pinus taeda (loblolly pine) help

10 years ago

Hello,

I was doing my annual measurements on our trees yesterday and noticed a problem with the leader on our Loblolly Pine. The leader was folded over and it's growth retarded in comparison to the secondary shoots around it. I poked at it and a worm was in the top so I cut it off. Now, I am wondering what to do with the secondary shoots. Here are my options as I see them:

1) Cut off two of the three shoots to make a new leader to start for next season.
2) Leave all three, which are healthy, and see how it goes. Currently, they are standing at 14' above the ground.

I am leaning toward option 2 as I think it might be nice to have a lower, bushier tree. I know these pines can grow up to 70'. Please post your input as to pros and cons of my choices or perhaps there is a 3rd choice I haven't thought of, thanks!

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Comments (7)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
2) Leave all three, which are healthy, and see how it goes.

==>> there really isnt any hurry .. i would wait a year or two ... at least until spring ....

in my colder zone... i always .. at least.. wait to find out if ma nature killed any of them.. before i remove the one viable one... lol ...

most of us dont have cherry pickers or 10 to 12 foot ladders... i would NOT be all to anal about using a pole saw and trying to surgically.. perfectly prune off extra ... if i had to leave a one or two stub, yet not harm the others.. so be it ... and yes.. i did learn that by harming the one i wanted ....

i find it weird to find a bug this time of year ... i would have expected this in spring... not what is basically winter ... but i dont know your personal bugs.. lol ...

the third option ... would be.. during late bud extension ... to snip the extras so buds are set lower than the extension on the longer chosen one..... thereby forcing dominance on such ... timing would be of the essence ...

all that said.. a pic would be worth a lot of arguing ... why not offer one??

ken
Sequoiadendron4
Original Author
10 years ago
Well I should have taken a picture but I didn't think of it at the time. I can't take one now until when I take down the Christmas lights because that is when I borrow my neighbor's 10ft step ladder.

I like your 3rd option idea. I've actually done that on this tree before.
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Perhaps you could post a photo of it? Are the needles of the newest (this years) growth also turning brown and falling off? Pinus Taeda should be able to handle the heat just fine is it is a warmer climate conifer. Could it be drought stress? Perhaps it did not get the same water as the others? Or, Many pines (some much more than others) do a considerable needle drop in fall, but usually that is it shedding its oldest needles. Anything else look off?
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whether or not they grow a certain amount per year .. depends on when they get ESTABLISHED .. and that will take a year or 3 with plants the size you planted ... my cliche for plants this size is..... grwo the roots.. and the plant will follow.. and for a year or two.. this thing will be growing roots.. you have to have faith.. because you cant see that ... but once that happens .... they will go nuts ... you have to think in tree time .. as to when they will do such.. not our world of instant gratification .... as to when they will do the job.... no clue.. as i dont know what you are trying to hide .... and the general layout of it all ... i had pinus strobus doing 3 to 5 feet per year.. so yes.. 2 is possible.. someday ... i would highly recommend you remove the grass.. and add a 2 foot circle of mulch ... to keep the dude with the lawnmower and weedwhip away from them ... reduce soil temps.. and increase water retention ... i like the size of the stake.. lol .. it doesnt have anything to do with the tree ... its all about not stepping on them ... knowing where they are .... ken ps: i also like to suggest diversity in planting multiples .. so if any of these fail ... replace them with any other tree than a pine .. so that if some plague comes along.. you dont lose everything ...
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scotjute Z8
10 years ago
I'd probably just leave it as Ken suggested. Down here these trees are often considered timber just past 20 yrs of age and can be 60 ft. tall. They're typically single-leader timber trees(tho
I have noticed several this past summer that have twinned). The tree will most likely take care of itself.
NoVaPlantGuy_Z7b_8a
10 years ago
I agree with Ken as well. Id leave it. Often nature figures it out well, especially on these fast growers. Also you could still take a photo of it from the ground, of the top of the tree. Where exactly in 6B are you located? Mostly just curious. You're being in 6B is on the northern edge of its native range. I live in far northern Virginia near the edge of 7a/ 6b and while still fairly common up here they are no where near the dominate forest species you see 100miles or so south / east. Up here in my area they are often seen as more ornamental and used by the VA State Forestry service as quick tree replacement on roadsides / berms...etc, and sometimes as ornamentals in yards. Southern and Eastern Virginia there are large forests of these trees all over and they are clearly the dominate conifer in general. I'm just wondering that because of the nature of your location that perhaps maybe it was affected by a bug later in the year because of being near the edge of its native range?
Sequoiadendron4
Original Author
10 years ago
I'm located in central Lancaster county which is on the PA/MD border. I know I'm zone pushing but the tree has held up well the last two winters. I planted it in the end of February 2011.
bengz6westmd
10 years ago
Sequoiadendron4, loblolly should do OK, climate-wise. I have one & a closely-related pond pine in colder z6 (also right on the MD/PA border), & they do fine after the first few yrs of alittle winter wind-burn.

And coincidentally, my 25 ft loblolly-pitch pine hybrid has the exact same problem as yours -- something killing the top sprouts. Maybe the same cause.
NoVaPlantGuy_Z7b_8a
10 years ago
Everyone zone pushes on something or another. We all do it. Its not that the trees are not survivable in those areas. However zone pushed plants can be in a bit of a weakened state growing in climates colder / warmer than usual for them or otherwise not typically suited to them. This weakened state may be slight but it could be enough to invite other problems such as some pests that may not typically be a problem. I think the tree will be just fine in the long run. After all its not like you are trying to grow a loblolly in Maine or Minnesota. :)

pinus taeda (loblolly pine) help

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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pinus taeda (loblolly pine) help

Comments (7)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Sequoiadendron4Original Author

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scotjute Z8

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