Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: Cleaning of Needles, 1 by conifers

conifers wrote:
All conifers not just Pines need removal of both the inside and below the plant. Thatch build up on either or will suffocate the conifer. The two most problematic are Pinus and Larix. Thrirdly, the most tight congested cultivars such as Pinus strobus 'Sea Urchin' as mentioned above need the most care.

It's been noted in the Harper Collection of Conifers that these miniatures especially were dying after 10 years (or whatever) and were continuously being replaced until the cause was known. Now, these plants are fluorishing.

and "CSS" is a term (not CCS) Chub Harper coined as for standing for: Conifer Suffocation Syndrome.

Larger trees don't need needle build up removal, however when they shed (White Pine for example) will increase build up inside the plants and below them. That's also where extreme build-up at the base becomes problematic, once again.

Dax