Pitch Canker remediation: Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)

The purpose of this job was to remove only tissue that was dead or infected with pitch canker.

Pitch canker is a fungal disease spread by the exploratory feeding of insects like bark beetles. As the fungal lesions girdle branches, the tips of the branches stop receiving water and dry up (see photos of a lesion and tip die-back). Interestingly, the fungus doesn't move around inside the infected tree, so target pruning to remove infected limbs can clear the tree of infection. It's important to only prune pines and Douglas fir only insects are least active (November - February).