Got Nature? Blog

Purdue Landscape Report: Temperatures are finally dropping and leaves are changing color. Autumn is progressing well in my opinion. Before you know it winter will be here, and some people will be wondering is there anything to be done to better protect the trees around you?  The answer is yes, and I applaud you for your initiative to continue caring for your trees. To give your trees the best chance to survive the winter and better thrive next year there is an assortment of activities available ranging from diy projects up to calling in an ISA certified arborist to help you out.

Mulching:
One simple task to better prepare your trees for winter is to add a new layer of mulch, which benefits your trees in multiple ways. Adding a 2-3 inch thick layer of mulch will better maintain moisture levels and buffer extreme temperature changes in the soil and will add some organic matter too. Mulching to the drip line will benefit the tree the most, but in the case of larger trees it’s not always feasible. Try for at least a 3-foot radius from the trunk and make sure to leave a 2 inch or so gap between the trunk and the mulch. Remember, no volcano mulching.

Fertilizing:
That mulch you just added will add some organic material to your soil as it slowly breaks down, but an autumn fertilization can benefit your trees too. Unlike trees in the forest that have a natural supply of nutrients from fallen leaves and twigs, trees around our homes are usually deprived as we rake and clean up our yards. Adding a slow-release fertilizer in the fall helps provide a nutrient boost over the winter, can promote root growth, and better prepare your tree for Spring.

Watering:
Water is still an essential part of your tree care plan, but as temperatures drop and trees begin to head into dormancy they don’t need as much water as is required in the hit summer months. If you have irrigation systems in your yard start to drop the frequency of watering. You can water up until the first freeze, but make sure soils are just a little damp and not soaked. Evergreens in particular will benefit from slow deep watering 1-2 times a week until the soil freezes. Winter winds and temperatures can desiccate the needles without an adequate supply of water.

Pruning:
Now is a good time to prune out any dead, damaged, or diseased limbs in your trees. If you have access to hand saws and pole saws or pruners, you can remove smaller branches or those closer to the ground. Make sure you are making proper pruning cuts though, and if there are large limbs, those at heights, or you are just unsure of how to make a good cut enlist the help of a professional arborist.

Trunk damage:
Sunscald or southwest damage occurs on young and/or thin barked trees in the winter. Wounds can occur between the south to southwest facing part of the trunk on sunny days in the winter as temperatures rise and suddenly drop. Over time these wounds can become quite large. Trees can also incur damage from deer during the rut. Bucks will scrape trees with their antlers, scraping off the bark and damaging the cambium. Both of these injuries can be reduced one younger trees by installing tree guards in the fall. Tree guards are plastic barriers you place around the main stem of the tree. I recommend using white corrugated drainage pipe that can be found at most home centers. You can make a cut lengthwise along the pipe for easy installation and make sure it has a large enough diameter to leave a space between it and the tree. Just remember to remove it come Spring.

Inspections:
Visual inspections can be done year-round, but this time of the year it might be easier to see changes in your tree as leaves are falling and the canopy becomes more visible. From the ground up to the canopy, some of the things you’re looking for include fungal growth around the base of the tree, any sort of damage on the main stem or branches, premature leaf drop or color change, and branches that are dead, cracked, diseased, or seem weak. Any concerns you find are also great information to share with an ISA Certified arborist which can be found using the Trees Are Good website.

To view this full article and other Purdue Landscape Report articles, please visit Purdue Landscape Report.

Subscribe and receive the newsletter: Purdue Landscape Report Newsletter.

