Question
There is something eating away at our 40+yr old pine trees.  Just a year or so ago they were
healthy and had full branches low to the ground.  Now the branches are bare half way up and all the needles are gone.  I see no sign of anything visible destroying them. I am desparate to stop whatever it is before it is too late.  Do you have any advice or answers?
Thank you!

Answer
I do not know of any disease or insect that would effect just the lower needles. It sounds like normal shedding of needles from lower brancjes that are shadded. As a pine grows older the lower branches are shed and usually from the shadding effect. This is normal and will not cause the pine any problems. As long as the foliage (crown) area composes more than 30% of the length of the trunk and is green and full the tree is OK. Fertilizing the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer will increase the overall health of the tree--use 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good--apply just before a rain storm and you will not need to water in.  Makes sure you do not use a lawn fertilizer called Weed and Feed near the tree --this contains a herbicide that could kill the tree.