Question
I live in Spanish Fork,UT and I have 4 white pines on 4 corners of my property. 3 of the 4 appear to be dying.From underneath as you look up the inner branches have no needles on them and they are brittle, like they aren't getting enough water.Only the very tips about 1 foot in have needles. They are about 20 years old. Do they still need to be watered regularly? I try to give them a good soaking 3 or 4 times a summer. Should it be more or what is my problem?

Answer
As pines grow the inner limbs are shaded and they drop their needles and some of the limbs will die and be self pruned from the shading. This is normal. Also pines have two sets of needles and although they are called evergreens they do drop needles. the older set of needles will be shed and the needles don the ends of the branches are still green. Until the new needles bud out in the spring the tree may look like it is sick due to the loss of the old needles. As long as the tree has green needles on the ends of the branches it is ok. I would not water unless you have a drought in progress. Pines put out a tap root to get water from deep in the soil and 20 year old pines will have a root system developed to and usually will not need watering.

The trees sound normal to me.