Texas FFA Nursery Landscape Practice Exam

Which of the following would be the best response if a client calls you in October and wants to know what to do about a 20-foot Japanese pine that has turned completely brown?

1. Wait until spring and see if it sprouts green needles again.

2. Do nothing. Pine trees shed naturally in the fall.

3. Cut it down. It is definitely dead.

4. Do nothing. The Japanese pine is just going dormant.

The correct answer is: Cut it down. It is definitely dead.

The most effective response to a client’s inquiry about a 20-foot Japanese pine that has turned completely brown in October would be to conclude that the tree is likely dead and recommend cutting it down. When a pine tree turns completely brown, especially outside of its typical seasonal color changes, it can indicate severe stress, disease, or pest damage. Pines generally do not shed all their needles; they may lose some in the fall, but a complete browning often suggests a more serious issue. In this case, while some trees may recover from damage if the underlying cause is identified and addressed, the complete browning observed here is a strong signal that the tree may not be viable. Therefore, cutting it down would prevent further problems in the landscape, such as hazards from dead branches or the potential spread of disease to other healthy plants. Other responses may offer too much optimism or misinterpret seasonal behavior; for instance, waiting until spring might lead to unnecessary delay without addressing the probable issue at hand, while claiming that the tree is simply dormant overlooks the signs of distress. Overall, evaluating the condition of the tree contextually and recommending its removal is the best course of action based on the situation described.