Purdue University - Extension - Forestry and Natural Resources
Got Nature? Blog
Trees in Rice Cemetery in Elkhart, IN, were cut down due to verticillium wilt, a disease causing discoloration and wilt of branches. The fungus causing this disease spreads through roots. Many trees in the cemetery have been marked with a red dot and will be removed. If all goes well, new younger trees will take their place in the fall. If you have witnessed verticillium wilt, please notify the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Resources
Rice Cemetery Trees Cut Down Due to Verticillium Wilt as Elkhart Forestry Workers Fight to Save Those Left, The Elkhart Truth
Verticillium Wilt of Shade Trees, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Diseases in Hardwood Tree Plantings, The Education Store
Forest Health Informer, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
How to Check for Verticillium Wilt, July “In The Grow” (Q&A), Indiana Yard and Garden – Purdue Consumer Horticulture
What are Invasive Species and Why Should I Care?, (What to do if you see any disease) Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources Got Nature? Blog
Diana Evans, Extension and Web Communication Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
Effects of Root Competition on Development of Chestnut and Oak Regeneration Following Midstory Removal was featured in the Oxford Journals, Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research. The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources has continued to work for the regeneration of the American chestnut and red oak.
Abstract: “Partial canopy cover promotes regeneration of many ecologically and/or economically favored tree species in temperate mesic forests. However, the specific effects of belowground resource competition from different canopy strata in these systems are poorly understood. This is particularly…” Read more.
Resources
Indiana American Chestnut Foundation
The American Chestnut Foundation
Natural Oak Regeneration Following Clearcutting on the Hoosier National Forest, The Education Store
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Caleb E. Brown, M.S. graduate student
Brian G. Bailey, graduate student
Michael R. Saunders, Associate Professor of Ecology and Natural Resources
Douglass F. Jacobs, Fred M. van Eck Professor of Forest Biology
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
The invasive insect has made its way to its 79th county, Sullivan County. It was recently spotted in Jennings, Pike, Scott, Spencer and Warrick counties. There are only a few counties in southern Indiana that have not been affected by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). In order to slow the spread of the EAB, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has restricted the movement of ash trees, limbs and untreated ash lumber with bark attached or any cut hardwood lumber of any species with bark attached. Visitors to DNR properties may only bring in firewood that has been certified by the USDA or DNR Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology or is free of bark. Homeowners should also be aware of this invasive species. To learn more about the EAB and what signs to look for if your tree is infected, take a look at the resources below.
Resources
Arrest That Pest! – Emerald Ash Borer in Indiana, Purdue Extension
Invasive Species, Got Nature?
Emerald Ash Borer, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Emerald Ash Borer in Indiana, Purdue Extension
The Washington Post has published an article stating that experts fear how smaller parcels of forest owned, combined with an increase in the number of owners, will affect the long-term health of the American woodlands. With smaller parcels of land, owners are less likely to invest in forest management plans because managing wildlife is more difficult compared to a larger parcel of land. Also the average age of those who privately own forest land is 62.5. The article pointed out how the best and most important thing to do is bridge the gap between the generations, so parents and children talk to each other and know what they want. The restoration of the forest land will benefit many generations to come.
View the full article “Experts Fear For Long-Term Health of U.S. Forests” at The Washington Post’s website.
Resources
State Forest Management Guides, Indiana DNR
Forest Health, Indiana DNR
A Landowner’s Guide to Sustainable Forestry: Part 2: Planning for the Future, The Education Store
Got Nature?
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University
The National Association of State Foresters has published an article debating whether to stack firewood bark up or bark down. They concluded that there are benefits and drawbacks to both ways. When storing wood under shelter, it would depend on personal preference and ease of handling. When split wood is stored outdoors bark down, it is possible that water can collect in the u-shaped trough, causing prolonged drying and accelerating decay. When storing the split wood bark up, it was questioned whether the bark would protect wood from long-term photo-degradation, but it wouldn’t degrade the wood enough to significantly affect thermal output. It was suggested that smaller logs be put perpendicular under stacks of wood to allow for better air-flow and reduce the chance of infestation.
Resources
Wood for Home Heating, The Education Store
Insects in Firewood, The Education Store
Firewood Rules, Indiana DNR
Heating with Firewood, Indiana DNR
This is a Spanish-language version of our helpful how-to guide, Tree Installation: Process and Practices, which helps in choosing, planting and maintaining trees. It includes a 12-step planting process, Indiana native tree and utility-friendly tree charts, information on Midwest hardiness zones and detailed tree-planting graphics and photographs. View it in The Education Store today!
Resources:
Tree Installation: Process and Practices, The Education Store
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store
Planting Forest Trees and Shrubs in Indiana, The Education Store
Lindsey Purcell, Chapter Executive Director
Indiana Arborist Association
As winter comes swiftly upon us, there are precautions we need to take to ensure our plants, both indoor and outdoor, are well taken care of. Below are a few examples of how you can prevent certain problems that occur in the cold months ahead. View all of the steps you can take at the Purdue Extension Yard and Garden Calendar page.
