Pine Trees

When the temperatures start to get colder outside and the leaves fall from the deciduous trees in the late fall, you might look around and feel saddened by the bare branches only to see a spot of green standing out on a wintery day. It’s a pine tree!

Pine trees are hardy and easy to grow, so there are many choices for places to plant them, as they do well in many different types of environments.

You can plant pine trees indoors or outdoors, in containers or in the ground!

Read on for all the info you need to choose a pine tree, choose the best place to plant it, and plant it well so it will grow healthy and strong for years to come.

To get started, let’s take a look at some different types of pine trees and the purposes they might serve. 

The Difference Between Pine, Fir, And Spruce Trees

Before you get ready to choose a pine tree, you might want to make sure it is actually a pine tree. It is easy to mistake fir or spruce trees for pines, or you might think that firs and spruces are types of pine trees.

But, in fact, pine trees are in a different group from fir trees, which are in a different group from spruce trees; all three belong in their own category. 

To tell these three kinds of trees apart, you can start with the needles, as pine, spruce, and fir trees actually all have different types of needles. 

Here are some specific characteristics of different kinds of conifers, including pine trees, spruce trees, and fir trees.

Characteristics Of Pine Trees

Pine needles can be distinguished first by their shape, as they are slender. Pine tree needles are also gathered into groups of three or five, and the group is wrapped up at the base like a little pine needle bouquet. 

The cones of pine trees appear in clusters. They also have very large scales in comparison to other conifers. 

Pine trees can be found all over the globe, which means you can easily find one to add to your own tree collection.

These evergreen trees are, just as their name suggests, always green, and they make a great addition to yards that are in need of some life and color throughout the winter months.

Here’s the full pine tree timeline if you’d like a better understanding of how they grow.

Characteristics Of Spruce Trees

The first defining feature of a spruce tree is also its needles.

Spruce needles, unlike those of a pine tree, is not gathered into groups but rather each needle attaches to the branch of the spruce tree on its own via a pulvinus, which looks sort of like a peg. 

Spruce trees have branches that have some space between them, especially when compared to the branch density of a fir tree.

They also have rather short needles that are pointy on the ends. 

Characteristics Of Fir Trees

The needs of the fir tree are, like the pine and spruce, the easiest way to distinguish this tree from others that seem similar at first glance.

Fir needles are not in groups like pine needles, but they differ from spruce needles in that they do not attach to the branch with pegs.

As a result, the branches of a fir tree feel smooth when the needles fall, unlike spruce trees, which, because of the left-behind pegs, have bumpy branches when needles fall. 

Fir Trees Look Most Like Christmas Trees

While you might think of pine trees when you think about Christmas trees, it is actually fir trees that perhaps look the most like the iconic shape of a traditional Christmas tree.

This means they are very wide at the bottom and narrow as the branches move up the trunk. The branches are grouped very closely together, and they turn up. 

Another distinguishing feature of the fir tree is that crushed fir needles have a bit of a citrus smell, so that might be one particularly fun feature during the holidays!

If you’ve ever wanted to grow your own Christmas Tree, start with our article on the 10 fastest growing Christmas trees!

A Quick Reference For The Differences Between Pines, Firs, And Spruces

To quickly glance at some information to tell pines, firs, and spruces apart from each other, you can use the table below. 

Though they are evergreen trees, all of them lose needles at some point.The timeframe in which they do that is one distinguishing feature that varies between pines, firs, and spruces.  

	Pine	Fir	Spruce
Needles	Slender, clustered in groups of 2, 3, or 5	Soft, flat	Sharp, pointed, square
Needle Attachment	Groups attach to branch with pegs	Needles attach individually with pegs	Needles attach individually without pegs
Needle Drop	Needles drop after 1-3 years	Needles drop after 2 – 4 years	Needles drop after 4 – 10 years

Now you can tell these types of conifers apart, so you can decide what type of tree you want to plant. If you are interested in planting a spruce tree, make sure to check out our article 5 Best Places To Plant A Spruce Tree (And How To Do It). 

Next we will examine some different types of not just conifers but, specifically, pine trees, as there are a lot of different types of pine trees to choose from when you get ready to plant one in your yard. 

Get To Know The Different Types Of Pine Trees

Just as there are different types of conifers, there are also different types of pine trees. You should consider the various types before choosing one for your home, as they can vary greatly in size, shape, and purpose. Some are used for decoration and some for lumber.

Some are mostly found in large forests, while some are used frequently for indoor purposes like as Christmas trees.

Whatever the purpose that best suits you, here are some common types of pine trees to consider and some to avoid. 

Scots Pine

The Scots pine, or Scottish pine tree, is formally called pinus sylvestris. Sometimes grown as Christmas trees, these majestic pine trees are, as their name indicates, very common in the country of Scotland. The Scots pine is, in fact, Scotland’s national tree. 

Scots pines were brought to America from Europe during the early colonial period. Now, they grow in many areas of the United States and southern parts of Canada. The tree’s natural origins are in Scotland and Scandinavia. 

Scots pine is a good pick for a yard with a lot of space, as these trees can grow to be about sixty feet tall and as many as forty feet wide.

If you’re looking for an iconic and majestic tree, and you have a lot of room, the Scots pine can be a statement piece that lasts for a very long time, as these trees live for as long as a staggering 700 years. 

Eastern White Pine

The Eastern white pine tree is very popular in North America. It is used not only to look at but also for lumber.

These pine trees are very hardy and they grow very quickly, so you might consider this tree if you are in a hurry to provide some shade or privacy in your yard.

But keep in mind that the Eastern white pine grows to be very large; it can grow to be up to 150 feet, which is super huge, so you might not want to plant that in your yard.

But to plant something smaller that is similar, you might consider the next tree on our list. 

Western White Pine

This tree, very similar to the Eastern white pine, differs in that it is much larger than an Eastern white pine, so this tree might be better suited to your yard if you do not have a lot of space for your new tree.

The Western white pine only grows to a maximum height of about 100 feet.

That is still super tall, of course, but it might work in your yard if you have a lot of space or can plant far from your house. 

Sugar Pine

This is a tricky one to grow in a yard, especially near your house, as it is the tallest of all pine trees. Some sugar pines grow to be as tall as 250 feet.

The cones of this tree are so big that they can sometimes be two feet long.

For these reasons, it is very uncommon to see a sugar pine in someone’s yard, but if you have a large plot of land and are looking to fill your forest, this might be a good choice to plant a number of. 

Red Pine

If you are looking to plant a pretty tree that does well in yards and gardens, look no further than the red pine.

This tree is tall, but it still works well in yards. Red pine trees live for a very long time, and they have red bark, which is how they earned their name.

This tree is well-suited to dry climates, so this is one to consider if you live in a part of the country that does not get much rain or snow. 

Virginia Pine

If you want to grow a pine tree that might one day end up decorated in your living room at Christmas time, consider the Virginia pine, which is often used for just that purpose.

Confusingly, another name for the Virginia pine is “spruce pine.”

The Virginia pine is a classic pine tree with an iconic look, so if you are hoping for a quintessential pine tree in your yard, this might be the right tree for you to plant. 

So, Where Should You Plant A Pine Tree?

Now that you have considered some types of pine trees and have decided on which one to add to your yard, it’s time to consider where exactly you are going to plant it.

It is best to think about this and make plans before you purchase your pine sapling, to give you enough time to make the best decision while keeping your young tree healthy. 

1. Planting Your Pine Tree As Part Of A Collection Of Trees

Pine trees have been found to produce more needles when they are closer to other trees, which may be because they need more needles to compete with other trees for light. But this is not necessarily a good case for planting them close together.

You are likely better off with trees that do not have to compete with other trees, so space your pine tree accordingly from other pines or any other type of tree. 

Aim to plant your pine tree at least 8 feet away from other trees. If you are planting multiple pine trees at once, see our below tips for planting your pine trees in a tree line. 

2. Planting A Pine Tree In Full Sun

It seems that pine trees don’t gather as many nutrients in the summer as they do in other months.

This is probably different from what you are used to with other trees in your yard, but remember that, no matter the time of year, all trees need sunlight. 

Pine trees, like many other types of trees, love full sunlight, so it is advantageous to plant your pine tree somewhere that gets a lot of sun all day long, especially in the morning.

If you have a spot that receives sun all day long from sunrise to sunset, that is even better. Try to find a good space for your tree that allows it to soak up the sun’s rays all day long.

Here’s a bit more info on why pine trees LOVE full sun.

3. Planting A Pine Tree As A Shade Tree

You might think of shade trees as the more leafy variety like oak trees or maple trees, but pine trees can actually provide a great deal of shade, and they can do so all year long, unlike other types of trees that lose their leaves every fall. 

To use a pine tree as a shade tree, first, consider the area of your yard or house that you want to shade.

You can scout this in advance of planting by simply observing your yard throughout the day to see where the sun falls and where the shade is needed.

Choose to do this on a sunny day, as any level of cloudiness could obscure the exact amount of sun or shade you are trying to achieve. 

4. Planting A Pine Tree To Use As A Christmas Tree

This is a great idea if you enjoy having a live Christmas tree each year and you have a lot of space to start your own mini Christmas tree farm.

This method requires a lot of space, as you need to space your pine trees about 8 feet apart and, depending on how many years of Christmas trees you want to plant, you need to plant several trees. 

A pine tree takes about 25 years to mature enough to be used for lumber, but you can use a pine tree as a Christmas tree as soon as it reaches the height you are trying to achieve.

Make sure to head on over to our article for 21 other ways to use pine trees!

Timing Is Everything!

If, for example, you want to grow pine trees to work as Christmas trees in your house with 9-foot ceilings, you probably want a pine tree that is about 8 feet tall. After all, you need room for the star!

This means that you will be able to harvest your first Christmas tree, depending on how big your sapling is, in about six years or even less.

And once you cut down one of your precious trees and bring it inside, keep its branches looking fresh throughout the season with a helpful product like Perfect Plants Christmas Tree Saver, which is like plant food for trees that have already been cut. 

5. Planting Pine Trees As A Treeline Fence

Pine trees can work great as treelines for property privacy, but this usually works best on very large pieces of property.

If you are trying to achieve even dense coverage, make sure to plant your trees several feet apart so they don’t have to compete with each other for sunlight and nutrients. 

You can plant the trees in a straight line or you can stagger them a bit back and forth; it just depends on how you want your treeline to look.

6. Planting A Pine Tree In A Container

If none of these seem like good options for your yard, but you still want to grow a pine tree, you can certainly grow one, or at least start to grow one, in a container.

This is a good option for people who are not sure where their pine tree’s permanent home may be, or for people who are planning to move in the next several years and would like to take their pine tree with them. 

To plant a tree in a container (and this applies to any tree, not just a pine tree), you should start with a container that is significantly larger than the root ball of the tree.

For more information, read our article on the best soils and care tips for a container pine tree!

Things To Keep In Mind When Moving The Tree

Moving trees puts them at risk for shock, and you want to give your tree as much time as possible to acclimate to the container as it matures before you have to move it. 

When you plant a tree in a container, you give yourself the benefit of being able to move the tree around (you can achieve this most easily by putting the container on a rolling plant stand) or being able to control the amount of light and water the tree receives. 

Planting a container tree is very similar to planting a tree in the ground. The basic steps are to cover the root ball with dirt, water the tree thoroughly, and make sure it is set up for the right amount of light and the right temperature.

Some Fun Ways To Use A Pine Tree That Is In A Container

Pine trees are very decorative, and they stay that way mostly year-round, so they have myriad uses.

Many people like to use container pine trees as outdoor Christmas trees to decorate their front porches in the winter, complete with lights, bows, and even ornaments. 

You can also use container pine trees as decor for a patio or gazebo outdoors.

Container trees are particularly easy to shape into desired looks, so you can make them look like topiaries or Christmas trees, depending on the aesthetic you want to achieve.

How To Successfully Plant A Pine Tree

Planting a pine tree is not very different from planting any other type of tree.

Here, we break down the steps so you can feel confident that you have set your tree up for success from day one, plus if you are looking for more tips, make sure to head on over to our article about sunlight and planting tips for pine trees!

Digging The Hole For Your Pine Tree

Once you have chosen the right location for your pine tree, the first step in planting it is to dig the hole you will plant the tree.

Clear away any debris, weeds, rocks, etc., and then dig a hole that is about twice the size of the root ball of your new pine tree. 

Don’t use fertilizer when you first plant your tree. Give it a year or so to adjust to its new home.

But, once it starts to mature, you can fertilize it periodically with a product specifically made for evergreen trees, like Scotts Evergreen, Flowering Tree, and Shrub Continuous Release Plant Food. 

Once you have dug the hole, it’s time to actually plant the tree.

