I have a pine tree whose branches have died for the bottom 25 feet, but which is alilve with needles and cones for the remaining 10.
Does that prove it's dead, or almost dead?
After all, normal thriving pine trees lose their lower branches all the time.
Somewhat normal for a pine, depends on how much light the lower part gets. If it's ugly, remove it and start over.
Yes, sounds normal.
A German friend once saw that I planted a Norway spruce and commented that the Black Forest consisted of them. It was called the Black Forest as when you were beneath them it was very dark from lack of sun.
In some species that is somewhat normal but it also might mean you have pine beetles. Watch the progression and plan on how you will cut it down if it dies. I suppose you could call an agricultural agent. They might take it down for you to slow the spread if it is beetles.
I'll look. Can I just poke a hole in the bark to find the beetles? They're not on the outside, iirc. (I'll look again.) .
The ones we see here are pretty small but they do live under the bark.
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