Wild Bulletin, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish and Wildlife: Instead of raking and bagging leaves this fall, consider allowing them to stay and naturally decay. Fallen leaves, plant stems, flower heads, twigs, and logs provide crucial winter habitat for Indiana’s wildlife.
The warmth and cover of leaves provide shelter for Eastern box turtles, salamanders and frogs, as well as insulation for butterflies and moths. Leaf piles can even benefit landscaping, as they can suppress weeds, retain moisture, and add nutrients to the soil as they decay. Leaves don’t have to be left exactly where they fall—you can rake them into flower beds and around tree bases.
Purdue Extension’s annual report showcases the accomplishments, outcomes and activities that highlight the impact of Purdue Extension across Indiana. Extension specialists and educators provide educational programs and research-based knowledge to help families, individuals, and communities prosper and thrive.
The Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources specialists featured:
Private Woodland Owners Make Decisions and Take Actions to Improve Acreage Value – project specialist include Lenny Farlee, Ron Rathfon, Don Carlson, and Jarred Brooke, along with county extension educators Dave Osborne, and Phil Woolery. Indiana has 20% forest lands, most privately owned. Forests are important habitats for wildlife and provide environmental and social benefits. Purdue Extension offers Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner, in-person and virtually. The in-person program has eight 2.75-hour evening sessions and two Saturday three-hour field day tours. Purdue Extension and local forestry and natural resource professionals provide presentations and direct activities. Participants receive a tree measuring stick and a flash drive containing more than 100 publications and resources.
Participant forest management knowledge improved after the program. More than 90% found it useful for making decisions, and 80% plan to take actions in the next year. A participant said, “This course provided exactly the information I needed to understand the DNR forester’s report on my classified forest and to act on it. It will also help form a land management plan of my own (beyond what the forester provided), find programs to help manage and expand the forest, and earn a little money from the property in future years.”
To create a new market for low-value hardwoods, urban woods, and plantation resources by designing and producing innovative products, including wooden school furniture, Purdue’s Wood Research Lab has tested all strength and environmental attributes. At the same time, Purdue Extension is focusing on workforce development for Indiana’s wood products industry. An approach is to provide potential employment and entrepreneurial opportunities to residents with troubled pasts, underprivileged workers, and those needing a second chance in life by partnering with Purposeful Design, the Forest Service, Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association, Urban Forest Products and other industry players to train workers in furniture production and qualify for future work.
In this edition of ID That Tree, Purdue Extension forester Lenny Farlee takes us through the different characteristics of Hoptree, a relatively common shrub here in Indiana. This is a unique native plant with three-part leaves and hop-like seed pods. Also called Wafer Ash due to its distinctive wafer-shaped seeds, this shrub can often be confused with Poison Ivy or Bladdernut, so be sure to pay attention to key differences in the video. Features include trifoliate leaves and the temperate areas in which it grows.
If you have any questions regarding wildlife, trees, forest management, wood products, natural resource planning or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.
Purdue Landscape Report: In the last newsletter, an article on triclopyr brought up much discussion on the Roundup brands now containing multiple active ingredients other than glyphosate. Professionals in the industry may encounter a client with herbicide damage symptoms that mimic growth-regulator injury instead of typical glyphosate damage symptoms. While the client may have used Roundup, they didn’t necessarily use glyphosate. Going forward, it’s important to keep in mind that Roundup no longer means glyphosate in the consumer market.
Roundup has been one of the most used herbicides for many different weed control applications. Roundup, with the active ingredient glyphosate, was first registered with the EPA in 1974. When Roundup went off patent in 2000, glyphosate started being sold under many different names. According to the National Pesticide Information Center there are currently over 750 products containing glyphosate. Formulations may differ with salt carriers, adjuvants, concentrations, and mixed with other herbicides.
Recently, Bayer announced glyphosate would be phased out of consumer Roundup products. In its place, consumer Roundup products include other active ingredients. This can lead to confusion in the consumer market. It’s important to note that professional-use Roundup (turf and ornamental, agronomic crops, etc.) still contains glyphosate.
Figure 1. Consumer versions of Roundup are no longer glyphosate. Pay close attention to the active ingredients on labels to prevent unwanted plant injury.
