How do you tell what is wrong with a Limber Pine "pinus flexilis" (Riverbend)?

Question

We bought this house last year and the tree turned brown after the winter... could it have been not watered enough the previous year (last owners were slobs)? Its just the tips of the needles that turned brown and some of the needles fell off. The new growth is green, yet the lower three feet of the tree is weeping and the bark looks cracked. Could it be disease or a pest or just a lack of water and got winter burnt?

Answer 1

most likely its pests. the same thing happened to a tree in my backyard. and we cracked it open cuz it died, and insect larvae (ugh!) came pouring out!