Planting The Pine Tree

Gently place the pine tree in the hole you have dug, testing that the hole is deep enough to cover the whole root ball but not much deeper.

Replace the soil without packing it in at first.

Once you have covered the root ball so that the soil is even with the surrounding ground, pat gently until the dirt is packed in. Then replace more dirt as needed. 

Water And Mulch For Your New Pine Tree

Once the tree is planted, water it thoroughly with a garden hose, it is so important to water your pine tree, and to keep watering it throughout the winter! For more information on why and how to do this, head on over to our article about watering your pine tree in the winter!

Once the ground is well saturated, you can place mulch, which will help the soil around your pine tree retain moisture.

Now you are ready to enjoy your new pine tree!

Some Closing Tips On Growing Pine Trees

Keep in mind that needles, though they are evergreen, do sometimes change color and naturally fall from the trees. This is completely normal and even a way to enjoy fall colors from trees that are not deciduous. 

The best time of year to plant a pine tree is in the fall, so try to get your tree in the ground sometime in October or maybe early November.

This way, you avoid planting the tree in the hot summer months when it will have to withstand extreme conditions of heat, sun, and potentially dryness, and you avoid planting it in the frigid cold of the winter. Fall is ideal.

Lastly, remember that, if you live in a very dry climate, you may still need to water your tree yourself and not rely entirely upon rain. 

That’s A Wrap!

Now you are ready to choose a pine tree, choose a spot to plant it, and plant your tree that you can enjoy for years to come. 

Enjoy your new evergreen addition to your yard!

References

Fife, D. N., & Nambiar, E. K. S. (1982). Accumulation and retranslocation of mineral nutrients in developing needles in relation to seasonal growth of young radiata pine trees. Annals of Botany, 50(6), 817-829.

Nilsson, U., & Albrektson, A. (1993). Productivity of needles and allocation of growth in young Scots pine trees of different competitive status. Forest Ecology and Management, 62(1-4), 173-187.

Did you know a bit of magic is happening in your backyard? Pine trees perform a fascinating feat every time they get wet! So the next time you are out for a hike, take a closer look at a pine cone.

Pine trees disperse their seeds by opening their cones and allowing the seed to fall. For the best germination and survivability, the seed must float and fall far away from the original tree. Pine seeds do not travel far in wet conditions.

Basically, pine tree cones close when wet so seeds can wait for drier weather.

Pinecones function primarily for reproduction, one of the most critical tasks for any plant. They open and close to protect seeds from a variety of factors, not just water! Read on to learn more about why this happens!

As noted above, a pinecone’s primary function is reproduction. Pinecones protect the developing seeds and sometimes aid in dispersing seeds.

A young pine cone, once fertilized, begins to harden and grow in size. Pine trees can take two years for the seeds to mature within the cone. When the seeds have matured inside the pinecone, it opens, and the seeds are dispersed into the air, eventually falling to the ground. 

It is in the tree’s best interest that its seeds fall from the pinecone and drift far away from the original tree. If the seed fell too close to the original tree, it would struggle to germinate. Furthermore, if germination did occur, that new tree would struggle to compete for sunlight and nutrients with the mature tree.

What Does It Mean When Pine Trees Close?

Pine trees close their pinecones to protect the developing seeds during specific weather situations. Whether that induces pinecone closings are freezing temperatures, unseasonably cold weather, rain, and humidity.

Additionally, pinecones may close during specific times during their reproductive cycle, for example, releasing and receiving pollen and seed dispersal.

When the weather is wet or humid, the seeds will not float or drift with the wind, but fall quickly to the ground where they have little chance of reaching maturity. This is why a pine cone closes when it gets wet. It protects the seeds from falling too close to the tree.

Not all pine cones close when wet. To know if your pine tree has cones that exhibit this unique ability, consider purchasing The Tree Identification Book: A New Method For The Practical Identification and Recognition of Trees to better understand the pine trees in your backyard. 

Water Swells Pine Cones And Needles, Causing Them To Close

The science behind this phenomenon is still being understood at the cellular level. It boils down to two different types of cells, arranged in two layers that flex when exposed to moisture. This process is more complex than just water swelling the parts of the cone. 

Scientists believe that understanding how a pinecone opens and closes with moisture could help us develop better water movement techniques to help grow food or fight climate change.

Cold Weather Causes Cones To Close

In addition to closing during rain and humidity, pinecones stay closed through the winter and during unseasonably cool summer weather.

The pine tree seeds are housed inside the pinecone, and it is the cone’s job to protect the seeds. Therefore, pine cones stay closed through the winter to protect the developing seed. Since winter is not an ideal time for seed dispersal and germination, the pine cone remains closed. 

For more info, read our article on how to care for your pine tree over the winter season.

Closing Cones In Cold and Wet Weather Helps For Reproduction

The primary function of pinecones on trees is for reproduction. In pine trees, there are male and female cone structures.

The male cones release pollen into the air, while the female cones are designed to collect pollen and siphon it toward a seed for fertilization. 

Once the male-structured pinecone releases its pollen, it has done its work and falls from the tree. Once fertilized, female pinecones begin to harden into the woody structures, we know as pinecones.

Female Pine Cones Open And Close Throughout Their Life Cycle

Female pinecones open and close throughout their life during essential times in the reproductive cycle. When the cone is young, its scales open just as trees begin to release their pollen. The wind carries the pollen to the female pinecone and enters through the slightly separated scales.

Between the cone scales, the pollen is directed to the ovum, where it is fertilized. Next, the seed begins developing. At this point, the pinecone enlarges, and the scales close tightly to protect the developing seed. 

Depending on the species, the seed may take up to three years to mature. Once the seed has matured, if conditions are right, the scales open, and the seeds are dispersed in the wind. 

Different types of pine trees have other seed-releasing mechanisms. Some pine cones only open in the presence of fire. These trees need fire to complete their reproductive cycle.

Waiting until a fire releases seeds gives these pine trees an advantage, as they will get a head start on growing without competing with dense underbrush. 

Weather Is Cold Or Stormy When Pine Trees Close

Pinecones close when the weather is cold because they do not want to release their seeds into an environment that isn’t ideal for germination. Since seed germination happens during warm temperatures, pine cones keep their seeds protected through freezing weather. 

If a seed is released when it is too cold, it will not germinate or grow into a tree.

Additionally, pinecones do not release their seeds during a storm. Therefore, the best scenario for a pine tree is to remove its seed on a warm and dry day so that the seed can travel on the wind a great distance. 

If the seed is released during a storm, the water and humidity will cause it to fall directly under the tree, where it cannot survive. 

If you are still curious about how your pine tree will weather dark, dreary days, we have you covered with our article on how much sunlight a pine tree actually needs.

Pine Trees May Be In Their Reproductive Cycles When Opening And Closing

As discussed above, seed dispersion is a part of the reproductive cycle. There are additional times during the life cycle of a pine cone when it may open and close. A young female pine cone first opens during pollination to allow pollen, carried by the wind, to fall between its scales and pollinate an egg. 

After the egg is pollinated, the cone scales begin to harden and enlarge to protect the seed as it develops. The pinecone won’t open again until the seed has matured and is ready for dispersal.

Is It Okay For Pine Trees To Close When Wet?

Yes! Not only is it okay for pinecones to close when wet, but it’s also an essential part of their reproductive cycle!

Pinecones close when wet to protect their seeds. Seeds need warm and dry weather to ensure maximum survivability. 

The motion of the pinecone closing and opening with weather changes does not hurt the tree. On the contrary, it is a natural adaptation to ensure the tree can produce offspring.

Keeping Pine Cones Open

You won’t be able to control the opening and closing of pinecones on a living tree. That happens naturally and is a process that shouldn’t be interrupted. 

If you have pine cones you want to keep open for crafting or decoration, keep the pine cones in a warm and dry location. They will remain available for as long as you need if you keep them dry. 

Some Pine Trees Only Open With Fire

The jack pine, native to the north-central United States and Canada, requires fire to open up its pinecone and release the seeds. A thick layer of resin covers the cone that must melt before the cone can open up.

As the fire moves through the forest, the cones of the jake pine tree open up, and the wind disperses the seeds. The fire method has some advantages for the jack pine that now has fresh ground to grow in, free from competing weeds.

Sometimes, forest management includes controlled burning, the process of burning out the underbrush in a mature forest or prairie. Controlled burning ensures that plants like the jack pine tree can be around for centuries to come. In addition, this small fire puts nutrients back into the soil and keeps invasive plants and pesky underbrush under control.

Pine Trees Closing Helps Them Create More Offspring

When a pinecone closes its scales, it protects the seeds that lie within from extreme weather conditions. This protection ensures that as many seeds as possible reach maturity, are released from the cone, and land gently in the perfect area for germination and later tree growth. 

If the tree did not close its pine cones during wet weather, its seeds would not be protected. Instead, they would be susceptible to bacteria and fungi, preventing them from reaching maturity and potential germination.

Pine Trees Closing Can Protect Them From Predators

Birds are common predators of pine trees. Long-billed birds can pluck the seeds from between the available scales. When a pine cone is closed, the bird’s beak is not strong enough to break through the scales to get to the seeds. So, another example of the great job pinecones does is protect seeds!

Some species of pine trees have rigid spines on their woody scales. As the scales open and close, these spines hinder and prevent birds from getting at the seeds. When a pine cone is open, its seeds may be in danger, but a pinecone with scales makes predation even more difficult. 

Try It At Home!

You can do a fun experiment at home with the pinecones you find in your neighborhood. Place a few in a bucket full of water, and leave a few in the dry open air. If you watch the cone in the water closely, you will see it slowly close until all the scales are tightly packed. 

The cone that remains dry will not change. It will stay open. Now take the wet pinecone out of the water and place it next to the dry one. As it dries, it will slowly re-open. How long did it take your cone to reopen?

What To Do If Your Pine Trees Close When Wet

If you notice your pine trees close when wet, don’t worry, this is an entirely natural and important reproductive mechanism for the pine tree.

Unless you use fallen pinecones for a craft project, leaving your pine trees alone is the best course of action if you notice they are wet.

If you have young experimenters who would like to learn more about how pine trees grow from pine cones, “How Do Pine Trees Grow?” is the perfect early reading book.

You could also read our Full Pine Tree Timeline for more information on pine trees and how long they take to grow.

Wait For Your Weather To Get Better

Pinecones with mature seeds will reopen when wet and humid weather has passed, so they can continue releasing the seeds in the wind. The best conditions for pine cones to be open are warm and dry with a light breeze. 

Pinecones with immature seeds will remain closed to protect the seeds from fungus and predation, no matter the weather. So leave them alone to let them do their thing!

Move Harvested Cones To A Dry Location

When collecting pinecones for crafting or decoration, it is best to harvest only the pinecones that have fallen to the ground, so you don’t interrupt the tree’s reproductive cycle. 

Collect fallen pine cones when the cone’s scales are open during wet and dry weather. Store the pinecones in a warm and dry location to keep them open.

If your pinecones accidentally get wet, move them to a dry place. They will reopen once they are dry.

Are you hoping to use pinecones in your holiday decorations this year but don’t have a pine tree nearby? Then, purchase 20 Pine Cones 3″ to 4” Tall Bulk Packages for all your festive needs!

For other pine project ideas, our article on what to do with pine trees with over 21 uses!

That’s A Wrap!

The pinecone’s primary purpose is reproduction and seed protection. Weather changes and reproductive seasons will open and close the pinecone scales.

A pinecone opens and closes for:

• Reproduction
• Seed protection from predators
• Seed protection from poor weather
• Seed fertilization
• Seed dispersal

The next time you come across a fallen pine cone, consider picking it up, bringing it home, and placing it in a glass of water. You just may get to see this fascinating phenomenon in action!

References

Coffee, K., Benkman, C. W., & Milligan, B. G. (1999). The Adaptive Significance of Spines on Pine Cones. Ecology, 80(4), 1221–1229.

Eger, C. J., Horstmann, M., Poppinga, S., Sachse, R., Thierer, R., Nestle, N., … & Rühe, J. (2022). The Structural and Mechanical Basis for Passive‐Hydraulic Pine Cone Actuation. Advanced Science, 2200458.

Leslie, A. B., & Losada, J. M. (2019). Reproductive ontogeny and the evolution of morphological diversity in conifers and other plants. Integrative and comparative biology, 59(3), 548-558.

Losada, J. M., Blanco‐Moure, N., & Leslie, A. B. (2019). Not all ‘pine cones’ flex: functional trade‐offs and the evolution of seed release mechanisms. New Phytologist, 222(1), 396-407.