Resources:
Re-mulch Your Trees, Purdue Landscape Report
Pruning, Purdue Landscape Report
Southwest Damage/Sunscald, Purdue Landscape Report
Planning the Tree Planting Operation, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Tree Risk Management – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Tree Planting Part 2: Planting Your Tree, The Education Store
Planting Your Tree Part 1: Choosing Your Tree, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Summer Tree Care, Purdue Landscape Report
Tree Defect Identification, The Education Store
Tree Wound and Healing, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Surface Root Syndrome, The Education Store
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store
Ask an Expert: Tree Selection and Planting, Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube playlist
ID That Tree, Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube playlist
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Ben McCallister, Urban Forestry Specialist
Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources

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The Indiana Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering an opportunity for landowners to apply for cost assistance with conservation practices like tree planting, forest stand improvement, invasive species control, wildlife habitat improvement and many others.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service News Release, Indianapolis, IN, October 11, 2023 – Farm Bill program application dates have been set for Indiana’s agricultural producers who want to improve natural resources and address concerns on their land. Curtis Knueven, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Acting State Conservationist, announced that December 8 will be the application deadline for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) in Indiana. This year’s funding levels are a historic high for Indiana NRCS, bringing $42 million in EQIP and $22 million in CSP for Indiana landowners.

EQIP is a voluntary conservation program available for agricultural producers. Through EQIP, NRCS provides financial and technical assistance to install conservation practices that reduce soil erosion and sedimentation, improve soil health, improve water and air quality and create wildlife habitat. Also included in this sign up are several state and national initiatives. A full list of initiatives can be found by visiting www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-environmental-quality-incentives/indiana/environmental-quality-incentives.

“EQIP helps agricultural producers in a manner that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals,” said Knueven. “Farmers can receive assistance to implement structural and management conservation practices that optimize environmental benefits on their working agricultural land while helping to increase their yields.”

CSP is an important Farm Bill conservation program that helps producers who are already practicing good stewardship to take their natural resource management to the next level. The program helps to improve both their agricultural production and provide valuable conservation benefits such as cleaner and more abundant water, as well as healthier soils and better wildlife habitat.

“Whether you are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop resiliency, or develop wildlife habitat, we can custom design a CSP plan to help you meet those goals,” Knueven said. “We can help you identify natural resource problems in your operation and provide technical and financial assistance to solve those problems or attain higher stewardship levels in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner.”

While applications are accepted year-round, interested producers should work with their local NRCS staff and apply by December 8 to be considered for the current funding period. Applications received after December 8 will automatically be considered during the next funding cycle.

For more information about Farm Bill programs and other technical and financial assistance available through Indiana NRCS conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/indiana or contact your district conservationist www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator.

Resources:
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: EQUP, video, Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Single Tree and Patch-Cut Harvesting, Purdue Extension – FNR Video
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Woodland Management Moment: Invasive Species Control Process, Purdue Extension – FNR Video
Woodland Management Moment YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Invasive Species YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
What are invasive species and why should I care?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Report Invasive Species, Purdue Invasive Species
The GLEDN Phone App – Great Lakes Early Detection Network
EDDMaps – Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment: Uneven-aged Management, Purdue Extension – FNR Video
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment: Even-aged Management, Purdue Extension – FNR Video
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center

Natural Resources Conservation Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement & Regeneration Center (HTIRC)
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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Purdue Landscape Report: Mites are eight-legged arthropods who pierce plant cells to feed on them.  Plants that are attacked by mites lose their green color and appear somewhat bronzed. Spider mites will make webs to help them forage on leaves unencumbered by irregular leaf surfaces. The accumulation of webs, and old skins of mites can give heavily infested plants a dusty appearance. This can make plants unsightly and affect their health.

Lack of rain this summer and fall has spared spider mites from drowning and being washed off leaves during heavy rains.   Warm weather in late August and September allowed warm season mites, like two spotted spider mite, European red mite on flowering fruit trees, honeylocust, maple and oak spider mites to flourish. With the daily highs consistently below 85 F, cool season mites like spruce spider mite, boxwood spider mite and southern read mite have been increasing in number.

Now would be a good time to take stock of which plants have spider mites to help you plan your control strategy.

Cool season mites, including southern red mite, boxwood spider mite and spruce spider mite may require treatment this fall to keep their populations from building. This could be accomplished with a garden hose and a strong stream of water or a 2% solution of horticultural oil or insecticidal soap.

