Got Nature? Blog

Following a recent tornado in Monroe County, an Indiana homeowner noticed something remarkable among the storm damage. More than 30 trees, including walnut and butternut, were either uprooted or snapped. Yet several mature shagbark hickory trees stood largely untouched amid the destruction.

This observation prompted an interesting question: Is there something about shagbark hickory trees that makes them more resistant to tornadoes and high winds than other hardwood trees?

Answer: While every storm is different and no tree species is completely tornado-proof, the observation aligns with what foresters and arborists know about hickory wood.

Shagbark, along with other hickory species, is among one of the stronger trees native to Indiana. Because of its strength and shock-absorbency quality, hickory is a prime choice for tool handles and baseball bats as well as solid wood furniture and flooring.

Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) is famous for more than its distinctive peeling bark. The wood itself possesses exceptional mechanical properties.

Hickory wood combines:

• High strength
• Notable elasticity
• Superior shock resistance
• High density

Together, these properties give hickory exceptional toughness – the capacity to absorb and redistribute energy before fracturing. This means its stems and branches may bend under wind loading rather than fail as abruptly as wood with lower toughness.

For that reason, hickory has long been valued for products subjected to repeated impacts. Traditional axe and sledgehammer handles, drumsticks, and baseball bats have often been made from hickory because it can absorb shock and withstand repeated bending stresses without breaking as readily as many other hardwoods.

Healthy Trees:
Healthy trees with vigorous growth and little decay generally withstand stress better than weakened trees. This is one reason why it is important to evaluate your trees before severe weather and storm season arrives. Identifying structural defects, dead branches, decay, or other potential hazards early can help reduce the risk of tree failure during high wind events. The following Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) blog articles can help you assess your trees and recognize common warning signs:
Learn More – Got Nature? Blog Posts:
Tree Risk Management: What Every Property Owner Needs to Know
Spring Storms Are Coming: How to Reduce Tree Damage and Risk
Trees and Storms: Understanding Damage, Risk and Recover
Storms Can Cause Damage and Tree Cleanup: What You Need to Know
Southwest Damage, Scalding or Frost Cracking

Great Resource from The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center:
Publication: Tree Defect Identification

Contact a Certified Arborist:
Consulting a certified arborist can help determine whether a damaged tree remains safe and healthy.
Find an Arborist, Trees are Good-International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

Ben McAllister, Urban Forestry Specialist
Forestry & Natural Resources

More Resources:
Mechanical Damage to Trees: Mowing and Maintenance Equipment, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Planting Your Tree Part 1: Choosing Your Tree, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Tree Pruning Essentials Video, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Why Is My Tree Dying?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)
Tree Wound and Healing, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Surface Root Syndrome, The Education Store
Report INvasive, Purdue Extension
Indiana Invasive Species Council
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel (Invasive White Mulberry, Siberian Elm, Tree of Heaven)
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

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Jarred Brooke, Extension wildlife specialist, was honored with a Career Achievement Award at the Fire in Eastern Oak Forests Conference in June.

In addition to his extension work with wildlife, Brooke has been deeply involved in prescribed fire, serving as chair of the Indiana Prescribed Fire Council since 2018, working to implement prescribed fire policy in Indiana, and organizing more than 30 Learn-N-Burn and Prescribed Fire field days and workshops that provide landowners and professionals with practical experience in fire safety, timing, and ecological benefits. Jarred has also co-instructed the undergraduate FNR-333 Applied Fire Ecology course since 2019. He was instrumental in securing funding from the Sam Shine Foundation to hire Danielle Howard, the recently hired Extension prescribed fire specialist.

Brooke also was one of three main instructors and organizers of the Indiana Land Stewardship Leadership Academy, which graduated its first class this spring. He was honored in 2021 with the Early Career Award from the Purdue Cooperative Extension Specialists’ Association and PK-12 Council’s Staff Excellence Award for his work with youth audiences, expanding their interest in and preparation for careers in natural resource sciences.