Within the consumer Roundup product line, there are many different formulations designed for specific purposes, which include Roundup Weed and Grass Killer, Roundup for Lawns, Roundup for Lawns: Crabgrass Destroyer, Roundup Dual Action Weed and Grass Killer, Roundup Poison Ivy and Tough Brush Killer, among others. Each of these products contains distinct active ingredients that target different types of weeds.
Roundup Weed and Grass Killer: Glyphosate as the Active Ingredient The original Roundup herbicide contains glyphosate as its primary active ingredient. Glyphosate is a systemic, non-selective herbicide, meaning it is absorbed by the plant and translocated throughout the vascular system, ultimately leading to the plant’s death. Glyphosate works by inhibiting the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), which is a key component of the shikimic acid pathway—a pathway critical for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids in plants.
Active Ingredient:
Glyphosate: The ‘traditional’ version of Roundup that controls many different weeds. Can take 10-14 days to kill weeds.
Pelargonic Acid: A contact herbicide that quickly breaks down cell walls. This is added to provide a quick burndown of the weed.
Roundup Dual Action Weed and Grass Killer Plus 4 Month Preventer: Multiple modes of action Round Dual Action is a formulation that includes four very different herbicides that is intended for use in areas with limited vegetation (i.e. sidewalks, driveways, mulched beds). In addition to postemergence herbicides, this product includes two preemergence active ingredients.
Active Ingredients:
Triclopyr: Systemic herbicide that mimics auxins. Very effective herbicide for woody plants, which is used frequently in invasive species treatments.
Fluazifop: Grass-specific herbicide (graminicide) that controls several annual and perennial grasses.
Diquat: Contact herbicide that exhibit symptoms rapidly. Good for annual weeds.
Imazapic: Pre- and Postemergence control of several grasses and broadleaf weeds.
Roundup for Lawns: A Combination of Selective Herbicides Roundup for Lawns is a specialized formulation designed for residential use, particularly for controlling broadleaf weeds in lawns. Unlike traditional Roundup, which contains glyphosate, Roundup for Lawns contains a combination of selective herbicides, including MCPA, quinclorac, dicamba, and sulfentrazone. These ingredients are chosen for their ability to target broadleaf weeds and grassy weeds without harming most turfgrass species. This product is similar to the traditional ‘three-way’ herbicides that are commonly used in turf.
Active Ingredients:
MCPA: MCPA is a selective herbicide that mimics the action of natural plant hormones known as auxins. When absorbed by broadleaf weeds, it causes uncontrolled growth, leading to the plant’s death.
Quinclorac: Quinclorac is effective against grassy weeds, primarily used for crabgrass control in turf. It can be similar to auxin herbicides, causing epinasty, curling, and a change of color.
Dicamba: Similar to MCPA, dicamba disrupts the growth of broadleaf weeds by mimicking natural plant hormones.
Sulfentrazone: Pre- and postemergence activity in turf. Very effective on nutsedge.
Roundup for Lawns: Crabgrass Destroyer Roundup for Lawns: Crabgrass Destroyer is a product designed to control grassy weeds and several broadleaf weeds in cool-season turf. In addition to crabgrass, other grassy weeds and some broadleaves can be controlled.
Active Ingredients:
Topramezone: Very effective herbicide for several annual and perennial grassy weeds and some common broadleaf weeds.
Roundup Poison Ivy and Tough Brush Killer: Triclopyr for Tough Woody Plants Roundup Brush Killer is formulated to tackle tough, woody plants, such as brush, brambles, and small trees. The active ingredient in this product is triclopyr, a selective herbicide that targets broadleaf plants with less damage to grasses. This product can be effective on invasive woody plants.
Figure 2. Glyphosate damage to sycamore.
Active Ingredients:
Triclopyr: Systemic herbicide that mimics auxins. Very effective herbicide for woody plants, which is used frequently in invasive species treatments.
Glyphosate: The ‘traditional’ version of Roundup that controls many different weeds. Can take 10-14 days to kill weeds.
Conclusion All of the consumer Roundup products contain unique active ingredients tailored to specific weed control needs. There can be understandable confusion around these products due to the historical uses of glyphosate. The Green Industry needs to be aware of the confusion around these products to better inform their clients. Understanding the active ingredients and mechanisms of action of these herbicides is crucial for their effective and safe use in various settings.
