Expert: Jim Hyland - 11/11/2011

Question
I have what I think is a white pine tree. It is approximately 30 feet tall. I had a lot of needles fall the last two years and whats left is thinner then other pines in the area. What can I feed it and when to bring a thicker growth of needles? I live in eastern Missouri.

Answer
Fertilize it with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and water in good. Apply just before a rain storm and you will not have to water it in. Fertilize now and again in the Spring. This should increase the health of the root system and in turn the amount of foliage.