“It’s an honor to have been given the Career Achievement Award from the Fire in Eastern Oak Forests Conference,” Brooke said. “Since I don’t have enough gray hair for a career achievement award, we’ll just call it an early-career award. I have enjoyed all the prescribed fire work I’ve been able to do through my Extension role at Purdue, but this award would not have been possible without all the partners I work with on fire. From leading Learn-N-Burns and serving on the Indiana Prescribed Fire Council board to working

on prescribed fire policy in the Hoosier state, it’s been a collaborative journey – and I’m looking forward to more in the future! Special thanks to Allen Pursell for presenting me with the award.”

At the awards presentation, Pursell, director of forest programs for the Sam Shine Foundation, Inc., said:

“Jarred served as president of the Indiana Prescribed Fire Council from its inception in 2016 through 2025, and remains active. Jarred was known for great ideas, energy, and leadership skills. One of the board members told me that Jarred really held the council together, especially during Covid, when it would have been easy for it to wither.

“As part of his accomplishments there:

• He spearheaded getting the Indiana Prescribed Fire Council incorporated as a non-profit entity.
• He was the key person shepherding the entire process that resulted in the new Indiana Prescribed Fire Law. Many people were involved in key roles, but Jarred made it come together.
• More recently, Jarred identified funds so that Purdue University could hire a Prescribed Fire Extension Specialist who will help to form and support Prescribed Burn Associations, Support the Certified Prescribed Burn Manager program, and Conduct prescribed fire outreach to local communities.
  

  FNR students conduct a prescribed burn at the Celery Bog for their FNR 33350 class in West Lafayette, Ind. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (Purdue University photo/Joshua Clark)

• In addition to these, Jarred has conducted many “learn and burn” courses for students and citizens who are interested in prescribed fire. He is a leader among his peers and an untiring advocate for prescribed fire in Indiana.

“For these accomplishments and many others, we are pleased to present Jarred Brooke with this career award.”

The Eastern Oak Forests Conference achievement awards are meant to recognize any significant contributions ranging from science, management, education and outreach, or training. Awards for the conference began during the 2019 conference playing and have ranged from one to six awardees per conference. Awardees are nominated by conference steering committee members.

To view this article along with other news and stories posted on the Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources website view: Jarred Brooke Receives Early Career Award for Prescribed Fire Work.

Resources:
Nature of Teaching, Purdue Agriculture
Natural of Teaching YouTube Channel
College of Agriculture PK-12 Council Outreach and Engagement Awards, Purdue Agriculture
National Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP), Teaching Youth Valuable Skills
Learn How to Control Reed Canarygrass, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
FNR Ask The Expert: Prescribed Fire with Jarred Brooke and Mike Saunders, Purdue Extension – FNR Video
Brooke’s Prescribed Fire Videos Utilized in Global USFS Efforts, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Prescribed fire: 6 things to consider before you ignite, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – 4Forestry and Natural Resources
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Prescribed Fire Techniques – Backing Fire, Video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube channel
Indiana Prescribed Fire Council (IPFC)
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel, find natural resources, forestry, wildlife, urban forestry and much more.

Wendy Mayer, FNR Communications Coordinator
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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Purdue Landscape Report: Espalier is a pruning and training technique that shapes a tree or shrub to grow in a flat, usually two-dimensional form, often against a wall, fence, or trellis. Rather than allowing branches to grow in every direction, espalier uses careful cutting and tying to guide stems into a planned pattern. The result can be both practical and beautiful, turning a fruit tree or ornamental plant into a living architectural feature.

This method has been used for centuries, especially in places where gardeners wanted to maximize growing space or use walls to create a

warmer microclimate. Espalier is especially popular with fruit trees such as apples, pears, and sometimes figs or stone fruits, because the open structure can improve light penetration and make harvesting easier. It is also valued in formal gardens and small urban spaces where a full-sized tree would be too large or unruly.