Purdue Landscape Report: We have received a few elm tree samples this year with a disease we do not often see, but which is relatively common: black spot of elm. This disease, also called elm anthracnose, is caused by the fungus Stegophora ulmea and can affect most species of elm with American elm varieties being more susceptible.
Figure 1. Elm foliage with chlorotic spotting and black fungal structures caused by Stegophora ulmea.
The fungus becomes active in the spring at temperatures of 45 deg F or above. It can release spores that will infect newly unfolding leaves leading to chlorotic leaf spots or blotches on the upper leaf surface. Black fungal fruiting bodies will develop within the affected tissue, making it seem like the leaves have been dotted with tar. These fungal structures are raised and will give the leaf a bumpy texture. As more spots develop and coalesce, they will create white areas of dead tissue that can eventually turn brown.
The black fungal stromata can produce asexual spores (conidia) which can cause new infections during the growing season. Conidia are produced in a mucilage which becomes loose in humid conditions and can be spread by water splash (rain or irrigation). While leaf infections are the most commonly observed symptom, Stegophora can also infect leaf petioles and twigs. Premature leaf drop due to severe leaf spotting can occur, but significant defoliation may also develop when petioles are infected. Stem infections can lead to shoot blighting and small limb dieback.
Figure 2. Elm foliage with large black fruiting bodies of Stegophora ulmea.
Black spot is generally worse when the weather is cool and moist over an extended period of time. The fungus can reinfect the tree throughout the season during rainy. When the summer turns hot and dry, disease development will slow down and trees with twig blighting may show some recovery by pushing out new growth from dormant buds below affected shoots. Please note that twig blighting may look similar to flagging branches associated with Dutch elm disease (DED), so we recommend pruning off the branch and looking for internal vascular streaking to rule out DED.
Fungicides are not normally recommended to manage this disease for mature trees in landscapes since it is impractical to get full coverage of the foliage and damage is not usually severe. However, preventative applications may be warranted in nursery settings when the disease is severe to protect new growth and slow down disease spread until drier weather occurs, especially where overhead irrigation is used. Raking up leaf litter and pruning out infected stems will remove inoculum for the following season and help prevent existing infections from spreading.
Purdue Agriculture News: As autumn settles in, we eagerly await the transformation of leaves into vibrant hues of red, orange and yellow. However, this year might tell a different story due to prolonged periods of hot weather. Ben McCallister, urban forestry specialist in Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, sheds light on what to expect this fall.
The Impact of Weather on Fall Foliage Timing
“Right now, we’re seeing a mix of fall coming in and shifting temperatures, which is causing trees to respond. This back-and-forth hot weather is creating some color changes related to drought and stress. This can be expressed as brown color where leaves are starting to wilt and look a little crunchy from exposure to heat and drought stress,” McCallister explains.
While the typical color change occurs from mid-September to early November, it’s not unusual for leaves to remain green at this point in the season. McCallister suggests that while the hot weather “most likely won’t affect anything visually, it could influence fall foliage over time as climate change progresses.”
He anticipates a more pronounced display of fall colors extending through October, with some species showing their colors into November. Ultimately, the vibrancy and timing of these changes will depend on daily temperature fluctuations and the amount of sunlight trees receive.
The environment also plays a significant role in how trees respond. For instance, urban areas with more concrete and buildings create a “urban heat island” effect, which can delay color changes compared to more rural settings.
The Science Behind Color Transformation
The science of fall foliage is both fascinating and complex. McCallister explains that different tree species respond to autumn at varying times, with chlorophyll being a key player in this process.
“Changes in chlorophyll production leads to the color changes in leaves. Chlorophyll allows leaves to take up sunlight and convert it into energy, creating carbohydrates in the form of sugars – really anything that gives energy to the tree to help it grow, sustain itself and compartmentalize,” McCallister notes.
As temperatures cool and the sunlight diminishes, chlorophyll production declines, allowing the green hues of leaves to fade. This decline reveals carotenoids and anthocyanins – two chemicals essential to fall foliage. Carotenoids contribute to the yellow and orange shades, while anthocyanins produce reds and purples. As chlorophyll wanes, these vibrant colors emerge.
