The name seems like a simple description, evergreen.  That should mean that your spruces, pines, firs, and other evergreens should always have their brilliant green color.  However there are times when these plants need to shed some of their older needles and leaves.  We often see this during the autumn months, when our deciduous trees are also losing their leaves.

A Very Mello Yellow Season
This year we are seeing very heavy yellowing of evergreens.  This is most likely caused by the drought that we had this summer.  The hot days and long periods of no rain are still showing up in some of our landscape plants.  The bright yellow needles of white pines can be alarming, but there is a good chance it is natural.

The evergreens, also referred to as conifers, are shedding these needles to prepare for next years growing season.  The loss of these needles will allow for new growth and development in the upcoming spring months.

Do You Need a Professional to Look at Your Evergreens?
The yellowing of the needles should be coming from the trunk and moving outward toward the tips.  If the tips of the branches are losing color you may need to have a professional look to make sure that there are not any other issues involved with the trees.

If you are concerned about the trees health, talk to a professional.  Your landscape professional can help to give you an idea if the tree is “naturally” dropping needles, in need of some food (fertilizer), or if you may need to take other actions to save your tree.

Weed Pro’s Ultimate Fall Guide
This guide features everything you need to know, including lawn care and landscaping tips for the fall season.  Download your free copy by clicking on the button below:

Guest Author: Andrew Muntz received his Master’s of Science in Turfgrass science and his Bachelors of Science in Landscape Horticulture at The Ohio State University, Columbus OH.