Healthy pines delight with a lush green needle dress all year round. Yellowing of the leaves, on the other hand, causes concern and headaches for many gardeners. If the tree then also loses the already discolored needles, many fear having to cut down the beloved tree. However, serious illnesses are not always behind the symptoms. Find out about yellow pine needles falling off here to quickly identify the trigger and successfully nurture the conifer back to health.

Yellow needles can be a bad sign, but they don't have to be

Causes of the discoloration as well as the loss of the needles

Is your jaw sick or is it just a care error? Maybe the falling needles are old leaves and there is nothing to worry about. Find out, these are the possible causes of yellow pine needles:

  • the natural change of season
  • bad site conditions
  • disease or pest infestation
  • insufficient nutrient supply

Natural needle drop

Although pine trees are evergreen, they still shed their old needles. In some years this leaf change happens so inconspicuously that you don't even notice it. In other years, especially if the summer has been very dry, your pine trees may seem to shed a plethora of yellow needles. If only a few needles turn yellow and fall off, don't worry. Just watch the further development.

Wrong location

Is your pine growing in an awkward place? Does it get too little light because other tall trees overshadow its crown? Or is it the soil conditions? Here could

  • dryness
  • waterlogging
  • incrustations
  • or road salt

cause needle discoloration. A change of location also affects pine trees that are more than five years old.

diseases and pests

Discover signs of a fungal infection such as

  • the pine shed
  • or the death of instincts

or can you locate small larvae of the moth moth, take the yellow, falling needles as a warning sign to act as soon as possible before the disease spreads further.

nutrient deficiency

With the so-called calcareous chlorosis, your jaw suffers from an iron deficiency. Either the soil is not nutrient rich enough or the roots are injured. Over-fertilization is also harmful to the needles.

Treatment tips

  • regular watering
  • Work in a layer of compost or mulch
  • ensure sufficient sunlight
  • in case of symptoms of disease, remove all affected branches
  • Neem or canola oil keeps the pine moth away

Category:

Trees