| Or "Why is my pine tree dying? Monterey Pine | | | | Limit pruning of trees to winter months when |
| problems in Santa Rosa. | | | | beetles are not active,. November and December |
| Monterey Pines planted in inland areas like Santa | | | | are good months to prune pine trees. Pruning |
| Rosa or Healdsburg are prone to stress from | | | | during the summer months attracts bark beetles |
| higher temperatures than their natural habitat. This | | | | to the pruning cuts. It is also important to monitor |
| stress leads to greater propensity for insect and | | | | your trees for beetle activity. Check the lower |
| disease problems. | | | | trunks during spring and summer for any frass |
| One of the most common killers of Monterey | | | | material. |
| Pines in our area is Red Turpentine Beetles. Red | | | | Frass is small sawdust type material formed |
| Turpentine beetles normally attack trees at the | | | | when the beetles chew into the tree. Another |
| lower trunk areas. The beetles bore beneath the | | | | preventative measure is spraying the trees with a |
| bark and form galleries in the cambium layer of | | | | prophylactic application of insecticide. |
| the wood. The beetles chew away at the tissue | | | | Another cause of browning in pine trees is pitch |
| and interrupt the flow of water and nutrients | | | | canker. Pitch canker causes die back at the tips |
| through the tree. This can lead ultimately to | | | | of branches, and allow sap to flow from the |
| decline and death of the tree. | | | | cankers. There is no current treatment other than |
| Reducing tree stress will decrease the likelihood of | | | | keeping trees as healthy as possible to reduce |
| a beetle infestation. Keep trees in better health by | | | | stress. Mycorrhizae treatment is a quick and cost |
| supplying extra water during summer periods. | | | | effective solution to improving tree health. |
| Deep watering every two weeks is advisable. | | | | Mycorrhizae is a beneficial root fungus that |
| During hot periods weekly watering may be | | | | attaches to tree roots and increases the surface |
| necessary. Mulching around the trees will reduce | | | | area for nutrient and water reception. |
| temperature extremes and retain moisture levels | | | | Trees can be sprayed in the Spring before |
| for longer durations between watering. It is | | | | beetles become active. The lower trunks should |
| important to keep mulch away from the trunks | | | | be sprayed and two applications may be needed |
| of the trees. | | | | for adequate control. |