HOME (Indoor plants and activities)
- Houseplants may not receive adequate light because days are short and gloomy. Move plants closer to windows, but avoid placing foliage against cold glass panes. Artificial lighting may be helpful.
- Because growth slows or stops in winter months, most plants will require less water and little, if any, fertilizer.
- Extend the lives of holiday plants such as poinsettias and Christmas cactus by placing them in a cool, brightly lit area that is free from warm or cold drafts.
YARD (Lawns, woody ornamentals and fruits)
- Prevent bark splitting of young and thin-barked trees, such as fruit and maple trees. Wrap trunks with tree wrap or paint them with white latex (not oil-based) paint, particularly on the south- and southwest-facing sides.
- Provide winter protection for roses by mounding soil approximately 12 inches high to insulate the graft union after plants are dormant and temperatures are cold. Additional organic mulch such as straw compost or chopped leaves can be placed on top.
GARDEN (Flowers, vegetables and small fruits)
- To protect newly planted or tender perennials and bulbs, mulch with straw, chopped leaves or other organic material after plants become dormant.
- Store leftover garden chemicals where they will stay dry, unfrozen and out of the reach of children, pets and unsuspecting adults.
- Once the plants are completely dormant and temperatures are consistently below freezing, apply winter mulch to protect strawberries and other tender perennials. In most cases, two to four inches of organic material such as straw, pine needles, hay or bark chips will provide adequate protection.
Resources
Winter Garden Calendar, The Education Store
Winter Storage of Geranium, Canna, Gladiolus, Caladium, and Begonia, The Education Store
Winterize Your Trees, The Education Store
Communities that have been infested by emerald ash borers can apply for a share of a federal grant received by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. This federal grant worth $100,000 will allow for communities in the Great Lakes area to take on tree-planting projects. Due to the loss of trees in the infested areas, planting trees will help replace the large amounts of trees lost by the emerald ash borer. The tree planting project will also improve water quality. Flooding due to storms can cause raw sewage to enter waterways, but trees can intercept the water to stop the flooding. A three inch tree is able to intercept around 400 gallons of water; 800 trees can intercept 320,000 gallons of water which can greatly decrease the chances of flooding. Communities that would like to apply for a share in the grant can first subscribe to the grants information listserv by visiting the Indiana DNR’s forestry site and click on the red envelope on the left side of the page.
Resources
DNR Receives Grant to Help Communities Recover From Ash Borer, Indiana DNR
Emerald Ash Borer, Purdue Extension
Emerald Ash Borer, Indiana DNR
Invasive Insects, Got Nature?
Arrest That Pest! – Emerald Ash Borer in Indiana, Purdue Extension
Carrie Tauscher, Urban Forestry Specialist
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDNR)
Glycobius speciosus, sugar maple borer, photo by Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service.
Some of the most diverse taxa on the planet are rarely seen yet play critical roles within our environment. The insects found in the Order Coleoptera (beetles) are represented by over 500,000 species. Collectively, these insects provide a wide range of ecosystem services. They are important pollinators and predators on other insects, and they play essential roles in nutrient cycling. While most species are beneficial or vital for ecosystem functions, there are a few species that are considered pests.
Dr. Jeff Holland and research team studying sugar maple borer in the woods.
The Sugar Maple Borer is a native species found throughout the eastern United States. The larval stage of the beetle specializes in feeding on sugar maple trees, particularly stressed or injured trees. In this podcast, our host, Rod Williams, will be interviewing Dr. Jeff Holland about the unique distribution of this wood-boring beetle, how to survey for this species on your property and the impacts to sugar maple trees throughout the eastern deciduous forests.
To find out more information about sugar maple borers, visit:
Holland Website
Bug Guide Identification
Resources
The Education Store (Search entomology or forest)
Got Nature? Blog Posts
Got Nature? Blog Posts
Jeff Holland, Associate Professor of Spatial Ecology and Biodiversity
Department of Entomology, Purdue University
Rod Williams, Associate Professor of Wildlife Science
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University
Agricultural educators, community organizers and others promoting environmental awareness can learn about the myths and realities of agricultural conservation from the perspective of a researcher, practitioner and student in a new Purdue Extension publication.
Adoption of Agricultural Conservation Practices: Insights from Research and Practice, developed by the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University, is available for free download from The Education Store.
The authors (Linda Prokopy, associate professor of Natural Resource Social Science; Dan Towery, Indiana Conservation Cropping System Initiative educator; and Nicholas Babin, postdoctoral research assistant in Forestry and Natural Resources) use academic studies and their own observations to address ways of motivating farmers to adopt environmentally-friendly farming practices.
To read the full article, visit Ag conservation publications available from Purdue Extension, Purdue Agriculture News.
Resources
Indiana Soils: Evaluation and Conservation Manual Review, Purdue Agronomy
Conservation Tillage and Water Quality, Purdue Extension
Optimizing Conservation Tillage Systems: Plant-to-Plant Uniformity is Essential for Optimum Yield in No-Till Cont. Corn, The Education Store
Linda Prokopy, Associate Professor of Natural Resource Social Science
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
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