One of the biggest advantages of espalier is efficient use of space. A tree trained flat can fit into narrow courtyards, along property lines, or against sunny walls where space is limited. It can also make maintenance easier, since pruning, spraying, thinning, and harvesting are often more accessible than in a dense, free-growing tree. In fruit production, better sunlight and air circulation can improve fruit quality and reduce some disease problems. For many gardeners, espalier is also appealing because it adds a strong visual design element to the landscape.

Espalier does have challenges. It requires patience, regular attention, and a willingness to prune frequently during the training phase. The technique is not ideal for every species, and success depends on choosing a plant that responds well to bending and cutting. If neglected, an espaliered tree can lose its shape quickly and become difficult to correct. It also demands a level of planning that is greater than ordinary pruning, since the final form must be imagined and maintained over time.

The technique is most commonly associated with Europe, especially France, Italy, and England, where it has long been used in formal gardens, orchards, and along estate walls. Today it is also popular in North America among home gardeners, landscape designers, and urban fruit growers who want to combine productivity with ornament. While espalier is less about a single geographic region than pollarding, it remains especially visible in European garden traditions and in places where intensive use of limited space matters.

Espalier is both practical and artistic. It can help gardeners grow more in less space while creating a distinctive look that feels deliberate and refined. For the right plant and the right site, it is a pruning style that blends horticulture with design.

Resources:
Tree Pruning Essentials Video, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Planting Your Tree Part 1: Choosing Your Tree, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Tree Selection for the “Un-natural” Environment, The Education Store, Purdue Education’s resource center
Tree Installation: Process and Practices, The Education Store
Why Is My Tree Dying?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Tree Risk Management, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Tree Wound and Healing, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Pruning Highlight-Pollarding Trees, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Urban Tree Spotlight: Planting Deciduous Shade Trees, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Southwest Damage, Scalding or Frost Cracking, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Surface Root Syndrome, The Education Store
Find an Arborist video, Trees are Good-International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Report INvasive, Purdue Extension
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Ben McAllister, Urban Forestry Specialist
Forestry & Natural Resources

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Purdue Landscape Report: Pollarding is a tree pruning method in which the upper branches of a tree are cut back to the same points on a regular schedule, creating a framework of knobby growth points from which new shoots emerge. The practice has been used for centuries and is especially common in landscapes where trees must be kept at a controlled height or width. Pollarding is not the same as topping, which is generally considered harmful because it removes branches without a long-term management plan. Instead, pollarding is a deliberate, repeated technique that can shape a tree into a compact, manageable form.

One of the main advantages of pollarding is size control. In urban areas, along streets, and near buildings or utility lines, trees often need to fit within tight spaces. Pollarding can reduce conflicts with overhead wires, streetlights, sidewalks, and traffic while still allowing a tree to remain in place. It can also reduce shade, which may be useful in courtyards, parking areas, and other sites where too much canopy cover is a problem. Some trees also respond by producing dense, attractive new growth, which can give them a distinctive architectural look.

Pollarding may also extend the usable life of certain trees when it is started early and maintained properly. Because the tree is kept smaller and more compact, it may be less likely to fail under wind or storm stress than a large tree with heavy limbs. In some settings, the regular cutting of new shoots can even provide a source of small-diameter wood or fodder, which helps explain why pollarding developed historically as a practical land-management method.

That said, pollarding has real drawbacks. It must be done correctly and consistently; if a tree is pollarded at the wrong age, on the wrong species, or after long neglect, the result can be stress, decay, weak regrowth, or structural problems. Not all trees tolerate the practice well, and some may decline if pollarded too aggressively. Pollarding also creates a very artificial appearance, which some people dislike. A freshly pollarded tree can look bare or severe for a time, and the repeated cuts require ongoing maintenance.

Pollarding is most strongly associated with Europe, especially Britain, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and parts of Spain, where it has a long history in both rural and urban landscapes. Today, it is still widely seen in European cities and towns, particularly on street trees and in managed public spaces. It also appears in some parts of North America, but it remains much more culturally visible and historically rooted in Europe. In many places, it is valued both for its practical function and for the distinctive form it creates over time.

