Pines, although they belong to evergreen trees, are prone to diseases no less than their foliage-losing brethren.
Therefore, you should not hope that the pine planted on the site will grow "by itself." The prickly beauty needs careful and caring care, because pests of pines can very quickly destroy her. There are many threats, but we will consider the most common ones.
Pine Diseases and Pests
The most dangerous pest for these trees are ... pets. We usually do not very carefully monitor which place our cat or dog has little need for. But in vain. The urine of animals causes a very severe burn to the pine, from which the tree can die. When planning to plant an evergreen tree on a site, make sure that pets, and in this case, pests of pines, do not come close to it.
Mushrooms
Another pine pest is fungi that grow on the bark or needles of trees. The mushroom picker, accidentally falling onto a tree, very quickly leads to its death. Some scientists refer to tar fungi, bladder rust, scleroderma cancer, and polypore fungi. They are easy to recognize. The infected tree takes on a rusty red color, its needles crumble, the bark dies, and deep ulcers appear on the wood. The affected tree needs immediate treatment, otherwise mushrooms, the variety of which can only be accurately determined by a specialist, will infect other trees.
Schütte
These are also mushrooms. These pests of pines turn green needles into reddish-brown or dirty-gray, when it comes to snow shute. A characteristic feature: the needles at the beginning of the disease are, as it were, tied with black threads. Save from the shute, however, as well as from other mushrooms, preliminary spraying, which must be done in spring and autumn.
Aphid
Aphids are pine pests that are ubiquitous. The fertilized female that wintered on the tree with the help of her saliva forms galls on the tree - growths similar to cones. They develop offspring, which, having been born, will move to another tree and will eat coniferous juice. Typically, these insects are clearly visible, so the diseased tree can be recognized immediately. Destroy the green monsters with red r
lazas are possible only with complex spraying with insecticides.
Butterflies
These cute creatures are dangerous pests of pines. Pine shoots, penetrating the kidneys, curl them, which leads to drying out of the kidneys or curvature of the shoots. Sometimes the dominant mole-speckled moth settles in the pines, although it usually prefers juniper and larch. Almost invisible larvae gnaw through leaves and needles, which leads to "baldness" of the tree. Regular spraying will help the pine stand in the fight against butterflies. Of course, these are not all pests of common pine. There are many more insects, fungi and bacteria that cause the tree to die. However, constant care, systematic care and spraying usually help rid the tree of pests.