A: Your pine trees, which are located across from the beach, are probably Japanese Black Pines, Pinus Thunbergiana. I found numerous, tiny pine needle aphids on the pine tree with the brown needles. The aphids are sucking out the plant juices from the needles and causing them to turn brown. You could use insecticidal soap or horticulture oil on the needles. These two products can be found at any garden center. Be sure to follow the directions on the label and apply it thoroughly to all the pine needles. Avoid applying it when on windy days, which is difficult to do with normal ocean breezes, so pick the calmest time of day. Applying these insecticides should not be too difficult since the trees are only about 10 feet tall with some of the limbs close to your height. The trunks on two of the trees showed signs of fungal damage, which means the trees will eventually decline, although we cannot say exactly when death will occur. There is no chemical spray that can be applied to correct the damage. The fungus is easily spread from tree to tree as the fungal spores are spread by wind. Removing the trees may be a viable option. The good news is the trees are in the middle of your landscape so they pose little danger to any structure or human if they fall.

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