Used thoughtfully, pollarding is a useful tool rather than a universal solution. It works best when matched to the right species, the right site, and a long-term maintenance plan. For the right tree in the right place, it can be both functional and visually striking.

Resources:
Tree Pruning Essentials Video, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Surface Root Syndrome, The Education Store, Purdue Education’s resource center
Find an Arborist video, Trees are Good-International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Report INvasive, Purdue Extension
Indiana Invasive Species Council
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel (Invasive White Mulberry, Siberian Elm, Tree of Heaven)
Planting Your Tree Part 1: Choosing Your Tree, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Tree Planting Part 2: Planting a Tree, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Tree Selection for the “Un-natural” Environment, The Education Store
Tree Installation: Process and Practices, The Education Store
Tree Defect Identification, The Education Store
Why Is My Tree Dying?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Tree Wound and Healing, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Ben McAllister, Urban Forestry Specialist
Forestry & Natural Resources

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Entomology Weekly Review: Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) Extension would like to share a timely update from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Entomology newsletter regarding a wood-boring insect that may be encountered in hardwood logs across the state. Will Drews, Entomology staff member located in south-central Indiana (Bloomington area), recently reported activity from one of the more common round-headed borer pests found in hardwood logs: the flat-faced longhorn beetle, Graphisurus fasciatus. Will shares in the Entomology Weekly Review how to identify the borer, their habitat and if we need to be concerned.

What to Look For
On the wing recently is one of the more common round-headed borer pests I find in hardwood logs, and that is the flat-faced longhorn beetle without a common name: Graphisurus fasciatus (Photos 2 – 5).  This longhorn beetle (in the family Cerambycidae) is quite large as far as longhorn beetles go, reaching up to 0.6 inches in length, and features two long antennae (aka “horns”) characteristic of most of its family (Photo 3).

Host Trees and Habitat
As a larva, Graphisurus fasciatus feeds on a variety of hardwoods and is reported to feed on pine trees as well. I generally find G. fasciatus larvae feeding between
the bark and sapwood of black walnut (Juglans nigra), white oak (Quercus alba ) and red oak (Quercus rubra) logs (Photo 6).

Identification Tips
There are several ways to differentiate this species from the less common but closely related Graphisurus despectus, but one of the surest ways is to examine the scutellum (aka the small shield-like plate at the top/between the elytra [wing covers]). In G. fasciatus, the scutellum has two small whitish patches of hair, not present on G. despectus (Photo 7). Another diagnostic characteristic of G. fasciatus is that it has elytra with emarginate (or notched) tips (Photo 8).

Should You Be Concerned?
This species can be alarming by its noticeable size and relative abundance but is not necessarily a major pest of concern as it does not usually bore into the sapwood and cause defects to the wood.

Stay Informed
FNR Extension encourages landowners and natural resource professionals to remain observant when working with hardwood logs and report unusual insect activity when found.

To stay up to date on forest health and insect alerts, consider subscribing to the  Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Entomology Weekly Review for regular updates on insects affecting Indiana’s forests and natural areas.

Will Drews, Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology 

Resources:
Spotted Lanternfly, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Entomology
Box Tree Moth Range is Expanding, Purdue Landscape Report
Beetle that attacks Tree-of-Heaven found in Indiana, Purdue Landscape Report, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Sawflies: Caterpillar Pests but not Caterpillars – PLR, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Prepared for Insects Waking Up? – PLR, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Case Study: Maple Tree Pests – PLR, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Invasive Species, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Playlist (Asian Bush Honeysuckle, Burning Bush, Callery Pear, Multiflora rose)
What are invasive species and why should I care?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Find an Arborist video, Trees are Good, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

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Agricultural & Natural Resources (ANR) Newsletter: On May 5, Natural Resources professionals gathered at the Davis Purdue Agricultural Center (DPAC) in Farmland, Indiana, for a forestry and wildlife management training led by Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources’ Brian MacGowan, wildlife extension specialist and extension coordinator; Don Carlson, forester; Jarred Brooke, wildlife extension specialist; and Jessica Outcalt, natural resources training specialist. The program combined classroom updates with field-based learning focused on active land stewardship, habitat management and conservation planning.

