dothistroma needle blight on austrian pine

Romero watches for these signs and for large patches of dried sap or resin on the trunk and branches that are indicative of cankers caused by the same fungus. Stunted brown shoots, branch dieback and black specks on pine cones are common signs of the tip blight disease that also affects Scots pines. They are well aware that dead pine trees, stumps and even cut and stacked pine wood can become reservoirs for disease and disease-transmitting insects. The Romeros have removed about 25 of their Austrian pines over the last five years and are carefully taking out the entire tree and stump each time.

“I love the sound of the wind moving through the branches.” “I’m emotionally attached to the trees,” Romero says. Romero will be the first to tell you how hard it is to cut down a dying tree even though she knows that doing so will help slow the spread of the disease. Pines are not native to Kansas and prefer environmental conditions that more closely resemble their native habitat. Tip blight, pine wilt and dothistroma needle blight are especially problematic in the Midwest because of temperature and moisture fluctuations. Tip blight is just one of three diseases killing Austrian and Scots pines in the Midwest. Now, 20 years later, the Romeros are removing pines one by one as the trees succumb to tip blight disease and environmental stress. The Romeros planted a row of Austrian pines 20 years ago, but those trees are now dying because of tip blight disease and environmental stress.

Sue Romero mows her lawn at her house south of Lawrence.

Dothistroma needle blight on austrian pine