Quan, H., Pirosa, A., Yang, W., Ritchie, R. O., & Meyers, M. A. (2021). Hydration-induced reversible deformation of the pine cone. Acta Biomaterialia, 128, 370-383

Song, K., Yeom, E., Seo, SJ. et al. Journey of water in pine cones. Sci Rep 5, 9963 (2015).

When people think about pine trees, many will automatically associate these trees with conifer trees. In actuality, this shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise because pines are the largest family of conifers!

Pine trees (Pinus) are most commonly found in the northern hemisphere and these trees have over one hundred different species. In North America, there are 49 native species of pine trees alone!

The height of pine trees varies drastically. While most varieties of pines will grow between 50 and 80 feet, several species of pine trees only get to 10 feet in height.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are rare species of pine trees that can stand over 200 feet tall!

These trees don’t just grow to great heights, but they’re beneficial to local wildlife too! Pine tree seeds provide meals for many local squirrels and birds. In fact, because some birds eat pine seeds and then migrate to different areas, they have helped spread this tree species to areas across the entire continent!

Why Are Pine Trees So Tall?

When people think of pine trees, their thoughts likely go to conifer trees as we mentioned, and that’s because pine trees are the largest member of the conifer family! 

The reason these two names are so closely paired is that conifer trees are simply plants that have cones. We’ve all heard of pine cones, and have probably even done our fair share of pine cone crafts during your younger school years, so we know that the cones of this tree are a crafting favorite.

In addition to their great height capabilities, pine trees also have a long lifespan of 100 to 1,000 years. This aids in their massive height, as they have quite a long time to grow!

You can learn more about the full timeline of the growth of a pine tree in our detailed article!

Taking into consideration the height and lifespan that pine trees have, it’s also easy to see why they are one of the most important trees used in carpentry. From floors and roofing to furniture, framing, and more, pine trees can have several uses and can play a key role in driving a business’s success.

Other than crafts and supporting the carpentry industry, pine trees also make an attractive addition to neighborhood and park landscapes, and – don’t forget – many folks consider the pine tree to be their go-to tree when they’re out shopping for Christmas trees!

There are even more things you can use pine wood for. For a more in-depth list, take a look at our article on what to do with pine trees!

Tallest (And Most Common) Pine Trees In The United States

We mentioned that there are over one hundred species of pine trees in the world, and you can find nearly half of them here in the United States. Of course, you won’t find all forty-plus species in the same state – each species of the pine tree has its own set of unique preferences for it to thrive in its environment.

So, let’s look at the most common pine tree species you’ll find growing in various parts of the United States, as well as some helpful information on each species to see if it would make a worthwhile addition to your property’s landscaping.

10. Eastern White Pine

Height: 50 to 80 feet

The Eastern white pine, or Pinus strobus, is a hardy pine that has soft blue-green colored needles and thrives in a variety of conditions. From full sun to partial shade, you can spot this tree in environments ranging from dry deserts to wet, bog-like areas and all the rocky areas in between.

This tree has several uses, but is most commonly used as a screen or windbreak in landscaping and is also a highly popular pine to be used as a Christmas tree!

If you’ve ever considered growing your own Christmas tree, read our article on the ten fastest growing Christmas trees.

Squirrels and birds will eat the seeds of the Eastern white pine as we mentioned early on, but besides these creatures, these seeds are also a favorite for many others, including rabbits and black bears. These trees also provide great nesting spots for many local birds, which include woodpeckers and chickadees.

Like many other trees and plants, the Eastern white pine has its own unique set of challenges as well. Beavers, rabbits, and mice have all been known to eat the bark of the tree, which can lead to potential damage depending on if they’re able to eat or peel enough of the bark away.

9. Loblolly Pine

Height: 60 to 100 feet

The loblolly pine, or Pinus taeda, can be found most frequently along the east coast and in Texas. Since most of this coastline is in the southern states, it’s not a surprise that this pine tree prefers full sun and is drought tolerant. 

Perhaps from the amount of sun that these trees can tolerate, the needles of the loblolly pine are commonly a dark yellow color, though they can be green, and this tree will lose its lower branches as it ages. 

A variety of southeastern animals eat the seeds of the loblolly. It provides meals to chickadees, wild turkeys, chipmunks, and small rodents, who love to feast on the seeds of this pine tree.

The loblolly pine usually grows in an oval shape, which also matches the pine cone shape these trees produce! The pine cones on the loblolly are oval-shaped, roughly three to six inches, and are a reddish brown.

8. Lodgepole Pine

Height: 70 to 80 feet

The lodgepole pine, or Pinus contorta, goes by another name as well – the black pine! This name comes from the color of the tree’s flaky bark, which can range in color from orange-brown to gray to black.

The lodgepole can grow in a variety of soil types, from moist to well-drained, rich to clay, and every soil type in between. Since this pine can grow in sun and shade, it’s no surprise you can find it in both northern and southern states!

If you’re curious about pine tree care, read our article on how much sunlight your pine tree needs for a deeper explanation.

These pine trees have a distinct needle appearance which helps with their identification. The needles range in color from a yellowish green to dark green and are found in twisted bundles of two. The cones of the lodgepole are also relatively small, only about an inch and a half, and will remain on the tree, unopened, for years!

7. Longleaf Pine

Height: 60 to 80 feet

The longleaf pine, or Pinus palustris, is found along the coastal plain area spanning from Virginia to Texas, and even along the western coast as well. 

During its early years, this pine tree will remain in a grass-like stage and then once it hits about five years of age it will begin growing at a more rapid rate – anywhere from one to two feet a year!

The cones of the longleaf are also noteworthy because of their size. This tree produces oblong cones that can range up to five inches long and five inches wide at their base. Those are some hefty pine cones to craft with!

The seeds of the longleaf provide meals for many local wildlife as well. Other than woodpeckers and squirrels, quail and turkeys also enjoy eating the seeds of this pine tree.

6. Pitch Pine

Height: 40 to 70 feet

The pitch pine, or Pinus rigida, can be found in its greatest numbers on the eastern coast of the United States, spanning from Maine to Georgia. It has dark green needles once developed and small cones, about two inches long, that grow in clusters of three to five.

The pitch pine tree doesn’t have the usual shape of other pines on our list. Instead, this pine can often be found in twist-like shapes which make them an interesting catch to the eye if they’re used as a landscape piece.

Another fun fact about this tree is that while it easily burns because of its resin content, it’s not unusual for the pitch pine to survive fires. In fact, some trees that look as though they have been demolished by fire can later be seen growing again!

Keep in mind though that pines aren’t necessarily an ideal tree to add to your yard if you live in an area where wildfires are a common occurrence, but should the unfortunate event happen, your pitch pine may survive the damage better than other landscaped trees.

5. Ponderosa Pine

Height: 60 to 100 feet

This giant pine, Pinus ponderosa, grows in nearly all the states, except for those in the extreme south.

The ponderosa pine grows best in full sunlight and can easily acclimate to a variety of soil types. Once the tree is fully established, it is highly drought tolerant. Since its bark grows so thick, the ponderosa is considered a wildfire-resistant tree.

It’s common for this pine to have a range of yellow to olive green colored needles that grow to be half a foot and are normally clustered in groups of three. The cones of this tree are also unique–a reddish brown–and have prickly tips.

Nearly every part of the ponderosa pine is utilized by wildlife. Turkeys, crossbills, and chipmunks love to eat the seeds of this pine. The leaves and bark can be eaten by elk and deer, and because of its size, this tree is a prime location for many birds to use as a nesting spot.

4. Red Pine

Height: 60 to 80 feet

The red pine, or Pinus resinosa, gets its name from the color of its bark, which turns reddish brown as the tree matures.

When you spot a mature red pine tree, don’t be surprised if the branches on the tree don’t appear to grow until they’re about two-thirds of the way up the truck. This seemingly unusual look is because this pine is self-pruning! 

Red pines will grow in an oval shape and will remain symmetrical as they grow despite their branch growth pattern. The needles of this pine may resemble many other pines at first glance, as the needles of this pine are bundled in pairs, dark green, and soft and flexible.

Unfortunately, the Red Pine is more susceptible to insect and disease problems than some of the other trees on our list, so many would advise against adding this pine to your home landscape.

3. Shortleaf Pine

Height: 50 to 100 feet

The shortleaf pine, or Pinus echinata, can be known by yet another name – the yellow pine! This tree gets its added name from the yellowish color of the tree trunk, which can be revealed when the tree bark scales are removed.

Like many other pines, the shortleaf pine can thrive in several soil types, and because this pine is more common in the southern states, it doesn’t come as a surprise that it can thrive in sandy soils where soil moisture is minimal.

The shortleaf pine’s needles grow in bundles of two and are a dark blueish green, growing to be less than six inches. While this pine produces cones, you won’t see any being produced on these trees until it is at least 20 years old!

Surprisingly, this pine is considered resistant to deer damage. Birds, small mammals, and rodents commonly eat the seeds of the shortleaf. If the tree is well maintained, it shouldn’t experience many problems, though pine beetles and weevils may be attracted to the tree.

2. Sugar Pine

Height: 120 – 200 feet

The sugar pine, or Pinus lambertiana, is a monster of a pine tree, and we’d consider it to be the largest pine tree on our list.

In fact, because of the sheer height that a sugar pine can grow to, their cones alone can be nearly two feet long!

These trees are sure to stand out with a few distinct characteristics. With their cinnamon red bark, dark green foliage, and downward sweeping branches, these trees know how to make a visual statement.

Birds and other mammals help spread the seeds of this tree, but these seeds are also equipped with a wing that helps them spread when they catch the wind! Then, when the seed drops and, if conditions are favorable, the seedling will start the life cycle over to help this tree repopulate. 

1. Western White Pine

Height: 100 to 160 feet

The western white pine, or Pinus monticola, is known by another name as well – the silver pine! 

You can identify the Western White Pine by its long, banana-shaped pine cones and its needles that are bundled in groups of five.

But how else do you differentiate between the western and eastern white pines? The western white pine is a more narrow tree with chunkier bark and is more blue-green.

The western white pine is commonly used for lumber and can be used in woodwork and millwork, including windows and doors and – surprisingly – wood matches! 

Picking The Perfect Pine Tree

So now that we’ve given you the tallest of the pine trees to choose from, how can you compare all the options and determine which pine will be the best suited for your property? You’ve come to the right spot!

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) utilizes hardiness zones to help plant lovers alike determine which plants are most likely to thrive in a certain location. 

So, we’ve done the work for you and have taken our top ten tallest pine trees and charted them out below so that you can determine which pine tree will be most successful in your area!

Your tree will probably need maintenance at some point. Luckily, we have an article on when and why to prune your pine tree to make it easier to grow a healthy tree.

That’s A Wrap!

Whether you’re looking to plant your first pine tree from a seedling or are looking to help the current pine trees in your yard thrive, now you have a bit of a better idea as to the height and longevity of the tree.

Once your pine tree is thriving, consider a fertilizer like Jobe’s 01001 Fertilizer Spikes, and be sure to have a bug treatment like Greenkeeper’s Choice Neem Oil Spray For Plants stocked away in your garage or shed in case you spot any insect activity.

From there, sit back, relax, and enjoy watching your pine grow and thrive to its highest height!

References

Daniels, R. F. (1976). Simple competition indices and their correlation with annual loblolly pine tree growth. Forest Science, 22(4), 454-456.

Fox, T. R., Jokela, E. J., & Allen, H. L. (2007). The development of pine plantation silviculture in the southern United States. Journal of Forestry, 105(7), 337-347.

Hanover, J. W. (1975). Comparative physiology of eastern and western white pines: oleoresin composition and viscosity. Forest Science, 21(3), 214-221.

Ne’eman, G., Goubitz, S., Werger, M. J., & Shmida, A. (2011). Relationships between tree size, crown shape, gender segregation and sex allocation in Pinus halepensis, a Mediterranean pine tree. Annals of Botany, 108(1), 197-206.

Savage, M., Brown, P. M., & Feddema, J. (1996). The role of climate in a pine forest regeneration pulse in the southwestern United States. Ecoscience, 3(3), 310-318.

Stevens, K. A., Wegrzyn, J. L., Zimin, A., Puiu, D., Crepeau, M., Cardeno, C., & Langley, C. H. (2016). Sequence of the sugar pine megagenome. Genetics, 204(4), 1613-1626. 

Pine trees are one of the faster-growing categories of trees and can gain over two feet each year! To achieve this rapid growth, you’ll need to do some things to keep the tree healthy and happy. A tree in optimal conditions will grow significantly faster than one in so-so conditions. 

In order to grow your pine tree as fast as it can, you’ll need to pick the correct species, plant it in the right spot, and give it the right amount of sunlight, water, nutrients, mulch, and pruning

If you follow these simple steps, you’ll have a towering pine tree in no time!

