Expert: Jim Hyland - 4/25/2007

Question
one of my conifers is leaning to one side,it was close to another conifer the side nearer to the other tree is brown and looks like missing some branches,although there is new growth on the tree i feel the tree may be  dying, this problem started last summer, I watered well and it seemed a bit better however the tree looks as bad again this year, the trees are about 13yrs old.Hope you can help with this problem as they provide shade in the summer months. Thankyou  

Answer
Pines will lose their needles and self prune the limbs that are shaded. This sounds like what is happening with the two trees. As long as the needles on the side away from the other tree are green and healthy looking there is no problem but just natural self pruning by the shade. Fertilizer will help.   Trees in open areas about 2 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer can be applied for each inch in trunk diameter of the tree. Make sure that you use only fertilizer not any Weed and Feed these products will kill the tree.