During the field tour of DPAC and Herrmann Properties, participants explored topics including native warm-season grass management using prescribed fire, Sericea lespedeza control in native grass plantings, prairie restoration, young forest management, and oak forest management for multiple objectives. Don Carlson discussed the history and management goals of DPAC, emphasizing how tree spacing, mowing and the use of crop and nurse trees influence tree establishment and growth. Jarred Brooke highlighted challenges such as rabbit damage to young trees and invasive species management. Participants learned key wildlife habitat principles, including a practical guideline for quail habitat: If a baseball tossed into the grass rolls, the habitat structure is suitable for quail; if it does not roll, the vegetation is too dense. The day concluded with updates on the NR Training Hub, prescribed fire and evaluation efforts.

If you’re interested in bringing a program like this to your area, we’d love to hear from you, submit a request at fnrextension@purdue.edu.

Emily Kring, Extension Educator
Agriculture & Natural Resources, Purdue Extension Jay County

Jessica Outcalt, Natural Resources Training Specialist
Purdue Extension – Forestry & Natural Resources

Resources:
Natural Resources Training Hub
Explore the Rich World of Oaks with Purdue FNR Extension & Partners
Forestry for the Birds Pocket Guide, The Nature Conservancy
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Community Planning for Agriculture and Natural Resources: A Guide for Local Government, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s research center
The Nature of Teaching
Help the Hellbender
Let the Sun Shine in Indiana
Community Development, Purdue Extension
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel, find natural resources and much more in playlists.

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Most of us have probably heard or seen a lot about pollinators in the media recently. The reason why is that pollinators are really, really important. We simply can’t live without them. Researchers estimate that one out of every three bites of food we eat is made possible by pollinators. More than 100 food crops in the U.S. depend on pollinators, including almost all fruit and grain crops.

There are many different types of pollinators including native bees, butterflies and moths, beetles, flies, wasps, and of course hummingbirds. But perhaps one of the more interesting pollinators is the Monarch. Millions of Monarchs congregate in a relative small area in Mexico each winter. In March they start their journey north which has occurred over several generations. Unfortunately, the number of Monarchs counted in overwintering colonies has declined over the past 25 years.

In response, many states including Indiana have developed a state Monarch Conservation Plan. With input from many stakeholders over several years, the Indiana Monarch Conservation Plan was released in December 2020. One goal of the plan was to create an online resource that would act as a clearinghouse for Indiana monarch and pollinator conservation data, research, best management practices (BMPs), and events. I invite you to visit the Indiana Monarch and Pollinator Conservation Hub at indianawildlife.org/monarchs.

You might be asking yourself, ‘Why is a wildlife specialist writing about pollinators?’ It turns out that quality habitat for wildlife is often quality habitat for pollinators. The diversity of wildflowers, along with the structure provided by native grasslands, trees, and shrubs, benefits all of them. Native grasslands that have a diverse mixture of wildflowers provide food, bare ground, and structure desirable for a wide variety of pollinators.

Resources
Protecting Pollinators: Why Should We Care About Pollinators?, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Ask The Expert: What’s Buzzing or Not Buzzing About Pollinators , Purdue Extension – Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Purdue Pollinator Protection publication series, Purdue Extension Entomology
Is My Urban Garden Helping Native Pollinators?, Purdue Landscape Report
Indiana Monarch & Pollinator Conservation Hub, Indiana Wildlife Federation
Monarch Watch, University of Kansas
100 Plants to Feed the Monarch/Other Resources Available, Xerxes Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Brian MacGowan, Wildlife Extension Specialist & Extension Coordinator
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is a major pest of concern across most of the United States. Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive planthopper native to China that was first detected in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014. SLF feeds on over 70+ plant species including fruit, ornamental and woody trees with tree-of-heaven as its preferred host. Spotted lanternfly is a hitchhiker and can easily be moved long distances through human assisted movement.