Continue reading, and we’ll cover each of these steps in greater detail plus give you a couple more tips to get the most from your pine tree. With a bit of extra work and attention to detail, you’ll be rewarded with a large pine in no time!

Pine trees are a relatively fast-growing species of tree that have many benefits, including shade, windbreaks, and prevention of erosion with pine needles and deep roots. To get those benefits from your trees, however, you’ll need them to grow to a good size first.

Pine trees, like any other tree, and will grow best when you plan out the right species, location, and follow a schedule to give them the care they need. If you follow the steps below and do a bit of research on what conditions your specific species of pine prefer, you’ll be enjoying large majestic trees in no time.

1. Select The Right Species Of Pine For Your Climate

There are over 120 species of pine that grow worldwide, so the first step is to choose the right species for your particular environment.

Some pines do better in cold or warm climates, some need more or less water, and they all have different soil preferences. Selecting the right species will go a long way in affecting the growth rate of these trees.

Your best bet for choosing a species of pine tree will be to select one that is native to your area. Those trees have undergone thousands of years of evolution to be perfect for the environment they are in.

Native trees will also have the lowest environmental impact, which may be important in some areas, but inversely native trees will have the most pests and diseases that could affect them.

While I recommend doing some additional research to ensure you’re choosing the right pine tree for your specific area, here are five fast-growing species to get you started.

1. Eastern White Pine

The Eastern white pine is a hardy tree native to the New England area and does well in well-drained, acidic soils. They do best with full sun and grow up to 80 feet tall, and grow 2 feet per year!

These trees do best in USDA zones 3-8 and are an excellent option.

2. Green Giant Arborvitae

Or more commonly, the “Green Giant” is a sturdy tree that grows in a visually appealing conical form, topping out about 60’ tall and a 20’ spread

These trees need some full sun and some shade doing best in zones 5-7.

3. Loblolly Pine

The loblolly pine is a pine tree that grows remarkably fast, gaining over 24” per year and maturing to a size of up to 100’ tall and a 35’ spread in ideal conditions.

This tree adapts to most soil types and does well with full sun in zones 6-9, making it an excellent southern tree.

4. Jack Pines

These are hands down some of the toughest pines and will grow in poor soil without complaint, making it a nearly maintenance-free option for those looking for an easy option.

Jack pines grow in asymmetrical patterns up to 70’ tall, needing partial sun and doing best in USDA zones 2-6.

5. Ponderosa Pine

The ponderosa pine is a tree with a medium growth rate between 13-24” per year but can grow 100’ under cultivation and over 200’ in the wild.

A hardy tree that will resist fires and drought once mature, and can be planted in zones 3-7 with full sun and in most soils.

2. Plant Your Pine In The Right Soil

After selecting a tree from your local nursery, make sure to plant it in the right soil and choose a species best for the soil you have.

Most pine trees prefer soil with good drainage and plenty of room for their roots. Sandy and sandy loam soil textures are best for pines since they drain well, and a little acidity goes a long way.

Pines do best in soil with plenty of organic matter, although this is not a necessity and can be supplemented with some other techniques we’ll touch on later.

A large pine tree will have a taproot extending over 75 feet in the ground, and the rest of the roots can spread 30 feet out, although most trees will take up much less space.

Make sure to plant a pine tree far enough from any buildings so that the roots will have space to grow without compromising the foundation or causing other problems.

When planting your seedlings, plant them with their root collars 2-3” below the surface of the soil, or only 1” below the surface if you are dealing with poorly draining soil.

Pack the dirt well around the seedling for good root-to-soil contact and to keep the seedling securely in the ground while a root system develops.

If you are planting your pine tree in a container, the soil matters even more! Check out our in-depth list of what soil your pine tree prefers.

3. Make Sure Your Pine Tree Is Getting The Right Lighting

Since photosynthesis is how plants get all their energy, having the right amount of sunlight is important for their growth. Keep this in mind when selecting where to plant your pine trees.

Most species of pine trees need full sunlight as much as possible, so plant them in areas accordingly. Open spaces not being shaded by other trees or buildings are best, but work with what you’ve got since they are such hardy trees.

If you don’t have many spots that get full sunlight, then make sure you pick a pine tree that does well in partial light, such as Jack pines, which are not the fastest-growing option but will grow in the toughest conditions.

That being said, most species need full sunlight for optimal growth, so if you’re looking to grow your pine trees as fast as possible, then planting them in the right spots should be a priority.

While your seedling is growing, it is important to check that nothing is shading it and trim any branches blocking light or if there are any weeds to be weeded taking care of that.

4. Make Sure Your Pine Is Getting Water Regularly

Drought can be one of the most difficult environmental factors for a pine tree, and one season of drought can slow down growth significantly for several years following.

Frequent watering is especially important for the first two years of a pine tree’s life, and after being transplanted water is important to build a healthy root structure. 1 inch of water per week is all pines need to grow, and both rainfall and irrigation are good ways to achieve this. 

If you choose a native species or one that is well adapted to your particular environment, then you probably won’t need to water it much as the rainfall will be enough.

However, if you are experiencing a dry spell or plant a species that prefers more water than your environment provides, then you’ll need to irrigate for the best growth.

While getting water to your trees is important, make sure you aren’t giving them too much water either.

Pine trees are susceptible to drowning, so it is important to plant them in soil with good drainage. Make sure the ground around your tree isn’t constantly wet and muddy, and allow the soil to dry out before watering again. 

Watering your pine tree in the winter may also be necessary, which you can learn more about in our article on the subject!

5. Apply The Right Fertilizer At The Right Time

Fertilizing pine trees is thankfully pretty easy because you only need to do it every few years and for pine trees, over-fertilizing will cause more problems than under-fertilizing.

If you recently planted a pine seedling, they are very vulnerable, and fertilizing right away can cause nutrient burning and other problems. Water is very important for the first year, but hold off on fertilizing until the next spring.

The general rule of thumb for fertilizing pines is to apply 1 pound of fertilizer for every inch of trunk diameter, or 1.5 pounds per inch for mature trees over a 6” diameter. Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs Plant Food is a preformulated and easy-to-use option to provide nutrients to your pine tree.

Until the tree is 5 or 6 years old fertilize every spring with a balanced, slow-releasing fertilizer. Spring is the best time to fertilize your pine trees since they will go through the most growth at this time, and optimal conditions will increase growth.

After the tree has matured and established its root system, you can fertilize much less often. Pine trees are not super nutrient hungry, so you can get away with only mulching most years, and small amounts of supplemental nutrients otherwise.

Pine trees in nature get all their nutrients from decomposing plant matter on the forest floor, and the best way to emulate this environment is by leaving the pine needles the tree drops and using quality mulch. 

6. Mulching Will Help Keep Pine Trees Healthy And Happy

Mulching is one of the easiest and most effective ways to grow your pine trees faster. Mulching mirrors the natural environments pine trees have adapted to help them keep the right microclimate for their root systems.

The single best thing you can do for your pine tree aside from properly irrigating is to mulch your trees.

One of the first steps to take is probably the easiest: when the tree drops its needles, leave them. This layer of pine needles is not a replacement for using high-quality mulch but will provide additional nutrients and cover.

One of the biggest benefits of mulching is mulch adds organic matter to the topsoil, improving water retention and preventing erosion. Mulching will keep the soil around your tree there, and you won’t have to water as often, protecting the tree from drought.

Did you know that pine needles actually make amazing mulch? To learn more, check out our article on how to make mulch from pine needles.

The other benefit of mulch is when the organic matter breaks down, nutrients are released back into the soil, feeding the pine tree. For a nice aesthetic mulch, I recommend using wood chips piled on top of the pine needles.

This combination of wood chips and pine needles will provide a range of nutrients that the tree needs, add an aesthetic value, and suppress weeds that could rob the nutrients from the soil around the tree.

When applying mulch, cover the entire area around the tree but leave 8-12 inches around the base of the trunk open. Piling the mulch too close to the tree trunk will trap too much water in the tree and will cause rot.

Other options to use for mulch include shredded bark and shredded hardwood, or you can mulch with organic material you have available, including leaves from other trees and grass clippings.

Apply mulch in the spring every year and depending on how the mulch looks, you can reapply it in the fall. Keep a good layer of 4” or so, there’s no need to pile on a ton of mulch since a thick layer won’t do any good.

7. Pruning Is Important For Pine Tree Growth

Alright, you can probably get away with not pruning your pine tree, and it will still grow well since they are very low-maintenance trees. However, if you want it to grow as fast as possible, you’ll need to give it the occasional trim.

When you go to give your pine tree a haircut, the best time to do so is in spring. Since most of the growth is done in spring and early summer, this will give as much time as possible for the cuts to heal.

Pruning any broken and diseased branches should be the number one priority, so any bare branches or those with only brown needles should be taken care of.

The other branches to target are if two branches are rubbing against one another since this can rub the bark off and open up the tree to pests and diseases.

After these branches are taken care of, you can prune any branches that you need for maintenance reasons, or change the tree’s look. Never cut off the top section of the tree.

The best way to trim branches is not to remove the entire limb if possible and just cut it back as far as you need. However, if the branch is overhanging a driveway, dead, or you need to remove it completely, then you can still do so.

Whether you are using pruners or an electric saw, make sure that you clean and disinfect the equipment between uses. This will prevent any transfer of disease from one tree to another or one branch to another.

You also do not need to prune your pine tree every year if all the branches are healthy, and every other year or three years will still result in a large and healthy pine.

If you need a lopper to prune your pine tree, these Fiskars 9138 Power-Lever Bypass Loppers will easily tear through small branches. For larger branches, you can use a reciprocating saw or a handheld one depending on what you have available.

For an in depth guide on pruning, read our article on all of the reasons to prune your pine tree.

8. Monitor Your Pine Tree For Pests

To truly maximize growth, you’ll need to ensure that the tree is as healthy as it can be. This involves frequently checking for any damage that pests could cause.

Pests are going to vary by region, so the pests that will target your trees will vary. However, here are a few common pests that like to target pine trees:

• Aphids
• Caterpillars
• Weevils
• Mealybugs
• Borers
• Southern pine beetles
• Pine sawfly

These pests will target your pine along with many more. Pine trees are especially vulnerable tree to pests so closely paying attention to any discoloration in needles or back, or noticeable damage and acting accordingly will keep the tree healthy and maximize growth.

Pine beetles are the most serious pest to watch out for and are most likely to affect trees stressed by drought and weakened trees.

Following the other tips on this list will help prevent pests since a healthy tree is more resistant than an unhealthy one. A healthy tree will also recover much quicker than an unhealthy one, so treat issues as soon as they arise!

If you do have another pine tree in a place where you want to plant a new one, take a peak at our guide on the reasons to cut down your pine tree here.

The End!

If you made it this far, thank you! I hope you enjoyed these tips and learned something from them that will help your trees grow as fast as possible. Waiting for a tree to mature and reach its full height takes a lot of patience, but it is rewarding in the end.

To recap, here are the 8 steps to maximize the growth of your pine tree:

• Pick the correct species
• Plant it in the right spot 
• Give it the right amount of sunlight
• Water regularly, but not too much
• Provide the right nutrients
• Apply mulch yearly
• Pruning any branches that will detract from growth

If you do these things, then your pine tree will grow as fast as it can! Some pine trees will fully mature in only a decade, and anything you can do to help it early on will exponentially help it in the long run.

References

Daniels, R. F., & Burkhart, H. E. (1975). SIMULATION OF INDIVIDUAL TREE GROWTH AND ST AND DEVELOPMENT IN MANAGED LOBLOLLY PINE PLANTATION. DIVISION OF FORESTRY & WILDLIFE RESOURCES. Retrieved August 23, 2022.

Kluepfel, M., Polomski, R. F., & Coyle, D. D. (2020, June 19). Pine. Home & Garden Information Center | Clemson University, South Carolina. Retrieved August 23, 2022.

Sun, F., Kuang, Y., Wen, D., Xu, Z., Li, J., Zuo, W., & Hou, E. (2010). Long-term tree growth rate, water use efficiency, and tree ring nitrogen isotope composition of pinus massoniana L. in response to global climate change and local nitrogen deposition in southern China. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 10(8), 1453–1465.

Thompson, M. Y. (2018, March 10). Fertilizer for thought: Caring for your pines. College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES). Retrieved August 23, 2022.

Tong, Q. J., & Zhang, S. Y. (2005). Impact of initial spacing and precommercial thinning on jack pine tree growth and Stem quality. The Forestry Chronicle, 81(3), 418–428. https://doi.org/10.5558/tfc81418-3 

Mulch doesn’t only make your landscape look uniform and neat, but it also comes with some added benefits. It keeps moisture in the soil, adds nutrients, prevents weeds, and helps with temperature control.

