Content
- Conifer loses needles - What to do?
- Also conifers throw off old needles
- Causes of pathological needle shedding
- dryness
- Waterlogging / compacted soil
- Nutrient deficiency / over-fertilization
- Tree does not grow after (um) plants
- pest infestation
- Tips
Conifers occasionally drop their needles
Conifer loses needles - What to do?
Even in elementary school children learn that conifers keep their needle dress even in winter - with one exception, the larch. This colors her soft needles beautifully yellow in autumn and then drops them. However, various causes lead to evergreen species losing their needle dress. In this case, a precise clarification of the causes is necessary.
Also conifers throw off old needles
However, dropping the needles is not always pathological, but sometimes quite natural. The needles of the conifers are dropped at regular intervals anyway, so that the tree can form new needles. Because this process is continuous, it is only sometimes noticeable - for example, if one year a tree repels many old needles. How often this happens depends on the specific tree species: pine needles, for example, are renewed every three to five years, while pine needles can remain on the tree for up to eleven years.
Causes of pathological needle shedding
However, if the tree suddenly drops numerous needles that have previously turned yellow to brown and may also show other causes of disease, then there is a more serious problem behind it. Finding the exact cause is not always easy.
dryness
Many conifers drop their needles in phases of long drought, which is especially the case in late summer. But even dry frost (especially in conjunction with bright sunshine!) And potted plants to rare watering leads due to lack of water for Nadelabwurf. Solution: Penetrate the coniferous tree thoroughly.
Waterlogging / compacted soil
But the opposite can lead to a Nadelabwurf, if the tree is permanently in too wet soil. The causes for this are manifold: frequent watering, heavy rain, lack of drainage, compacted soil ... in this case it only helps to provide drainage afterwards and to sustainably improve the soil.
Nutrient deficiency / over-fertilization
Conifers need to be fertilized carefully as they are very sensitive to both undersupply and overfeeding of nutrients. This also applies to pollutants from the air, as these are stored in the leaves and from there can literally poison the tree - after all, the needles often remain on the tree for years.
Tree does not grow after (um) plants
Needle shedding is not uncommon after planting or transplanting and indicates difficulty in growing: the tree often needs to feed the uncut upper plant parts with a reduced root ball, which it does not. Remedy a pruning and thorough watering.
pest infestation
In particular, plant lice and spider mites often cause browning of the needles and their shedding.
Tips
Another cause for the discoloring and the dropping of the needles is the limitation of the root space, for example by walls or foundations. In this case, the tree often can not absorb enough water and nutrients.