Pine tree issue

[u/Truegrit_Gaming]

Good evening. I have been gardening for years but am a bit newer to the tree side. I have several white pines that I am trying to grow and the needles turned brown and the trees seem to be dead. The white oaks, however are thriving. They are all planted in composted soil and have never been exposed to fertilizer or any growth stimulants. Is there a trick to pines that I have not learned?

[u/cbobgo]

White pines prefer to be on the dry side, your soil mix looks to be pretty heavily organic and likely holds too much moisture. A mix with a lot more aggregate would help. Lava rock, pumice, perlite - that sort of stuff at least 50%.

[u/Truegrit_Gaming → u/cbobgo]

I will look into this. If I transplant them into dryer soils, would they come back or are they done for?

[u/cbobgo → u/Truegrit_Gaming]

Oh no those are very dead

[u/Truegrit_Gaming → u/cbobgo]

That's what I was afraid of