You can easily create an attractive organic mulch using pine needles! This amazing natural mulch can withstand severe weather while keeping your garden moist and limiting weeds. Rake up fallen pine needles, go over them with your lawnmower, and spread the mulch 3-4 inches thick around your plants.

If you’re wondering what to do with all those pine needles falling off the trees in your yard or looking for an organic and affordable mulch option for your plants and trees, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about this magical mulch!

The Many Benefits Of Using Pine Needles As Mulch

We know the importance of picking only the best material for your garden.

So besides giving you something to do with all those pine needles hanging out under your pine trees, here are just a few of the many benefits that come with turning your pine needles into mulch.

1. Pine Needles Recycle Local Nutrients When Used As Mulch

There are two types of mulches you can use in your garden; organic or inorganic mulch.

Mulch that is made from plant material is considered organic. Organic mulches eventually break down and add nutrients to your soil, allowing the nutrients to be absorbed by your plant roots again. 

This recycling of nutrients is essential when growing plants, and this is especially beneficial for veggies and fruits you plan to harvest. 

Pine needle mulch will help you create a balanced home for your trees and plants, ensuring a stable growing environment, a bountiful harvest, and healthy plants for a long time. 

2. It’s Very Cost Effective

We all want what’s best for our plants and our wallets! The good news is that pine needle mulch is relatively cost-effective to purchase and maintain.

If you have pine trees on your property, then your pine needle mulch will be completely free, but if not, it can be pretty cheap to obtain, depending on where you live.

Pine needle mulch will also help you save money on watering as it absorbs less water than other mulches.

It also takes much longer to decompose than different mulches, meaning you will have to replenish it far less than others. This will help you save money if you buy your mulch and time if you make your mulch.

Is Pine Needle Mulch The Best?

Researchers from the Indian Department of Soil Science compared a series of different organic and non-organic mulches and their effects on strawberry growth.

They compared pine needle mulch to a series of mulches, including grass, transparent and black polyethylene (plastic) and Eupatoriom. For the case of pine needles, they found quite a few interesting things.

First up, the researchers found that ALL mulched treatments increased minimum soil temperature. The polyethylene mulches performed better in that regarded while pine needle and grass mulch ended up lowering the maximum soil temp (which is good or bad depending on the scenario.)

Furthermore, all mulches were effective at retaining moisture with the polyethylene mulches retaining the most water and nutrients (of course they would, plastic doesn’t absorb water and traps airflow.)

Now for the good stuff, behind black polyethylene mulch, pine needles produced the second most root growth out of the rest of the mulch types, over transparent polyethylene and grass.

Another study from the Journal of Environmental Horticulture found that organic mulches (various barks, chips and needles) vs. polyethylene mulches led to a 50% decrease it total weed control, where plastic mulches led to total weed control.

I encourage you to do some more research on the fact, but the main takeaway here is that plastic is the best mulch, and pine needles / bark are probably more than good enough for your home use and will help decrease weed growth while increasing water retention, root growth, and yield.

Personally, I try to limit a lot of the plastic I use. So I would much rather use an organic mulch vs. inorganic unless I was running a farm where my yield = my income.

Here’s a quick chart summing up the difference between pine mulch and other mulches.

Incase you’re wondering, you can learn more about the difference between pine straw and pine needles here.

3. Pine Needle Mulch Will Keep Weeds Away

Since they are always competing with our plants for nutrients, water, and light, weed management is a top priority for most gardeners. That said, mulch is a great option to help combat this issue. 

Pine needle mulch makes it more challenging for weeds to germinate than other natural mulches because the seeds will often drop below the mulch.

The mulch also keeps the weeds from sun access, preventing them from growing successfully. When controlling weeds with pine mulch, a three to four-inch layer will do the trick! 

Because it is much more lightweight than other mulches, it is essential to manage the layer of pine needle mulch to keep weeds out. 

A few key points:

• Always ensure you have about a three-inch layer of pine needle mulch at all times.
• Pull weeds right away.
• Use a weed spray to help manage your beds. 

4. It’s Tidier Than Other Mulches 

You may notice that pine needle mulch is commonly used on hillsides and other kinds of slopes. It does an excellent job of staying in place, and there’s a reason for this!

Unlike other types of mulch, pine needles interlace each other making it less likely to move and shift around. Mulches like shredded wood, tree bark, grass clippings, etc., will float around, especially in areas with temperamental weather. 

If you’re tired of picking up debris and raking your mulch back into place, pine needle mulch might be just what you need.

How To Make Pine Needle Mulch 

Now that we’ve run through the benefits of pine needle mulch, I’m sure you’re curious about just how easy it is to make your own mulch. Spoiler alert, it’s very easy! Let’s take a look.

How To Source Your Pine Needles

Having an abundance of pine trees on your property can sometimes come with some frustration. Yet beautiful, these trees can get pretty messy. 

According to Utah State University Forestry Extension, new needles are produced every spring and summer and can last between two to four years. As your pine tree grows, you’ll see the newer needles in the front of the branches while the older needles sit further back. 

As time goes on, these needles become more shaded and less beneficial to the tree. So, then they fall off. The tree is constantly producing new needles and losing old needles. And as you know, all those old needles end up scattered all over your yard. 

As you’re sprucing up your yard, use those old pine needles as new mulch! Then, sit back and relax in your tidy yard, knowing you are reusing material and your plants are in good hands. 

As you prune your pine trees, collect the pine needles from the limbs you cut off. You can also harvest pine needles from dead or dying branches before they even hit the ground. 

Bonus tip: If you don’t have pine trees in your yard, try taking a walk around the neighborhood and ask your neighbors if they would like you to take some pine needles off their hands. They will probably be happy you’ve offered. You get free mulch and make new friendships; it’s a win-win for everyone!

Be resourceful! Don’t be afraid to use needles from the branches you prune through regular pine maintenance.

Making Your Pine Needle Mulch

If you’re collecting pine needles in your backyard, you will want to thoroughly rake the pine needles into a pile. It’s important to note that your average leaf rake may not do the trick with pine needles. As I’m sure you know, having the right tools for the job will make you more productive.

When picking the right rake for pine needle collecting, you must keep two things in mind. First, choose a rake with tines with a smaller spread so the needles don’t easily fall through. Second, a rake with a broader rake head will allow you to collect more needles per rake pass.

Either the Amazing Rake Back Saving Garden Rake or VIVOSUN 2-Pack Adjustable Garden Camping Rake would be our top recommendations! 

After successfully raking up all of your pine needles, you will want to break them down a bit. You can do this by going over your pile with a mower or running them through a shredder.

If you don’t have access to either of these tools, you can leave your pile to let it naturally break down before spreading your layer of mulch around your plants and trees.  

Applying Your Mulch To Plants And Trees 

Now that you’ve gone through the hard work of preparing your pine needles for mulch, you must apply your mulch in a way that will help your plants thrive. 

Here are a few guidelines for laying mulch, according to the University of New Hampshire: 

1. Lay mulch whenever you establish new plants. The mulch will allow the roots to develop by blocking competition with weeds.
2. Keep the mulch two to three inches from the base of the plant. Not doing this can create an environment for disease and pests. 
3. Mulch trees and shrubs up to or just past the drip line of the plant canopy.

If you grow plants under your pine tree, you can simply let them fall right underneath if you’d like!

Yes – You Can Buy Pine Needle Mulch!  

If you’re lucky enough to have a pine tree in your yard, you don’t have to worry about purchasing pine needle mulch. If not, don’t worry because pine needle mulch is relatively easy to come by. You can buy it locally at most plant nurseries, home improvement stores, or garden centers.

And if you love convenience, you can have pine tree mulch delivered right to your front door! This USA Pine Straw- Premium Pine Needle Mulch is highly rated and easy to use. This is an excellent option if you’re in an area where pine needle mulch is not locally sourced.

Pine Needle Mulch Best Practices 

Your work is never really done when it comes to gardening and tree care. Maintenance is half the battle! 

Once you’ve created or purchased and laid out your mulch, it’s time to make sure you’re taking care of it and replenishing it as needed. 

Let’s review the best practices to keep your pine needle mulch lasting long.

Test Your Soil’s pH

Some gardeners like to avoid pine needle mulch because they fear that it makes your soil acidic or that it is only suitable for acidic plants. However, this isn’t necessarily the case.

Yes, with a pH level of 3.2 to 3.8, pine needles are acidic, but they don’t necessarily make your soil acidic, 

According to Oregon State University, when pine needles are left to break down naturally, the decomposers in the soil will neutralize them.

It is only when you turn the freshly fallen pine needles into mulch right away that it could potentially change the pH of your soil, but even then, it won’t make that big of a difference. 

If you ever feel worried about the pH of your soil, you can always keep some soil testing pH strips on hand to ease your mind of any worry. 

These Plants Love Pine Needle Mulch 

Pine needle mulch is excellent for all your acidic and nonacidic plants. You can use it in your flower beds, vegetable beds, or around your trees and shrubs. Here are a few plants that love pine needle mulch: 

• Tomatoes
• Potatoes 
• Onions
• Berries like strawberries and blueberries
• Roses
• Daisies 
• Marigolds
• Azaleas
• Hydrangeas 

When To Add More Mulch 

One of the many benefits of pine needle mulch is that it is light, easy to move around, and easy to add. Also, it can last for quite a while! 

If you’ve ever taken a hike or stroll through any piney forest, then you’ve probably felt the bouncy-like mat created by the pine needles. It’s nice and sturdy, and it’s not easily blown away.

 It is a slow-to-decompose material, so you won’t need to refresh it as much as other mulches. 

A good rule of thumb is to ensure that the mulch stays at a level of about three to four inches. Once it starts dropping below that, it may need a refresh. 

To keep it healthy, give it a good raking to loosen up the mulch a bit in the springtime. Other than that, it doesn’t need much care! 

That’s A Wrap!

As you can see, mulch is a terrific addition to any garden bed or tree, especially if it’s pine needle mulch. Now for quick recap.

Pine needles make excellent mulch because:

• It does a great job of recycling local nutrients. 
• It’s cost-effective, especially if you have pine trees! 
• It will keep those pesky weeds away. 
• It’s nice and tidy due to its ability to stay in place more than other mulches. 
• It lasts a long time. 
• It won’t change your soil’s pH. 
• It’s easily sourced.

We hope we’ve given you all the resources (as well as some relief because those pine trees love to drop a lot of needles!) to help you get started on your mulching journey. Enjoy! 

Resources

Bhatt, L., Rana, R., Uniyal, S. P., & Singh, V. P. (2011). Effect of mulch materials on vegetative characters, yield and economics of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) under rainfed mid-hill condition of Uttarakhand. Veg. Sci, 38(2), 165-168.

Chandra, S., Singh, R. D., Bhatnagar, V. K., & Bisht, J. K. (2002). Effect of mulch and irrigation on tuber size, canopy temperature, water use and yield of potato (Solonum tuberosum). Indian Journal of Agronomy, 47(3), 443-448.

Nwosisi, S., Nandwani, D., & Pokharel, B. (2017). Yield performance of organic sweetpotato varieties in various mulches. Horticulturae, 3(3), 48.

Skroch, W. A., Powell, M. A., Bilderback, T. E., & Henry, P. H. (1992). Mulches: durability, aesthetic value, weed control, and temperature. Journal of environmental horticulture, 10(1), 43-45.

On account of both their longevity and the wide variety of species there are to choose from, pine trees are a popular landscaping choice for many homeowners. They’re useful for not only adding shade and windbreaks, but can also help the local ecosystem by adding food and shelter for wild birds and small mammals. That being said, before adding one or more of these trees to your own space it’s important to understand their care needs.

It’s crucial to know how much sunlight pine trees need to grow and thrive. Most pine trees need six or more hours of direct sunlight a day in order to remain healthy. Make sure to plant new pine trees in an area of your yard that won’t be overcast by shade for the majority of the day.

In this article, we’ll go over the importance of sunlight for pine trees, and also share some tips for watering and fertilizing your pine trees. Let’s get to it!

Why Is Sunlight So Important For Pine Trees?

First things first – pine trees, like all plants, need sunlight in order to thrive. If they don’t receive sufficient sunlight, these trees will not grow as well. 

While there are some species of conifers that can grow in partial shade or become acclimatized to partially shady conditions with careful care, the majority of pine tree species prefer growing in full sun (some exceptions to this include the Eastern White and Mugo species, which have evolved in such a way that they are actually more suited for shady environments).

Because of this, when planting a pine tree you should do your best to place it in a location where it will get plenty of sunlight; pine trees planted in locations that don’t receive enough sunlight will not grow as well or be as healthy as they otherwise could be.

