Your Checklist for Prevention

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Did you know...the fungus that causes Swiss needle cast is native to the western United States?

Credit: Bruce Watt

If you have wet land, or a particularly humid area on your land, you could avoid planting Douglas-fir there.

On the other hand, if you aren't worried about the appearance of your trees or how quickly they grow, you can ignore Swiss needle cast. Because the fungus that causes Swiss needle cast lives in almost all Douglas-firs already, there’s no point in trying to control its spread, as you would do with other diseases.

Whatever decisions you're trying to make with your woods, you don’t have to go it alone. State, county or consulting foresters, the Forest Service or your local cooperative extension service can all help you protect your woods and preserve your forest legacy.