In certain parts of the world, all they have to burn are sappy evergreen softwoods like pines and spruces, and they don't have any worse rate of chimney fires than places with all hardwoods (and think of all the people who have chimney fires from burning only hardwood). In reality, the main downside to burning pine for heat is the low density of the wood, which means it has low heat output and burns fast. But for camp fires, pleasure fires, or short duration heating fires, it can be an OK wood.

The property we recently bought is about 50% loblolly pine, planted in 1991. The rest is mixed hardwoods. We will be cutting down some of the trees to make room for a house and driveway, and I plan to populate about 25% of my firewood pile with pine splits. I will use it for kindling, short duration fires, and throw in a pine split with hardwoods every now and then to keep the fire going. I just can't see wasting the wood, since we won't be cutting enough to sell for pulp. Free low-BTU wood is still better than no wood.

I would also like to keep some of the big pine logs intact to use as beams for projects over the next few years (for instance, I need to build a foot-bridge over a stream, and need to build a ranch-style front gate). I want to figure out how to properly store/stack the pine logs for long term use. I know getting the bark off right away is important.

I have seen limited signs of beetle activity in isolated trees, but nothing widespread yet (it's inevitable to see some activity in any stand of pine). However, about 20 miles away, across a major river, a pine plantation had to cut out about 10 acres to nip an infestation problem in the bud. The idea was to try and save the other 500+ acres of wood. Given the mild winter we've had, that's probably a good idea. Severe winters can curtail beetle activity, but it's been the exact opposite in the southeast and mid-atlantic this year.

 

[MarkV]

Final Diagnosis was - Southern Pine Beetles

Yesterday, hopefully, I finished cutting down the last few infected trees but I'm afraid I'm being optimistic.

Along the way I did find out more about Pine Beetles (PB) then I ever wanted to know so I'll share to help fellow sufferers.

- PB are decimating forest causing tree loss amounting to billions of dollars
- PB start their life near the top of trees as eggs then eat their way down and emerge as adult beetles
- The bore holes are them LEAVING the tree, damage done
- Common methods of chemical treatment are baiting, spraying, and injections
- These methods are either not very effective, labor intensive or very costly
- Best method for prevention are healthy pine trees and good forest maintenance
- Remove and burn dead pines ASAP and culling pine growths minimizes spread

Have you had the state forester come out and take a look? It is a free service here in Georgia. I haven't heard of Pine Beetles being a problem this year and there are other types of beetles that kill pines.

MarkV

 

[Beltzington]

Have you had the state forester come out and take a look? It is a free service here in Georgia. I haven't heard of Pine Beetles being a problem this year and there are other types of beetles that kill pines.

MarkV

Long story, but local county extension office only has a tree expert on loan from UGA for 2-days a week and we played phone tag for two weeks. By the time I made it back out to my property the dead trees where showing all the signs of beetle kill. Basing my evaluation only on what I have been shown as PB damage at other locations and by comparing pictures on the web, no expertise claimed. Heard my neighbor cutting trees this weekend and he said he was seeing the same type of tree kills in his woods. Hoping the short cold spells we had this winter will take care of the problem but not optimistic.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

The tree's natural defense for beetles is to encase them in pitch. If they are under drought stress, they can't do that effectively. A cheap way of trying to save a few pines is to water them. Deep water for 24 hours to get the water to the pine tree root zone. Generally, if the tree has 50% brown needles, the tree is dead already and just doesn't know it. Water is a prevention, not a cure.

There are also systemic pesticides that the tree will pull up through the roots. This is very expensive and poisons the soil under the tree, so the usefulness is limited. The only place I know to get the pesticides is to buy the systemic insecticide they use on roses and use it off label. That's illegal, but if they chased every illegal pesticide use they would turn every subdivision in the US into a prison compound.