Question
I have an 80-90 foot pine tree that is losing needles as if it were the Fall.  It's been losing them since the end of May (it's now mid-July).  I'm in Newton Massachusetts.  The rain fall has been somewhat less than normal but not a drought by any means?  Could the tree be dying?

Answer
If the needles on the end of the branches are green then this is normal. Pines have two sets of needles. They shed the older set each year after a new set of needles has budded out. The older set of needles are what you are seeing fall. Pine do not drop these needles in the fall as hardwoods do but during the year. The less rain fall can cause the needles to drop sooner and usually in more numbers than normally. As long as there are green needles on the ends of the branches the tree is not dying.