As usually happens in the fall, I’ve been getting calls from people concerned about the yellowing or dropping of needles from their evergreen trees (another call this morning). In most cases this is normal – the older needles drop off in fall. The tree doesn’t need that full canopy for photosynthesis in the winter, and the reduction in surface area could benefit the tree by decreasing water loss and lessening potential for storm damage. It seems like the phenomenon is more ap