At this point in the season, there is usually no need to spray trees for warm season spider mites.  Because most spider mites will winter on trees and shrubs, these mite infested trees can be targeted for a spray of oil during the dormant season.  It is important to note that plants with two spotted spider mites will not benefit from an oil spray because they winter in the ground cover. Also, be sure not to spray oil on shrubs with waxy blue leaves. This wax often protects plant leaves from strong winds and sun in the winter.

To view this full article and other Purdue Landscape Report articles, please visit Purdue Landscape Report.

Subscribe and receive the newsletter: Purdue Landscape Report Newsletter.

Resources:
Managing Spider Mite Mayhem with the Purdue Plant Doctor, Purdue Extension Entomology YouTube Channel
Purdue Plant Doctor Website
Spider Mites On Ornamentals, Purdue Extension Entomology Bulletin
Tree Defect Identification, The Education Store
Tree wounds and healing, Got Nature? Blog
Tree Risk Management – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Why Is My Tree Dying? – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
The Woody Plant Seed Manual, U.S. Forest Service
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Invasive Species, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Report Invasive Species, Purdue Invasive Species
Find an Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture
Subscribe Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Cliff Sadof, Professor and Extension Fellow
Purdue Entomology

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Purdue Landscape Report: Dead man’s fingers is an apt moniker for a gruesome-looking fungus (Xylaria polymorpha and related species) that produces club-shaped fungal fruiting bodies that appear as fingers growing around the base of dying or dead woody plants and even wooden objects in soil (Fig. 1).  With more than 25 species of Xylaria, generalizations are difficult to make (Fig. 2), but we will persevere anyways, recognizing that some Xylaria species are limited to a saprophytic existence decomposing wood (like X. polymorpha) while others, like X. mali, cause an opportunistic black root rot on apple and crabapple (Rogers, 1984; Rogers and Callen, 1986) or nothing at all (Fig. 2). Other Xylaria species infect Norway maple, honey-locust, elm and pears (flowering and edible).  Perhaps the scariest thing about dead man’s fingers is its taxonomy: X. polymorpha is an extremely variable and complicated species showing “multiple interfaces and intergradations with numerous other taxa” making speciation a challenge (Lee et al, 2000), which may explain why a crabapple with a bad graft union covered in dead man’s fingers looks otherwise healthy!

Symptoms and Signs

Symptoms of infection by Xylaria may appear as stress and decline, including slowed growth, dieback, premature autumn coloration and leaf drop, and even crown or structural root cankers. Apple, crabapple or pear trees infected may produce an unusually large crop of undersized fruit.

Signs of Xylaria are more readily identified—namely, the dead man’s fingers (Fig. 4)! The club shaped, fingerlike fruiting bodies appear singularly or as clustered “fingers” about  1- 4 inches high, often at the base of infected or dying trees, or nearby large structural roots (Fig 4).  In the spring, ascospores are produced by the “fingers”, creating a bluish bloom on the tips of the fingers. Cutting into a finger reveals a white interior with black bubbles that produce the sexual spores (ascospores).  The “fingers” can release these spores for several months or years.  In the spring, Xylaria can produce asexual spores (called conidia) anywhere on its surface, while also producing threadlike structures (called hyphae) that grow through dead or dying wood.  Xylaria can survive as hyphae in roots for up to 10 years and can spread from plant to plant via hyphae when plant roots contact each other.

To view this full article and other Purdue Landscape Report articles, please visit Purdue Landscape Report

Subscribe and receive the newsletter: Purdue Landscape Report Newsletter.

Resources:
Tree Defect Identification, The Education Store
Tree wounds and healing, Got Nature? Blog
Tree Risk Management – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Why Is My Tree Dying? – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
The Woody Plant Seed Manual, U.S. Forest Service
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Invasive Species, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Report Invasive Species, Purdue Invasive Species
Find an Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture
Subscribe Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Janna Beckerman, Professor of Plant Pathology
Purdue Department of Botany

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The Purdue Extension – Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) team would like to take this time to thank our followers for their requests and comments. We received requests to improve our Purdue Extension – FNR’s Got Nature? Blog social media buttons and we would like to announce they are ready for you to share our articles. You can easily share the blog articles to X-Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, along with an Email option.

