Don’t panic! Even though we call them “evergreens,” conifers such as pine, arborvitae, spruce, and cypress shed their old needles at this time of the year, with a show of yellowing or browning that at first sight can be of concern. But in fact, inner-needle drop is a normal part of the life cycle, with the rate of drop varying by species. The Eastern White Pines seem to be the most dramatic in their needle drop, giving us a new carpet of pine needle mulch around the trees.
So, as you are out and about in the Arboretum and notice this phenomena, don’t be concerned; it is all a part of the life cycle of evergreens.