“It’s a very cool process,” McCallister adds. “Each color absorbs different spectrums of light, altering energy uptake and preparing trees for leaf drop and dormancy. As leaves in deciduous trees transition, trees store energy in their roots and wood so they can brave the winter.”
Viewing Fall Foliage
When it comes to enjoying fall foliage, McCallister emphasizes that Indiana offers many great viewing locations not far from Purdue’s campus.
Locally, Martell Forest, which is open to the public, is a great spot to check out the fall foliage and immerse yourself in the woods,” says McCallister.
What’s Next?
Leaf drop is likely to occur anytime from mid-October into December, although this process may take longer than usual due to the milder winters we’ve been experiencing. Similar to color changing, the timing of leaf drop varies by tree species and their growth patterns, as well as the overall weather conditions.
“For instance, ginkgo trees turn this brilliant yellow and have a cool reaction to leaf drop. Typically, all their leaves fall within a day or so, creating a carpet of yellow. In contrast, trees like maples and oaks, which have a mix of yellow, orange and red leaves, tend to hold onto their foliage a bit longer,” McCallister recalls.
It’s also important to note that while coniferous trees, like pines, spruces and furs, retain their needles year-round, some conifers like bald-cypress trees drop theirs. This sometimes causes confusion for homeowners who mistake these deciduous conifers for dying trees.
To provide the best care for your trees during these changing weather patterns, McCallister advises familiarizing yourself with different tree species. Resources like Google and dichotomous keys in forestry books can help with species identification and lead to tips for care. Regularly checking your trees’ health is essential year-round. Specialists in your local county Extension offices and ISA Certified Arborists can be valuable resources for proper tree management.
Question: We have a large 60+ foot mulberry tree in our backyard that is located by our pond. This is the first year I have seen these dark streaks on the bark of the tree. Should I have concerns?
Answer: From the photos, it looks like wet wood/slime flux is affecting your tree. It is a bacterial infection on trees and in most cases is not a serious issue, but unfortunately, there is nothing to be done about it. Many years ago they used to drill holes to try and allow gases and liquids drain from an area with the slime flux but through research and experience this practice is not recommended.
The Purdue Landscape Report titled Slime Flux of Trees shares more about this disease:
Slime flux (also known as wet wood) is a dark, foul-smelling and unsightly seepage of sap from tree trunks. The disease is not usually a serious problem but the appearance can be alarming. Slime flux is caused by common surface-inhabiting bacteria or yeast fungi that enter the trunk through wounds associated with improper pruning, stem breakage, injections, cracks from freeze injury or weak limb crotches. The bacteria and yeast may live on sap nutrients within injured trees for many years without any outward evidence.
Symptoms
The main symptom is the appearance of the dark sap oozing on the trunk exterior which happens when gasses produced by growth of the bacteria and yeast cause the internal pressure of the sap to become high enough to force the sap out through cracks in the bark. The dark streaks usually turn light gray or white upon drying. Oozing sap may be frothy and white at the point of exit. Airborne bacteria, yeasts, and fungi often colonize the wet oozing material, which ferments and releases a foul odor. Slime flux may delay wound healing (callus formation).
Lenny Farlee, sustaining hardwood Extension specialist for Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR), has been named a 2024 Fellow of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). The SAF Fellow Award, one of the highest honors bestowed on an SAF member by their peers, recognizes long-standing service to forestry at the local, state, regional and national levels.
Farlee was honored with the award during the 2024 SAF National Convention, which took place in Loveland, Colorado from Sept. 17-20.
Zhao Ma accepts the 2024 Family Forests Education Award on behalf of Lenny Farlee and the other project team members.
“Being named a Fellow of the Society of American Foresters is particularly meaningful to me since it originates from a nomination by my peers at the state level,” Farlee said. “I am very grateful that my colleagues in forestry here in Indiana considered my service worthy of recognition, and I owe much of the credit to them for their support of me through my career. It has been my privilege to serve the people and the profession as an Extension forester here at Purdue.”
Farlee educates people about forestry in many ways, including through the popular Extension YouTube series “ID That Tree,” which has over 100,000 views.