The Got Nature? Blog was started 11 years ago to allow the FNR Extension team to share aquatic, forestry, natural resources, wildlife, urban forestry and wood products hot topics along with answering any questions regarding these areas. The blog producer Diana Evans, Web and Extension Specialist, has been with the blog from the start. The Got Nature? blog has had over 166,000 web visits in the past three years.

If you have a natural resource topic you would like to hear from our experts about, fill out our quick and easy Contact Us form.

Subscribe to our Got Nature? e-newsletter and receive our resources and updates. All email addresses are secure and only used for the Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources’ Got Nature? newsletter mailing.

What is Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)?
Purdue Extension – FNR is a part of a larger group, the Cooperative Extension Service (CES), one of the nation’s largest and best-researched providers of science-based information and education. Purdue Extension delivers practical, research-based information and provides high-impact educational programs that enhance lives and livelihoods.

Resources:
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel
ID That Tree, Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube playlist
Woodland Management Moment, Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube playlist
Ask An Expert Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Wildlife Habitat Hint Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Subscribe to the Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Diana Evans, Extension & Web Communications Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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MyDNR, Indiana’s Outdoor Newsletter: We need the public’s help to update The Big Tree Registry, a list of the largest known specimen of each native tree species in Indiana.

“Indiana’s currently tallest recorded tree is a 152-foot-tall bitternut hickory, and our widest tree circumference is a silver maple at more than 361 inches,” said Jacob Roos, DNR urban forestry director. “We need help getting out across the state to find our new record-setting trees.”

That means it’s time to review the recently updated champions list and start looking for new candidates to nominate for the list, which is maintained by DNR’s Division of Forestry.

Three measurements are required:
• trunk circumference, in inches, at 4 1/2 feet above the ground;
• total height, in feet;
• and average crown spread, in feet.

The total size of each tree nominated is calculated by adding the circumference and height to a quarter of the average crown spread.

The individual tree of each Indiana native tree species with the highest total points will be that species’ Big Tree champion. All nominations are reviewed, but only those with the highest scores will be verified.

To see full post please visit IN DNR, It’s Time to Start Looking for Big Trees.

To learn more please visit  The Big Tree Registry, IN DNR-Division of Forestry.

Sign up to receive the MyDNR Newsletter by email: MyDNR Email Newsletter

Resources:
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
ID That Tree, Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube playlist
Woodland Management Moment , Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube playlist
Find an Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture
Planting Your Tree Part 1: Choosing Your Tree, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
District Foresters for 10 plus acres, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

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Purdue Extension Showcase, Purdue Extension Annual Report highlights Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources Hardwood University program: Indiana ranks fourth in the U.S. in hardwood industry production. According to Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources, the hardwood industry contributes $17 billion in value-added to the Indiana economy. However, lack of skilled hardwood employees is the No. 1 impediment to industry success and growth. The number of job openings in wood products manufacturing exceeds the number of qualified applicants by a factor of 3:1 to 10:1. Hardwood industries employees require specialized training to produce lumber and hardwood products, and to maintain sustainable productivity of forest resources.

Purdue Extension annually offers a program, Hardwood University, to provide expertise, technical assistance, and education to industrial stakeholders engaged in wood products manufacturing to solve issues related to raw material quality, processing technologies, and manufacturing efficiency. Participants are business owners, chief executive and operations officers, production managers, supervisors, engineers, designers, equipment operators and industry associations in both primary hardwood products manufacturing for lumber and veneer, and secondary wood products manufacturing of furniture, cabinets, millwork, flooring and others. Nine monthly sessions during the academic year provide over 50 hours of instruction. Each session is a minimum of six hours and held at forestry or manufacturing worksites across Indiana. Hardwood industry professionals learned about sustainability of material supply, best management practices, procurement and marketing, tree, log and lumber quality and measurement, step-by-step processing techniques, equipment, and decision-making.