In fact, it’s not unheard of for pine trees to wither and turn brown if they don’t receive enough sunlight, which makes the proper placement of your pine tree incredibly important.

Basic Pine Tree Requirements

The specifics of pine tree care can vary somewhat depending on which conifer species you select, but even so, there are some consistencies across the board that you should be aware of if you’re planning to have pine trees of your own. 

Pine Tree’s Require 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight

Because pine trees are so reliant on sunlight to reach their full potential, it’s important to ensure that they receive plenty of it during the day.

Generally speaking, a pine tree should be planted in full sun. This means that your pine tree should receive a minimum of six hours of direct unfiltered sunlight a day. 

As discussed earlier, certain species of pine trees are capable of growing in partially shady conditions with fewer hours of direct sunlight, but, you should definitely do additional research if this is something you might attempt. 

Pine Trees Need A Lot Of Water

Pine trees, like most evergreens, need a fairly substantial amount of water in order to survive.

Pine trees that don’t receive sufficient water will usually experience reduced levels of growth, and while some species of pine trees have adapted over time to be more drought-tolerant, a long period of time without enough water can have long-term detrimental effects on your trees.

Pine trees should even be watered in winter to help them grow their best!

Because while pine trees can survive periods of drought, extended periods without sufficient water will cause physical stress for the tree, which in turn can leave it susceptible to certain plant diseases and pests (something we will discuss further a little later on).

Therefore, it’s definitely better to make sure any pine trees in your care receive enough water. 

The general rule of thumb for watering pine trees is that they typically need to receive ten gallons of water for every inch of diameter in order to achieve healthy growth.

That being said, there is more to keeping a pine tree alive and in optimum condition than simply knowing how much water to give it; it’s also important to know when you should be watering your pine tree. 

Luckily, we have some tips later on in the article that can help you better understand how often to water your pine trees and how to adjust your watering schedule when necessary. 

Pine Trees Grow Fuller With Fertilizer

While pine trees don’t necessarily need as much assistance getting nutrients in comparison to other varieties of trees (most species are fairly adaptable when it comes to the soil they grow in), fertilizing them periodically is definitely still a good idea if you want them to reach optimum growth potential.

The use of fertilizer has not yet been proven to increase the actual photosynthetic rate of pine trees, but it has been observed that pine trees often exhibit better and fuller growth when fertilizer is used. 

Generally speaking, it’s recommended that when fertilizing pine trees you do so according to their size. Specifically, it is suggested that you use anywhere from one to two pounds of fertilizer for every inch of the tree’s diameter. 

That being said, always follow the instructions and recommendations that come with the fertilizer of your choice, and always consult the product information first so that you don’t run the risk of using too much fertilizer on your trees.

It’s also important to understand when to use fertilizers on your pine trees and when not to, which is something we will discuss more in-depth momentarily. 

Planting Tips For Pine Trees

When planting pine trees it’s generally best to place them in fertile soil with good drainage.

That being said, there are many different species of pine trees (some of which are capable of growing in a wide variety of soil types) so make sure to research what variety of pine tree is best suited for the area you live in. 

Of course, there’s more to successfully growing a pine tree than simply planting it in the ground, which is why we’re now going to discuss other important factors to keep in mind when dealing with conifers. 

Plant Your Pine In An Area With Light

As we previously discussed, it’s important to plant your pine trees in areas that get plenty of light in order for them to grow healthy and strong. 

As stated earlier, a pine tree should be planted in full sun (meaning that your tree should receive a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight every day). 

This means that you should also take care to not plant a pine tree too closely to other trees, both mature trees and saplings. 

Keeping your pine trees adequately spaced out from other trees will help prevent competition for both sunlight and nutrients. 

Make Sure You Water And Fertilize Your Pine As Needed

Many people often wonder how much water pine trees need and whether or not they should use fertilizer.

If these are questions that you also have, don’t worry! We have some tips to help you better meet the needs of your pine tree when it comes to watering and using fertilizer. 

Watering New Pine Trees 

When you first plant your new pine tree, you will want to water it frequently in order to help it develop a healthy root system; it’s generally recommended to water every day for the first few weeks. 

After those first few weeks, you can ease up on the watering schedule slightly and water every three or so days instead (it’s generally advisable to keep up this second watering schedule for about three months, to give the tree sufficient time to acclimatized to the new conditions and continue expanding its root system). 

Once your pine tree has had time to settle in, checking to see if it needs water is very straightforward: simply check the soil around it.

The soil should be damp or moist about an inch or two into the ground around the tree; if the soil is dry it’s a sign that your pine tree probably needs to be watered.

Mature Pine Trees Need Less Water

That being said, mature pine trees that are already well established don’t usually need to be as carefully monitored when it comes to watering, so once your tree has developed a healthy root structure and fully settled in you shouldn’t need to worry as much about frequent watering, especially if you live in an area that receives consistent rainfall (do make sure to periodically check the soil, however, and water your pine if it needs it, especially in the hot and dry season.)

Alternatively, you can set up a drip irrigation system to provide your pine trees with a consistent supply of water. Products such as mulch can also be used to help to retain moisture in the soil. 

And a good watering schedule or system can, of course, be supplemented with the use of fertilizer if you’d like to give your pine trees a little extra boost.

Here’s our full pine tree timeline if you’re interested in learning more about what stage your tree is at!

Make Sure To Fertilize Your Pine Trees

As mentioned above, fertilizer can be very beneficial when it comes to encouraging growth in your pine trees. 

That being said, while fertilization in general can help your trees to develop more robust foliage as they grow, giving them a fuller and healthier appearance, it’s generally not recommended to fertilize during the first year after planting. 

You May Not Need To Fertilize Your Pine Tree After The First Year

Once that first year has passed, it’s advised to fertilize your pine tree once a year as needed, with the recommended time of year being spring, since this is when the tree will naturally be experiencing the most growth. 

Evergreen trees such as pines can benefit from the use of fertilizer at key times of the year, such as spring. 

Products such as TreeHelp Premium Fertilizer for Pine and Down To Earth Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Mix 4-2-4 can be very effective when it comes to successfully fertilizing your pine trees and encouraging above-ground growth.

It’s important to note, however, that fertilizer should not be applied too late in the year, since new growth needs time to acclimatize and harden before colder fall and winter temperatures set in.

Protect Your Pine Tree From Storms

Once your tree reaches full maturity, it will likely be capable of withstanding most storms without additional assistance, however when you first put a young seedling or sapling into the ground it’s important to take the necessary steps to keep it safe during inclement weather conditions (particularly if strong winds are involved.)

Planting trees when they are young and small can help with this, since getting them in the ground when they’re young gives them a chance to develop a strong root system underneath the soil that will help prevent them from getting blown over.

Planting your pine tree in a location with plenty of space is also key; it allows the root system to spread out further and gives the tree a more secure base. 

Removing tree stakes as soon as possible once the tree is capable of standing on its own can also be beneficial, because allowing the tree to grow on its own and adapt to the flow of the wind without relying on stakes for external support can actually help strengthen the trunk over time.

Protect Your Pine Tree From Pests

It’s also important to protect your pine tree from harmful pests that might damage it.

Generally speaking, one of the the most important (and easiest) ways of protecting your pine tree from pests is to make sure it is receiving optimum care.

Making sure that your tree gets enough sun, water, and nutrients will ensure that the tree is not subjected to undue amounts of stress.

Stress can weaken a tree’s overall condition and leave it more vulnerable to both affilictions and pests, so keeping your tree happy and healthy is of critical importance.

Common Pine Tree Problems (And How To Fix Them)

Like with all plants, sometimes your pine trees will begin to do poorly and you’ll have no idea why. In order to help you prepare for these potential issues, we’ve listed here some common pine tree problems and how to resolve them.

Lack Of Sunlight

As you may have realized by now, it’s very important for pine trees to get plenty of sunlight. A pine tree that does not get enough sunlight can begin to wilt, droop, or even start to turn brown. 

The easiest way to solve this particular problem is to be sure your pine tree will be receiving enough sunlight before you plant it in the ground. Before planting a pine tree sapling, watch the intended location for a few days to be sure it receives at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. 

Alternatively, if you only realize that a lack of sunlight is a problem after planting, you can either remove whatever is obstructing the sunlight (such as other trees or shrubs that are overshadowing your pine tree) or relocate the pine tree sapling itself to a better location that receives more sunlight. 

Pollution

Pine trees can actually be rather sensitive to different types of pollution. In most circumstances the two kinds of pollution you’re going to want to be on the lookout for are air pollution and water pollution. 

Your pine tree might be exposed to air pollution if you live in an area that experiences a lot of road traffic (for example, if you live near a busy highway or in a city with a lot of smog). 

You should also be aware of the potential for water pollution. This type of pollution is less of a concern in rural areas, but if you live in an urban area that gets a lot of residential or industrial runoff during rainstorms it’s possible that the water your pine tree absorbs during these wet periods could contain chemicals that might be harmful to the tree’s health. 

While there is little you can do about air pollution, any concerns about water pollution can be addressed by ensuring that polluted runoff is redirected away from your pine tree as much as possible. 

Pests

Pine trees typically fall victim to a wide variety of different pests, including (but not limited to) weevils, borers, and aphids. Rodents can also nest in or near pine trees but typically won’t cause significant damage.

As mentioned previously, the easiest way to help prevent pest damage in your pine trees is to make sure your trees are getting enough sun and water to remain healthy; pine trees are usually capable of fighting back against most pests on their own as long as they are in good condition and aren’t suffering from any other detrimental issues.

That being said, it’s still a good idea to periodically inspect your pine trees for discoloration or damage; if you see anything out of the ordinary, it could be a sign that your pine tree needs additional help.

If you aren’t able to diagnose the issue on your own, please don’t hesitate to contact a local expert (such as an arborist or pest consultant.)

If it’s time for your pine tree to go, take a peak at our guide on the reasons to cut down you pine tree – pests are one of the most common issues!

Drought & Overwatering

As we mentioned already, pine trees (especially young or recently planted trees that have not yet developed full root systems) need to get enough water to remain healthy and grow to their full potential. 

Pine trees are particularly vulnerable during periods of drought; in some situations, drought can even cause pine trees to become diseased and in turn susceptible to infestation from harmful insects. So, if you are living in a region that is going through a drought, make sure you check on your pine trees frequently to ensure they are receiving enough water to remain healthy.

At the other end of the watering spectrum, there is also the issue of overwatering. While pine trees do need plenty of water, it’s important that they not receive too much. As mentioned earlier, your pine trees should be planted in well-draining soil; your pine trees should never be sitting in boggy or constantly soaked soil since this could potentially lead to root rot and other problems.  

Quick Recap!

All in all, planting and caring for a pine tree is very straightforward as long as you have an understanding of what these trees need in order to grow and thrive. 

To summarize, key tips to remember are:

• Pick the right pine tree for your region
• Most pine trees need full sun and plenty of space to grow
• Keep your trees well-watered without overwatering
• Use fertilizer as desired to encourage more robust foliage growth
• Monitor your trees carefully for any discoloration or damage
• When in doubt, consult with an expert

Happy pine Tree Journey! If you have some pine tree wood, take a look at what do with fallen pine trees here!

References

Aguadé, D., Poyatos, R., Gómez, M., Oliva, J., & Martínez-Vilalta, J. (2015, February 27). Role of defoliation and root rot pathogen infection in driving the mode of drought-related physiological decline in Scots pine (pinus sylvestris L.). OUP Academic. 

Klutsch, J. G., Shamoun, S. F., & Erbilgin, N. (n.d.). Drought stress leads to systemic induced susceptibility to a nectrotrophic fungus associated with mountain pine beetle in pinus banksiana seedlings. PLOS ONE.

Teskey, R. O., Gholz, H. L., & Cropper, W. P. (1994, November 1). Influence of climate and fertilization on net photosynthesis of mature slash pine. OUP Academic.

Trees and storms. Purdue Extension Forestry & Natural Resources. (2016, June 23). Retrieved September 4, 2022, from https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/trees-and-storms/ 

Pine trees add color to the landscape all year long and provide yards with shade on hot summer days. These evergreen trees require less pruning than deciduous trees, but there may be a few reasons to break out the pruning shears and get to work on your pine tree.

You need to prune your pine tree if there are dead or damaged branches. Pruning pine treese promotes bushier branches and increases trunk diameter, which can help with long term growth. It’s prudent to have your pine tree pruned if it’s interfering with roads, buildings, or utility lines.

We’ll go over all the reasons to prune your pine tree and when the best time is to do it. We’ll also give you some tips on how to properly prune your pine tree. Let’s get to it!

What Kind Of Pine Trees Need Pruning?

There are so many different types of pine trees out there – white pine, red pine, jack pine, ponderosa pine. Which ones need pruning and which ones can be left alone?