Know the Primary Host: Tree -of-Heaven
Tree of heaven (TOH) is the preferred host for the spotted lanternfly (SLF).  The ability to identify TOH will be critical to monitoring the spread of this invasive pest as the 4th-stage nymphs and adult spotted lantern-flies show a strong preference for TOH.

Report a Sighting
If you suspect you’ve seen a spotted lanternfly, please take the following steps:

• Take a picture and note your location.
• If you can, collect a sample of the insect by catching it and placing it in a freezer. You can use any container available as long as it has a tight seal (like a water bottle) so that the spotted lanternfly can’t escape.
• Report your sighting through one of the following channels:
  Email: DEPP@dnr.in.gov
  Online: eddmaps.org or ReportINvasive
  Phone: 1-866-663-9684

Help Stop the Spread
Everyone can play a role in slowing the spread of spotted lanternfly:

• Inspect vehicles, trailers and outdoor equipment for spotted lanternfly eggs, nymphs, and adults before driving or moving to a new location.
• Avoid moving firewood, as it can transport SLF and other invasive pests.
• Stay informed by subscribing to trusted resources like the up to date with the latest newsletters: Purdue Landscape Report and Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Entomology & Plant Pathology Weekly Review E-newsletter.
• Follow updates and management tips on social media by connecting with ReportINvasive on Facebook (@reportINvasive) and Indiana Department of Natural Resources, which shared information acrossa Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@INdnrinvasive).

Spread Awareness
Share your spotted lanternfly knowledge with others! Share about SLF with neighbors, colleagues and your communit to help protect Indiana’s natural and agricultural resources.

Resources:
Spotted Lanternfly, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Entomology
Prepare to Manage Spotted Lanternfly, Purdue Landscape Report
Spotted Lanternfly is on the Move!, Purdue Landscape Report
Spotted Lanternfly Egg Hatch is Here, Purdue Landscape Report
Spotted Lanternfly Found in Indiana, Purdue Landscape Report
Invasive plants: impact on environment and people, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Woodland Management Moment: Invasive Species Control Process, Video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Invasive Species, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
What are invasive species and why should I care?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Report Invasive

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

Purdue Extension – Entomology

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One of the most dangerous pests of trees is humans, especially humans with equipment. Lawn mowers and weed trimmers can cause injuries that create a hazard when an injury leads to tree disease or death. This blog explains why the damage is so dangerous and suggests ways to protect your trees.

Defended by Bark
The site of injury is usually the root flare: the area where the tree meets the turf and gets in the path of the mower or trimmer. The root flare, like the rest of the trunk, is protected by bark, which guards a very important plant transport system just behind the woody bark layer. Specialized tubes move nutrients and water between the roots and leaves to keep the tree alive. Any damage to this transport system can affect tree health and the tree could die.

The bark layer can vary in thickness on different tree species. It can be more than an inch in thickness or less than 1/16 of an inch on young, smooth-barked trees such as maples and birches. This isn’t much protection against string trimmers and mowing equipment, especially on young, newly planted trees.

Damage Done
Any damage to or removal of the bark and the transport system can cause problems for a tree. Even when a tree tries to recover from a wound, leaves and branches often decline and die back, because food and water pathways were destroyed. Although a large wound is generally more serious than a smaller one, repetitive wounding adds up to greater trouble for the tree. If the damage extends completely around the base of the tree (a situation called girdling), the tree ultimately dies.

All tree wounds are serious when it comes to tree health. No matter what size the wound is, the damage done is irreversible. The tree must devote a great deal of energy and many resources into trying to seal off the damaged area to prevent further complications. The wounded area is an opening for wood-rotting organisms and decay fungi to enter and cause further damage. These microorganisms often attack the injured bark and invade adjacent healthy tissue, greatly enlarging the wound and extending the damage. Trees can be completely girdled from pathogen attack following injuries.

Fungi that are active on the wound surface can also deteriorate the structure of the woody tissues beneath, decaying and weakening the tree. This weakened, structurally unsound tree may eventually die and become a hazard to people around it.