Participants may choose to focus on one of three tracks: 1) primary industry for log buyers, sawmill, stave mill, veneer mill, and lumber drying operators, 2) secondary industry for furniture, cabinet, millwork and other manufacturers of wood products, and 3) training a la carte for companies and individuals that would like to organize in-house training on a selected topic. Participants who finish all nine sessions in a chosen track within two years receive a program completion recognition from external partner Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association. In addition, sessions qualify for continuing education credits for certified foresters (Society of American Foresters), and consulting foresters (Association of Consulting Foresters). In one year of the program, 168 employees attended the sessions. Participants were employees new to the hardwood industry and employees preparing for advancement or cross-training.

On post-surveys, participants indicated they learned something new, increased awareness, and learned new skills. Participants indicated practices from the sessions that they plan to implement in the next 12 months. Most comments addressed lumber drying, including adjust kiln drying schedule, build/buy lumber dry kiln, change kiln startup procedure, change yard locations for drying particular species, eliminate standing water in yard, improve air flow in yard, and establish lumber drying operation. Also mentioned were: setting up lumber grading for company and training employees to grade lumber, conducting saw maintenance and changing sawing procedures, focusing on management – getting more education, implementing plan, or pursuing professional assistance, and identifying and sorting lumber by quality. Purdue Extension’s training for employees working in the hardwoods industry helps produce skilled workers for company success and to ensure sustainable management of woodlands across Indiana.

To read full article and others, check out Purdue Extension Showcase 2023.

Resources:
Hardwood Tree Improvement & Regeneration Center (HTIRC)
Tropical HTIRC
An Introduction to Trees of Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store
ID That Tree, Playlist, Subscribe to Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
District Foresters for 10 plus acres, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Sustainable Biomaterials, FNR Concentration
Wood is Best Video, Woodisbest.org

Rado Gazo, Professor of Wood Processing and Industrial Engineering
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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Hunters have been busy preparing food plots, hanging tree stands and working on their marksmanship skills in hopes for getting that buck of a lifetime.  The Indiana deer hunting season for 2023-2024 started September 15th and goes to January 31st.  As your hunting adventures begin, Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) has the resources you need. You will find How-To videos that address how to score your white-tailed deer, age determination,  how to harvest  your deer and many other deer management resources. The FNR videos and publications will give you step-by step guidance on how to receive accurate measurements and share best data collection practices, along with sharing what materials are needed.

Here is a quick list of just a few of our resources for those deer hunting enthusiasts:
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 2, Hanging & Skinning, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 3, Deboning, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 4, Cutting, Grinding & Packaging, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Deer Harvest Data Collection, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, The Education Store
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Deer Ask an Expert? video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Managing Deer Damage to Young Trees, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Integrated Deer Management Project, Purdue FNR

For other hunting and trapping dates view the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife Department website. Enjoy and stay safe!

Diana Evans, Extension & Web Communications Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Rod Williams, Assistant Provost for Engagement/Professor of Wildlife Science
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources

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Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation and sustainable management of forests in Indiana. The Fall Leaves & Limbs Newsletter is now available online and is open to all who would like to view the articles and resources.

Fall 2023 Leaves & Limbs Newsletter includes:

• Nesting and Overwintering Habitat for Pollinators and other Beneficial Insects
• Upcoming forestry events
• Chainsaw workshop for Woodland Owners
• Deam Finalists’ Excellent Stewardship to be Honored
• Series of Webinars Discuss Timber Taxes
• 2023 Woodland Owner Conference November 3-4 in Jasper/Huntingburg: Highlights, Agenda, Registration, Hotel
• Report Wilting Sassafras
• Emerging Invasive Plants of the Midwest

More About IFWOA
IFWOA is hosting the Indiana Woodland Owner Conference with field programs and indoor sessions on wildlife and habitat, forest management, and other concerns of landowners. The conference is November 3-4 and is open to anyone, nearly 200 landowners are expected to attend. See the agenda and register at https://www.ifwoa.org/resources/annual-woodland-owner-conference/.

IFWOA advocates for scientific best practices for woodland management to achieve objectives like clean water, wildlife habitat, soil protection, native species diversity, timber production, recreation, carbon sequestration and many others.

