Hemlock needles affected by winter desiccation will start browning at the needle tips and move inward, sometimes killing the entire needle. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR
By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665
During the winter months, warm or sunny weather can wreak havoc on evergreen trees.
Conifers such as hemlock, pines and fir can lose moisture from their needles during the winter. If too much moisture is lost, those needles can quickly turn yellow or brown once the weather warms up in the spring.
Extensive browning of needles on hemlock — sometimes more than 50 percent of the needles – was observed in scattered areas of Oneida and Bayfield counties by the second week of April. The brown needles eventually dropped from the trees, leaving the remaining foliage looking very thin. Buds on the trees appeared viable, and the trees should break bud as normal.
Continue reading “Red Pine And Hemlock Needles Suddenly Looking Brown”
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