The reality is that any type of pine tree can be pruned if needed. The specific species does not matter. With that being said, some pine trees are easier to prune than others.

According to Clemson University, the height of pine trees can vary from 4 feet to over 150 feet. Pine trees that are already towering over 20 feet are going to be more difficult to prune than smaller pines.

Some pine trees (such as the loblolly pine) will actually lose their lower branches as they grow older, reducing the need for pruning near the bottom. Others have branches that touch the ground, requiring a little more attention when pruning.

A lot of the time pruning will depend on what you are looking to get out of your landscape pines. Do you want them to remain small? Or are the branches getting a little too close to your home? 

Either way, there are a couple of different reasons why you may want to prune your pine trees. Pruning even helps fix some of the reasons why your pine tree isn’t growing!

Why You May Need To Prune Your Pine Trees

Evergreens like pine trees require less pruning than deciduous trees. The reason is that pine trees have terminal buds, not lateral buds. 

Terminal buds mean that pines only grow at the tip of each branch and at the very tip of the tree as opposed to growing bushier or growing extra branches that poke out at odd angles from the trunk.

All pine trees follow the same basic growing structure, so there are no surprises during the growing season.

On a side note, know that pruning your pine tree will not damage it or cause stunted growth. Multiple studies like the one reported in the Journal of Forest Ecology and Management have found that pruning has no effect on long-term growth as long as it is done correctly.

Let’s check out the details around when you need to snip new growth and when to leave your pines alone.

Dead Or Damaged Pine Branches Should Be Pruned

Pine trees show signs of stress in different ways. The needles may turn brown or the branches may droop.

Dying pine tree branches can be caused by several different things:

• Poor nutrients
• Lack of water
• Too much water
• Pest insect
• Tree affliction

The most obvious sign that a pine branch is dead is if there is no new growth in the spring or summer. Usually, the needles will turn brown as well.

Damaged branches can range from obvious to barely noticeable. If a branch is cracked from a windstorm, it’s pretty obvious it needs to be pruned off.

However, branches that are quietly damaged by pests or afflictions may be harder to catch.

Look for some of these signs of damaged pine tree branches:

• Sticky needles: We expect a little sap to coat pines and their needles, but when there is so much sap that the needles are sticking together, it’s a sign that the branch is damaged.
  
• Drippy sap: If you’re noticing sap dripping off the pine tree or coating the trunk, it’s a sign that there’s some kind of damage happening to the branches
  
• Lack of growth: If terminals are dead, the pine tree will cease growing on the branch. This is usually due to a pest of some kind feeding on the terminal buds.

Damaged branches may recover over the following couple of years. Keep a close eye on whether or not there is new growth in the spring. If there isn’t, it’s a good bet that the branch is dead and should be pruned. Also, just an FYI, pine trees sometimes still need water in the winter.

Prune Pine Trees To Slow Their Growth

Some landscapes can support giant pine trees like the white, spruce, or slash pine that can reach up to 100 feet. However, many yards are just too small to have these massive sentinels towering over the neighborhood.

You can always go with a smaller species of pine like the Mugo pine or a dwarf variety like the dwarf Japanese Black or Scotch. 

However, if you inherit a yard with a species of pine tree that will grow to massive heights, you can use pruning to slow the growth rate and keep it small as long as possible.

In the spring, check your pine trees for new growth. The new growth will typically be lighter green in color and happen only on the tips of the branches or the top of the tree. This new growth is called a candle.

According to the University of Minnesota, you can remove up to two-thirds of the candle while pruning. 

Just make sure not to prune the entire candle! It’s also not recommended to prune the top of the pine tree as this can cause the tree to lose its pyramidal shape.

You can use something like Fiskar’s Gardening Tools Bypass Pruning Shears to prune new growth, but make sure you do not accidentally clip needles from old growth. This can cause them to turn brown.

Pruning will slow the growth of the pine tree, keeping it at a desirable height for a longer period.

If you have a potted pine tree that you want to keep small, take a look at our guide on the the best soil for pine trees in containers that will give you some more detailed tips!

Prune Pine Trees To Keep Them Neat And Tidy

When deciduous trees become unruly and start sprouting new branches, pruning is a way to control where and when branches sprout from the trunk.

For pine trees, this kind of pruning is done less often but can be incredibly useful when you want the pine tree to obtain a certain shape.

Pruning pine trees can help:

• Promote bushier branches: If your pine tree is looking a little sparse, you can use pruning to promote a bushier tree with thicker growth. It’s recommended to do this by hand rather than using pruning shears.
  
• Increase trunk diameter: According to an article in the Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities, pruning pine trees can result in an increased trunk diameter over the years.
  
• Make room for landscaping beneath pine trees: if your pine tree branches reach the ground but you’d rather have a few ornamental hostas or peonies beneath it, prune the bottom branches to make room.
  
• Reduce pine afflictions: Pruning your pine tree can prevent unwanted sicknesses that can cause ugly scars, gulls, and growths on your pine tree.

A study reported in the Journal of California Agriculture found that six years after pruning sugar pine trees, the number of infections on pruned trees was reduced when compared to unpruned trees. 

One thing to note about pruning the bottom branches of your pine tree is that these branches will never grow back. 

Once the branches are cut, the pine tree will only focus on continuing to grow taller and wider. It will not expend energy on regrowing branches. Before you break out the saw, make sure this is what you really want!

If you plan to use the space under your pine tree for landscaping, you can read about the best plants to grow under your pine tree here.

Pruning Pines Improves The Tree’s Strength

Pine trees have somewhat of a bad reputation for being easily blown over in high winds or after heavy ice storms.

It’s for good reason, too. Pine trees usually have a shallow root system. Even if the root system is extensive, it’s still mostly located within the top 6-12 inches of soil.

In addition to having a shallow root system, pine trees are evergreen. This means that the weight of their needles is a constant burden that does not get shed in the fall like deciduous trees.

All of this comes together to create a perfect storm.

What can be done about a tree that is naturally prone to falling over in a storm? One of the answers is to prune your pine tree. 

Simply put, pruning your pine tree for any reason can help it survive a storm. Pruning prevents pines from toppling over for several reasons:

• Pruning dead pine branches will reduce dead weight
• Pruning new growth promotes bushier branches, increasing wind resistance
• Pruning increases the width of annual growth rings, promoting a thicker, stronger trunk

If you’re worried about yelling “timber!” every time the wind blows, then consider pruning your pine tree to promote better, stronger growth.

Do you need to cut down a tree before the storm gets to it? Don’t be sad! This is one of many valid reasons to cut down your pine tree.

Pruning Your Pine Tree Helps Manage Wildlife

Wildlife can be pleasant and relaxing to watch. Squirrels hopping around on the ground, deer munching on grass, and birds chirping in the trees.

However, when wildlife gets a little, well, WILD and starts damaging our yards, gardens, and buildings, it is not so relaxing.

Pine trees provide plenty of animals with homes and cover:

• Birds
• Mice & Rats
• Moles & Voles
• Snakes
• Raccoons
• Opossums
• Skunks
• Squirrels
• Insects
• Porcupines

While a few of these animals aren’t bad to have around, others are less desirable. 

The two biggest reasons why animals flock to pine trees is because of cover and food. 

Branches close to the ground provide heavy cover for both predator and prey animals. Pine trees also provide many animals with a source of food in the winter. Porcupines will chew on the bark, deer will eat the twigs, and squirrels will eat the seeds from the pine cones.

Pruning can help manage the wildlife population in your yard, either encouraging or discouraging certain species.

To eliminate cover for wildlife, prune the bottom branches of your pine tree so that it is open. This will minimize the chances of mice, rats, snakes, opossums, and raccoons making a home in your pine tree.

If your goal is to encourage birds to move in, try pruning new growth to promote bushier branches. This will give birds better cover from predators and give them more options for nest locations.

Whether you want more or less wildlife, you can use pruning to get the job done!

Prune Pines That Interfere With Buildings, Roads, Or Wires

Landscape trees are wonderful to watch grow. If you’re around them long enough, you may watch them go from a young sapling to a full-grown tree.

While there’s always a little sentimental value with landscape trees, there are times when they become a little too big for the yard and need to be pruned.

Pine trees that are starting to interfere with buildings, roads, or utility lines should be pruned. 

Some examples of this are:

• Branches that are near rooftops or windows
• Branches that are looming over the house or walkway
• Pine trees that are approaching telephone, cable, or electric lines
• Branches that loom over roads or driveways

Depending on where you live, pine trees that are interfering with utility lines or roads will be taken care of by the township or county where you live. Of course, this isn’t always the case.

For the other two instances, it’s mainly left up to the landowner to take care of their own trees. 

The downside to pruning pine trees is that you can only prune two-thirds of the new growth. This might help for a few years, but eventually, the tree branch will continue to grow. 

At this point, you’ll need to decide whether or not you can live with a lop-sided pine tree or if you’d rather cut it down entirely. 

If you’re not sure what to do, you can always seek out a local arborist or ask a professional what their thoughts are.

If you decide to prune the pine tree branches, consider using a pole saw such as Greenworks 40V 8-inch Cordless Pole Saw. It comes with a battery and charger included – no need to worry about getting tangled in an electric cord!

The Greenworks pole saw can reach up to a maximum of 11 feet. If the troublesome branches are above this height, it may be time to seek out professional help.

If you’re interested in the specific lifespan of a pine tree, take a peak at our piece on how long pine trees take to grow here!

How To Properly Prune Your Pine Tree

We touched on this a little bit earlier, but it warrants going over again in more detail. Pruning your pine tree at the wrong time or using the wrong tools can cause branch die-back.

Pruning New Growth

For simple, yearly pruning, it’s recommended to use your hands to prune pine trees as opposed to tools.

Locate the new growth, called the candle, and break off the new growth using your fingers. Do not prune more than two-thirds of the new growth and do not prune old growth.

If you don’t want to do it by hand, you can use pruning shears. However, be careful not to accidentally cut any needles from the new growth which you are not cutting off. This can damage the new growth, turning the needles brown.

Removing Entire Branches

When you want to remove entire branches from the pine tree, first identify where the branch is located on the tree.

If it’s low enough, use a hand saw or chainsaw to cut the branch. If it’s too high to reach, consider using a pole saw to trim off the branch.

Remember, branches that are trimmed off will not grow back.

When Is The Best Time To Prune Pine Trees?

Pine trees aren’t like most trees when it comes to pruning. Even when compared to other evergreens like spruce and fir, pine tree pruning is different.

Instead of pruning in the late winter, you’ll want to prune pine trees in early to mid-summer, around June and July. 

This is the time of year when new growth is far enough along that you can see where to prune, but not so far along that pruning will slow or stunt growth.

Now, if your trimming pine tree tree branches that you suspect are dying, try to prune a bit later in the summer or early fall so that pests and any afflictions don’t spread from branch to branch as easily. Ultimately it won’t make a big difference, but it’s something to keep in mind!

When in doubt, contact a local arborist to get a better idea of how much to prune from your pine tree.

Is It Possible To Over Prune Your Pine Tree?

If you prune too much of your pine tree, is it a goner?

While pruning can promote better health for your pine tree, it is possible to prune too much. Pruning too much involves cutting too much new growth or cutting into old growth.

According to the University of Nebraska, pruning beyond new growth and into old growth will delay the formation of new buds for a full year.

The best practice is to cut no more than two-thirds of new growth each year. If you’re hesitant about how much to prune, go with less than you think. It’s better to cut too little than too much.

If you’re wondering what to do with the branches you pruned, here are some ideas of what to do with pine wood!

That’s All For Now!

Pine trees are an oasis in the winter, providing a splash of color when all else is grey and white. While these evergreens don’t require a lot of maintenance, there are a few reasons why you might want to prune them.

Now, for a quick recap!

Some of the reasons to prune your pine tree include:

• Dead or damaged branches
• To slow growth rate
• To keep a desired shape
• Improve structural strength
• Manage wildlife
• When branches are interfering with buildings, roads, or utility lines

Local arborists and tree professionals are a great resource when you’re not sure about whether or not you should prune your pine tree.

All in all, most pine trees do not require pruning. However, yearly pruning can help in certain situations and will, in general, promote a happy and healthy pine tree!

References

Amateis, R. L., & Burkhart, H. E. (2011, December). Growth of young loblolly pine trees following pruning. Forest Ecology and Management, 262(12), 2338-2343.

Giefing, D. F., Jonasz, K., & Wesoly, W. (2004). The Response of Thick-Branched Pine Trees To Pruning. Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities, 7(2).

Makinen, H., & Colin, F. (1999, September). Predicting the number, death, and self-pruning of branches in Scots pine. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 29(8), 1225-1236.