Preventing Problems
Newly planted, young trees need our help to become established in the landscape. They are the trees most commonly and seriously affected by maintenance equipment.

However, injury to these trees can be avoided easily and at very low cost if you follow one or more of these suggestions.

1. Physically remove turf or prevent grass and weeds from growing at the base of the tree. This lowtech solution can eliminate a potentially serious problem.
2. Spray herbicides to eliminate vegetation around the base of the tree to decrease mowing maintenance costs. Be sure to use care when applying herbicides around trees. Carefully follow label directions.
3. Add a mulch ring, when possible, to help reduce the competition for water and nutrients. Mulch or other ground coverings reduce mowing requirements in the landscape.
4. Add a 2˝ to 3˝ layer of mulch on the root zone of the tree to provide an attractive and healthy environment for the tree to grow. This also provides a visual cue to keep equipment away from the tree.
5. Add trunk guards or similar devices to give the tree additional protection. White, expanding tree guards can help help trees withstand equipment contact and also can help to reduce winter injury.

Trees are a valuable asset to your property and are important to our environment. Every tree contributes to the urban forest and improves air and water quality in your neighborhood. Protect and preserve these growing assets by keeping mowing and weed-trimming equipment away from tree trunks. The damage lasts and it cannot be undone. Don’t create a hazard!

Resources:
Planting Your Tree Part 1: Choosing Your Tree, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Tree Pruning Essentials Video, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Tree Defect Identification, The Education Store, Purdue Education’s resource center
Why Is My Tree Dying?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)
Tree Wound and Healing, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Surface Root Syndrome, The Education Store
Find an Arborist video, Trees are Good-International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Trees and Storms: Understanding Damage, Risk and Recovery – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Report INvasive, Purdue Extension
Indiana Invasive Species Council
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel (Invasive White Mulberry, Siberian Elm, Tree of Heaven)
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Lindsey Purcell, Executive Director
Indiana Arborist Association

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Spring is one of the best times to identify trees and shrubs in Indiana. As buds break and flowers emerge, many species reveal distinctive traits that make identification easier and more enjoyable. In this collection of ID That Tree videos, Purdue Extension Forester Lenny Farlee highlights a variety of native trees and shrubs from eye-catching flowering species to lesser-known woodland plants. Whether you’re a student, landowner or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, these videos offer a quick and accessible way to build your tree identification skills this spring.

Explore the Spring Bloom Edition videos, starting with Umbrella Magnolia:

 

Continue building your identification skills with these additional ID That Tree: Spring Bloom Edition videos:

Trees:

• ID That Tree Spring Bloom Edition: American Plum
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: Flowering Dogwood
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: Ohio Buckeye
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: PawPaw
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: Redbud
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: Sassafras
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: Serviceberry
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: Yellowwood

Shrubs & Small Trees:

• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: American Hazelnut
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: Bladdernut
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: Blackhaw
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: Hawthorn
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: Mapleleaf Viburnum
• ID That Tree Spring Bloom: Spicebush in Flower

Check out more spring Got Nature? blog posts:
As the Spring Wildlflowers Emerge, so do the Woodland Invaders
Spring Tree Preparations
Spring Season is Mole Season
Question: Anything I Can Do About An Increase Of Snakes Around The House This Spring?
Protecting Spring Plants From Wildlife Damage Using Repellents
It’s Timberdoodle Time!
Putting a Little Wildlife in Your Backyard this Spring, publication in The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center

If you have any questions regarding wildlife, trees, forest management, wood products, natural resource planning or other natural resource topics, Purdue Extension – FNR is here to help. Visit our Ask an Expert  webpage to connect with a Purdue Extension specialist.

Resources:
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR> Youtube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR Youtube Channel
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
New Tool for Helping Landowners to Help Declining Birds, Forestry for the Birds, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana, Purdue Extension – FNR
ReportINvasive, Purdue College of Agriculture – Entomology
Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Report Invasive, Purdue College of Agriculture – Entomology
Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)
District Forester, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 10+ acres
Find an Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture

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

Lenny Farlee, Sustaining Hardwood Extension Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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