Spots on JBP needles

[SteveT]

Has anyone seen this before?

The tree has been growing quite vigorously but the needles are much more yellow than my other JBPs. I have treated it with Confidor a few times recently but I am keen to hear if anyone else has had this and knows what best to treat it with.


Thanks in advance.

Steve

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Steve,
It looks like soot, or waste from scale insects. Usually, scale are located on the branches where the needle sheaths are attached. I can't see any definitively in the photo, but I circled 2 suspect objects. I have a weak pine which also got scale (chicken or the egg?) and the shoots turned black from the soot. They are persistant, so pluck them off with tweezers, swab the spot with alcohol, then treat the whole tree with an insecticide. Dormant oil is good this time of year here. Good luck!

 

[SteveT]

Thanks Brian. I will have a closer look.


Steve