Pretty typical for P. strobus.

That doesn't look too bad considering that the top of the tree stayed intact.

Agree w/Bill that it has enough green to survive, but they don't recover a whole lot from such damage. It will live on as a wounded soldier. One thing I notice about my southwestern white pine is that its branches are so flexible they'll bend way down from wet snow then pop back up w/o damage.

nice ladder to no where.. lol.. you might get some exercise shimmying up it.. but you will probably also be covered in pine tar ...

the trees/plants that bent and didnt break in the ice storm.. barely got upright before the wet sticky snow hit ... i lost 3 arbs from the former.. 3 more from the latter ... im contemplating declaring one garden art.. and leaving it be for now... lol

ken

It's funny that a tree with a northern native range like Eastern white pine wouldn't have a branching system, better capable of surviving such weather.

I wonder if, back in the day, the Kings ships didn't have masts break off in a storm.

https://nhpbs.org/wild/karnermast.asp#:~:text=These%20tall%20trees%20were%20perfect,were%20reserved%20for%20the%20crown.

Ladder to nowhere is right! My kids would’ve scrambled up that for sure when they were younger.

A wounded soldier, yes, embattled, but still trudging on.

Yes, I suppose I should be grateful - the top is still intact and the tree will survive. We’ve lived here for 12 years and have never experienced the weather-related devastation of the last two weeks. We’ve gone from the non-stop hum of generators running to hearing chainsaws all day around us. When did March weather become like January’s? March used to be for flying kites when I was a kid, not digging out from snowstorms!

mad_gallica, that’s so true! There are a couple other white pines on my property in more protected areas and they didn’t sustain nearly the same amount of damage. I also have several Norway spruce and they weren’t damaged at all.

Also white pines are more northern trees and typically have less wet snow/freezing rain than a bit further south -- most of their range has drier snow. Huge old white pines on the VA Tech campus in Blacksburg, VA were devastated by the 1994 ice storm. The original white pine forest that covered much of Pennsylvania was practically solid and as mentioned they protected themselves as a tight group. Spruces and firs seem much better at dealing w/wet snow and ice.

Your tree is reminiscent of one that has gone through a tornado or derecho. The damage is significant, but they are resilient. This is not a declaration to be set in stone, but some White Pines seem more brittle than others. I agree that it will likely survive just fine, but it will wear the scars of this battle…well, probably for as long as you get to observe it.

Truth be told, I removed a large White Pine in our yard/garden that went through several calving incidents. I struggled with this decision, but it needed to be done. If yours is in the perimeter or distant border where you can appreciate its rugged good looks, I’d recommend leaving it.

This White Pine (far left in picture) is closer to our house than I like, but has the ”bend but don’t break” philosophy. Maybe this is a trait that could be selected??

Couple of white pines near brother's house in west MD.

Look at you guys just showing off your good-looking white pines while I have to see my ugly duckling every time I look out my living room windows. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I also have to look at this hideous thing when gazing out said windows.

I don’t think anyone is going to question you for taking down the pine in last pic. We all want to be enlightened when it come to trees, but that one strains the eyes. Remove it, but keep the other?

That one is waving at you! And saying, "Thank you, @lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan for being such a kind and benificent gardener - allowing me to live out my days in your glorious landscape. I'll provide plenty of habitat for any bird that comes looking; make a cone or two for your holiday decorating; and do my best to help with pollination of my fellow pines."

Plant some climbing vines to add seasonal interest...

Lol, maackia and Viburnum Valley!! Yes, it’s an eyesore, but no, we won’t be taking it or the other ugly one down; the deciduous trees nearby will obscure their unsightliness before too long. Besides, we lost so many other branches and trees that my hubby and I will be doing clean-up for several weeks to come. Fingers crossed for no more snow or ice this season!

Spammers seem to be out in force today!!