This Indiana association has members in every county of Indiana both woodland owners and non-owners, city and rural dwellers, family farmers, wildlife conservationists, agriculture and forestry professionals, tree farmers, loggers, scientists, educators — anyone who cares about the health of Indiana forests and woodlands, and wants to assure those lands receive the care and support they need.

Membership in IFWOA provides a valuable network linkage to information and resources at the leading edge of science, industry and politics impacting Indiana woodlands. If you would like to learn more about membership view Join Today, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA).

Resources:
Subscribe: Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) YouTube Channel
“Magnificent Trees of Indiana” webinar with author Carroll Ritter, IFWOA YouTube Channel
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Planting Hardwood Seedlings – The Education Store
Ordering Seedlings from the State Forest Nursery System, Got Nature? – Purdue Extension-FNR
Importance of Hardwood Tree Planting – The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
Designing Hardwood Tree Plantings for Wildlife – The Education Store
ID That Tree – YouTube Playlist
Forest Management for Reptiles and Amphibians: A Technical Guide for the Midwest, The Education Store
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Forest Birds , Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Ask the Expert: Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Birds and Salamander Research, Purdue Extension – FNR
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Liz Jackson, Engagement Lead
Indiana Forestry & Woodland Association

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Purdue Landscape Report: Many trees are planted for their beautiful fall color, especially in locations where the climate provides reliable autumn weather. I have said this multiple times during extension talks and conversations with submitters to the Purdue Pest & Plant Diagnostic Lab (PPDL), but I seem to have not experienced a ‘normal’ fall since moving to Indiana with how erratic the weather has been from year to year. Depending on weather conditions, such as high heat and drought, colors may develop early or may be duller for specific varieties than expected.

However, individual trees that begin to show fall colors earlier than expected (August, September, even early October) may be shouting out a proverbial cry for help. Plants will often show yellow or red foliage coloration during periods of stress, so this may occur at any point during spring, summer, or fall. Individual trees may also show fall coloration earlier than others of their species in the same area.  Now is the time to keep an eye out for this kind of early fall color as it can give you a heads-up on issues you can expect next year.

When examining a tree with early fall color, I would recommend checking the following:

• Is there a root flare?
  Purdue Landscape Report: Deep Planting article
  • If not – tree could be planted too deep or the soil grade may have been changed
• Is there any obvious damage to the trunk, root flare, or surface roots?
  • If so, there could internal decay that is not obvious and could be contributing to stress
• Are there any girdling roots?
  Purdue Landscape Report: Stem Girdling Roots article
  • If present, they could be affecting the vascular system and strangling the tree
• Is the rootzone mulched?
  • If not, the tree could be under stress from earlier drought, or weed and grass competition.
  • If so, make sure it is not mounded against the trunk of the tree
• Does the soil appear compacted? Was there construction near the tree within the last 5 years?
  • Compaction leads to issues with water, nutrient, and even oxygen availability to the roots and could lead to general decline

It is important to know the host species, but with the sheer volume of plant material available for sale in the nursery trade, it is even more important to know the cultivar that you are planting so you know what you might expect coming into the fall.

To view this full article and other Purdue Landscape Report articles, please visit Purdue Landscape Report.

Subscribe and receive the newsletter: Purdue Landscape Report Newsletter.

Resources:
Why Fall Color is Sometimes a Dud, Purdue Landscape Report
Forest Migration Plays a Role in Fall Foliage Colors, Purdue College of Agriculture News
U.S. Forest Service Fall Colors, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
ID That Tree Fall Color: Sugar Maple, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel, ID That Tree Playlist
ID That Tree Fall Color Edition: Black Gum, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel, ID That Tree Playlist
Autumn Highlights Tour – South Campus, Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Why Leaves Change Color – the Physiological Basis, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Subscribe, Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Planting Your Tree Part 1: Choosing Your Tree, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Summer Tree Care, Purdue Landscape Report
Tree Defect Identification, The Education Store
Tree Wound and Healing, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Surface Root Syndrome, The Education Store
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store
Ask an Expert: Tree Selection and Planting, Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube playlist
ID That Tree, Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube playlist

John Bonkowski, Plant Disease Diagnostician
Departments of Botany & Plant Pathology

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