Farlee, Ronald Rathfon, Don Carlson, Jonathan Ferris,Dave Osborne and Phil Woolery worked together to develop the course. The course introduces forest landowners to the biology and management of forests and what resources and professional assistance are available. According to survey results from 2021 participants, “94.4% stated that the information was useful to help them make future decisions and 92.5% stated that the information was useful to help act to manage their property objectives.”
“We in FNR, along with forestry professionals in Indiana and the landowners who have communicated with Lenny and his colleagues through the ‘Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner’ course, know how valuable this program has been to sustainable forest management in Indiana,” said Zhao Ma, interim department head and professor of forestry and natural resources. “So it is absolutely wonderful when others outside of our FNR community and beyond Indiana also recognize the excellent work that Lenny and his colleagues have been doing…, I would also like to share one more note about Lenny – not only has Lenny been a highly valued and respected member of FNR and the forestry profession for many years, but he is also one of the nicest people I have met. He is knowledgeable yet humble, effective yet gentle, serious about his work yet able to have fun, very busy yet always willing to help others and try to be present. We are lucky to have Lenny as our colleague in FNR.”
Morning AgClips — Nestled within the cool, flowing waters of Indiana’s Blue River, the elusive hellbender thrives under big, flat rocks, seeking refuge from predators and finding the perfect conditions to lay their eggs. But in recent years, they have become increasingly difficult to find.
Morning AgClips interviews Purdue hellbender team for details regarding Farmers Helping Hellbenders Project, aimed at restoring Indiana’s endangered hellbender salamander population by improving water quality in the Blue River-Sinking watershed. Learn more about this initiative by hearing directly from the people involved, with the two overarching goals being about improving hellbender habitat and also enhancing local farming operations. Particularly, the project engages farmers in adopting sustainable practices as well, while strengthening conservation efforts for hellbenders.
Hellbenders used to have a much larger range, occurring in most of southeast Indiana’s tributaries to the Ohio River and in the Wabash River. Sadly, its population has dropped drastically due to modification of stream habitats including the accumulation of sediment, agricultural and industrial pollution, warming waters and the channelization of streams and rivers. Because of their decline, these endangered ancient amphibians, with their large, unique flat bodies, have become the focus of an ambitious conservation effort led by Purdue University.
“The significance of the hellbender and its conservation extends beyond the species itself,” Purdue Extension Wildlife Specialist, Nick Burgmeier explains. “Hellbenders are an indicator species; their presence reflects the health of the water quality. Historically common and a top predator in streams, their decline has ecological repercussions, particularly on crayfish populations, which can disrupt food webs.”
Purdue Landscape Report: August was National Check Your Tree Month, but this is something that every tree owner/manager should be doing year-round. As the last hot days of summer are finishing up and we look forward to cooler fall days, we can look to our trees for different signs of trouble.
Most people tend to look up at the canopy before anything else in trees. Check leaves for dieback, discoloration, stickiness or signs of chewing. Check branches and the main stem for damage like splits and breaks, peeling bark, tunneling patterns under the bark, oozing wet spots, or sawdust around the tree. These could be signs of issues in the root system, pathogens like bacteria or fungal organisms, insect problems, or structural damage.
This is not an exhaustive list and if you notice these or anything else that seems off, it could be time for a deeper dive into what might be wrong. If you know the species of your tree the Purdue Plant Doctor is a great tool to narrow down a diagnosis. You can also contact your local Extension office or an ISA Certified Arborist.
On a more positive side, you don’t have to be on the lookout for damage, decline, or signs of pathogens and pests. It is also a matter of enjoying the trees in your landscape. Take some time out of your day to sit in the shade especially as we transition from hot summer temperatures into the cooling of autumn. Revel in the color changes as chlorophyll production slows revealing the carotenoids (that give us yellows, oranges, and browns) and anthocyanin (that produces reds and purples). In winter, not only can you better see damage in the canopy hidden by leaves in the growing seasons, but also the structure and architecture of the canopies in different tree species and the differences in bark textures. And in Spring, new growth of leaves and flowers shows us Winter is nearing its end, bringing warmer days.
So check your trees throughout the year. But not only for potential issues and risk management but also for enjoyment. Trees offer us no many benefits and sometimes it takes a little reminder. If you do see any signs of decline or damage, again, be sure to contact your local Extension office or an ISA Certified Arborist.