Moreno-Fernandez, D., Sanchez-Gonzalez, M., Alvarez-Gonzalez, J. G., Hevia, A., Majada, J. P., Canellas, I., & Gea-Izquierdo, G. (2014, March 14). Response to the interaction of thinning and pruning of pine species in Mediterranean mountains. European Journal of Forest Research, 133, 833-843.

O’Hara, K., Grand, L. A., & Whitcomb, A. A. (2010, January 01). Pruning reduces blister rust in sugar pine with minimal effects on tree growth. California Agriculture, 64(1), 31-36.

Pine trees are a beauty in any landscape and any season. They’re also evergreens, which means you can count on some natural color year round, whether you’re in the height of summer or the peak of winter. While they’re known for being fairly hardy trees, pine trees still need some special care, especially in the seasons they tend to be neglected the most.

Pine trees need some kind of watering year-round, even in the winter. However, it’s not always appropriate to water them every single winter day. Make sure the air temperature is at least 40 to 50°F, and that you water from the trunk of the tree to the area covered by the branches.

Of course, there are plenty of circumstances in which you should avoid watering pine trees in winter. And, there are just as many reasons to find the right conditions and take the time to water it throughout the winter.

Why You Should (Or Shouldn’t) Water Your Pine Tree In The Winter

Far too many people make the mistake of thinking that because they are evergreen the trees will essentially take care of themselves. Now, there’s a reason people think that: evergreens are known to be fairly easy to care for.

However, like any other living organism, pine trees still need a little oversight, some
maintenance, and the proper resources to grow.

Think of evergreens also as ever-growing. They aren’t plants that go dormant for months at a time until you’re ready to plant them again in spring. That means that, unlike plants that go dormant over the winter, they still need the resources to maintain their health.

But there are some times during the winter months when pine trees shouldn’t be watered. Some guidelines for reasons you shouldn’t water your pine during the winter are:

• Temperatures under 40°F
• Recent precipitation
• Snow cover
• A heavy frost expected during the day

It’s overall quite fascinating these green giants grow during the winter – you can take a peak at our article on how evergreens grow during winter if you’d like to learn about that. Otherwise, read on!

4 Reasons To Water Your Pine Tree During The Winter

1. Pine Trees Don’t Lose Their Leaves Like Other Trees

Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the colder seasons. Then, the leaves grow back as the weather warms.

As you might assume, pine trees don’t lose their leaves based on season, like deciduous trees (like maple trees) do. Because they don’t lose their leaves, (or in this case, needles) they still have to expend resources maintaining their foliage throughout the year.

Note: foliage is a term widely used to describe the ‘green’ parts of a plant, typically meaning stems, shoots, and most notably, leaves.

While trees that lose their leaves can more or less ‘hibernate,’ evergreens can’t. This means that your pine tree needs to be hydrated enough to keep its needles supplied with crucial resources.

2. Pine Trees Tend To Grow During The Winter Months

Unlike other trees, which lose their trees during the fall and winter, pine trees keep their needles throughout the year.

This allows them to take any bit of sunlight they get and convert it into energy to fuel their growth. Whenever any plant does this, it’s referred to as photosynthesis.

Because pine trees keep their needles, even in the winter months, they need some sources of sunlight and water. This is not only to maintain their leaves (needles) but also to use the sunlight gathered by those leaves to continue their growth.

Even though growth rates are slower in the colder months, the pine tree still needs the resources to balance the maintenance of leaves and new growth.

3. Watering Pine Trees In The Winter Can Keep The Soil Loose And Healthy

Most people think of soil as simply being the medium in which they grow their plants. However, far too few people take the time to consider the makeup of their soil (aside from fertilizing it and perhaps checking the pH levels).

Pine trees are like any other plant, they get the nutrients and water they need from the soil, but they also absorb some oxygen from it.

Very dry soil can become compacted, which means that aside from cracking on the very topside of it, there’s very little room for oxygen to move through. The roots of any plant need oxygen for healthy growth.

When soil becomes dry, water helps to loosen it up. As the soil loosens, there’s more ‘room for movement,’ so to speak. Essentially, that means that by watering your pine tree, you also loosen the soil. As a result, it allows more oxygen to move through the ground and reach the plants’ roots.

4. Watering Can Prepare Pines For Spring Growth

Most plants experience reduced growth throughout the winter, and pine trees are no exception. However, many evergreens spend much of the warmer months making up for growth and resources they went without during the winter.

By watering your pine tree during the winter, you’re helping it maintain its health during a tough season. Not only that, but you’re actually giving your pine tree a head start to begin better growth in spring.

Rather than seeking to make up for lost time and energy (i.e. repairing and replacing damaged or deprived needles), they can get started with optimal growth right away.

If your pine tree was newly planted in the Fall, take a look at our guide on what to expect with our full pine tree timeline overview!

How To Water Your Pine Tree During The Winter

So, you’ve decided that the right choice is to water your pine tree during the winter? You’ve verified that all the right conditions are in place? Great!

Now all you need to know is just how to water pine trees during the winter.

You may even have a regular irrigation system in place for the other three seasons. That’s wonderful, but chances are you’re not looking for burst pipes in the winter, and therefore likely don’t run it (And by the way, don’t risk burst pipes and water damage, just manually water your pine trees in winter).

Let’s review the pre-watering checklist again:

• Is the ambient air temperature at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit?
• Is there little chance of a hard frost within the next 12 hours?
• Is the ground free of snow cover?

If you can answer yes to these three questions, continue on. Otherwise, wait until your area does meet the conditions you read above.

Test The Soil For Moisture First

In many cases, this means you need to check the soil at a depth of at least four to six inches. Otherwise, the roots could already be saturated with moisture. By adding more water, you can actually cause more problems.

After you dig a very small hole to that depth, you can just feel for moisture with your fingers. The soil should be mostly dry or just a little damp before you begin watering.

Here’s a tip: it can be difficult to feel moisture accurately in cold weather. If you’re unsure, a moisture meter can let you know for sure. We recommend the SONKIR Meter– it measures soil moisture, pH level, and light exposure.

Find The Area You Need To Water

Watering pine trees in winter is more precise than it initially appears. In the spring and summer, you may be able to get away with watering the general area. Or, if you have an irrigation system, where to water your pine isn’t likely something you usually even think about.

But you want to keep the ‘watering area’ contained within a certain diameter. And it’s important to know that this area is completely dependent on your tree, and its size.

Remember, the roots of your pine tree spread underground, and aren’t limited to the area beneath the trunk.

With that in mind, you should still start watering your tree around the base of the trunk. However, you still need to spread the water further, to ensure that the roots get equal moisture.

But where do you stop?

Water your pine tree in the area that starts from the base of the trunk and extends to the length of the lower branches. This area is often called the ‘dripline.’

Figure Out How Much Water To Give Your Pine Tree

While you’ll see many sources telling you to water the pines with 10 gallons of water for every inch it measures around (and yes, that is a lot of water), that rule doesn’t necessarily apply to watering in winter.

You do want to make sure you give your pine tree enough water. At the very least, you should make sure the moisture from the initial watering seeps at least a few inches deep (for a mature tree). For juvenile pine trees, saturating the soil by just one or two inches is usually sufficient.

A study from Forest Ecology and Management notes that the larger the pine tree is, the
deeper the watering needs to go to supply the roots.

The key is to go slow and check saturation as you go. In winter especially, it takes a little longer for water to seep down into the soil. It’s far better to take a little extra time and ensure that your tree is getting a proper balance of moisture and oxygen. Remember, while watering can help oxygenate the soil, too much water can drown the roots.

If you’re not experiencing much humidity or active precipitation, watering your pine trees once or twice a month during the winter should be sufficient.

Mulching Your Pine Tree During Winter

Mulching is a pretty familiar concept to regular gardeners. But, for the uninitiated, mulching is basically covering the soil around your plants or trees with a natural material, often including wood chips, grass clippings, straw, or fallen leaves.

If you’re concerned about your pine trees’ well-being in the winter, and you’re (clearly) doing your research, mulching is going to come up pretty frequently.

So, should you mulch your pine tree in the winter? Yes! Mulching insulates plants, helps moisture retention, and can even help fertilize them.

Read on to find out why mulching pine trees is important, especially around winter.

Mulch Helps Retain Moisture For Pine Trees

A lot of moisture that isn’t immediately used by plants evaporates through the soil as it dries out.

If you experience a lot of precipitation, such as in a rainy season, this isn’t necessary. However, in winter, even if you see snowfall, this isn’t moisture that’s really available for the deeper roots of your trees.

Using a mulch like FibreDust CoCo Mulch (which is designed for moisture retention) can make keeping your pine trees hydrated much easier.

It’s best to mulch your pines before the temperature really drops (to 40 degrees or below). This allows your soil to retain as much moisture as possible. As a result, it lowers the chances of your pine trees becoming dehydrated throughout the winter even when you can’t water them.

As a bonus, mulching can also help insulate the soil and maintain the temperature for longer.

Mulch Acts As A Fertilizer For Pines

If you thought mulch was only useful as an insulator or method of retaining moisture, just wait. Not only does mulching serve that purpose, but it does more than that.

Because the materials you use for mulching are organic (meaning they will go through natural processes of decomposition) they go back into the soil. How does that affect your pine trees?

It allows essential nutrients to release into the soil. This begins slowly when you add mulch around your pine trees, and amplifies as spring and summer arrive.

Fertilizing Your Pine Tree In The Winter

If you mulch your pine trees, there’s really no reason to fertilize them in the winter. The temptation to fertilize, when you water during the winter is strong. However, it’s not necessary!

A lot of people think that if they’re watering, they may as well do two things at once and fertilize. The problem is that your pine tree isn’t trying to grow significantly during the winter.

Sure, your pine tree might grow a bit during the winter. But this isn’t its main growing season. Your primary focus should only be on helping your pine tree maintain the best health possible for when spring and summer arrive.

In short, do not fertilize your pine trees in winter.

Wait Until Spring To Fertilize Your Pine Tree

If you’re going to do the work of watering your pine trees in winter, why not fertilize them? It’s a fairly common question.

The fact is, fertilizing during winter can do more harm than good.

You’re basically confusing your plants with the nutrients you give them. Fertilizing your pine tree in winter gives it a signal that it should put energy into producing new growth. There’s a reason new growth happens in spring.

Warmer temperatures and increased sunlight are ideal conditions for new growth. In cold temperatures with decreased sunlight, a pine tree’s resources are diverted to new growth that really has no chance of thriving.

Several studies, including a particularly notable study published in Nature Communications, show that while the temperature may play a contributing factor, increased sunlight (referred to as solar radiation) is the main indicator for boosting photosynthesis, and as a result, hastened growth.

Wait Until Spring To Fertilize Pine Trees

This gives new growth a chance to thrive and harden off, or acclimate to cooler temperatures before winter comes.

Hardening off is an important process and allows pine trees to absorb the proper amount of sunlight, without any abnormal decrease due to the change. A study published in Planta showed that without allowing new growth time to harden off, the ability of the pine (in the new needles and branches) to absorb sunlight is limited.

Here are some of the best soils for pine trees!

Wrapping Up!

Should you water your pine tree in the winter? Yes! As long as there isn’t snow cover and it’s at least 40 degrees or warmer outside.

Other important points to remember before planting or watering your pine tree:

• Fertilize only in spring, not winter
• Mulching preserves moisture and humidity
• Adding mulch also helps fertilize pine trees
• Water pine trees slowly
• Distribute water evenly through the dripline area (from the trunk to where the lowest branches reach)
• Check the soil before you water
• A little water helps the tree and the soil, but too much can suffocate roots

Pine trees do have some growth during the winter. But more importantly, they have to maintain the needles they have. If they become dehydrated, they won’t have the resources available to keep their existing needles healthy. In turn, that means they have less foliage to gather sunlight and convert it into usable energy.

Should you water your pine tree in winter? Yes, but only do it once or twice a month, and only when the conditions are right.

References

Bag, P., Chukhutsina, V., Zhang, Z., Paul, S., Ivanov, A. G., Shutova, T., … & Jansson, S. (2020). Direct energy transfer from photosystem II to photosystem I confers winter sustainability in Scots Pine. Nature Communications, 11(1), 1-13.

Kerhoulas, L. P., Kolb, T. E., & Koch, G. W. (2013). Tree size, stand density, and the source of water used across seasons by ponderosa pine in northern Arizona. Forest Ecology and Management, 289, 425-433.

Vogg, G., Heim, R., Hansen, J., Schäfer, C., & Beck, E. (1998). Frost hardening and photosynthetic performance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) needles. I. Seasonal changes in the photosynthetic apparatus and its function. Planta, 204(2), 193-200.