Subscribe to our Got Nature? Newsletter

Got Nature? Blog

Explore the latest newsletter updates on the Indiana Woodland Steward website. Stay up-to-date with forestry news and receive their free e-newsletter by subscribing at IWS Subscribe.

Highlights from the new Newsletter include:

• The First 20 Years of The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment
  By Scott Haulton
  “This summer, the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Indiana’s largest and most comprehensive study of forest management effects…”
• Information on Indiana’s New Prescribed Burning Law
  By Rob McCrea
  “On July 1st, 2025, Indiana’s newly enacted law on prescribed burning took effect. This law does not..
• Opinion: The Future of Forestry
  By Liz Jackson
  “For decades the approach to forestry in Indiana has been one of restoration and recovery from the years of overcutting and abandonment…”
• Purdue Extension Forestry Course Celebrates Over 100 Classes
  “Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner Course,” sometimes referred to as the Purdue Forestry short course…”
• Forestry for the Birds: A Tale of Two Woodlands
  By Dr. Jessica Outcalt
  “Once upon a time, a few centuries ago, a woodland grew in a river valley of central Indiana. The people who managed this grove…”
• Purdue Researchers Seeking Landowners
  “In natural resource management, there is a need to understand the densities of wildlife species to determine hunting quotas, issue take permits, and predict…”
• Ask the Steward
  by Dan Ernst
  “Question: Why does my glyphosate foliar treatment sometimes seem ineffective?”

The Indiana Woodland Steward Newsletter is a resource offering a wealth of valuable information for foresters, woodland owners, timber marketing specialists, woodland and wildlife enthusiasts. The Indiana Woodland Steward Institute (IWS) is an entity made from 11 organizations within the state including Purdue University, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association (IHLA), that works to promote best usage practices of Indiana’s woodland resources through their Woodland Steward publication.

Resources
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE) website
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment – Wildlife Responses to Timber Harvesting, Purdue Extension
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Invasive plants: impact on environment and people, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Virtual Tour Brings Forest Management for Birds to Life, Got Nature? Blog Post, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)
Breeding Birds and Forest Management: the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment and the Central Hardwoods Region, The Education Store
Deer Impact Toolbox, Purdue Extension
Grassland Management Series, Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Birdfeeder tips, The National Audubon Society
Explore the Rich World of Oaks with Purdue FNR Extension & Partners, Purdue Extension – FNR
Managing Woodlands for Birds Video, Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Subscribe: Deer, Forest Management, ID That Tree, Woodland Management Moment, Invasive Species and many other topic video playlists Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Dan McGuckin, President
Indiana Woodland Steward

Dr. Brian MacGowan, Extension Wildlife Specialist
Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University

---

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

---

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

---

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) Newsroom: At the recent Great Lakes Sea Grant Network meeting in Evanston, Illinois, Amy Shambach, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant aquaculture marketing outreach associate, was presented with the 2023 Great Lakes Sea Grant Network Early Career Award.

Shambach has been in her role with IISG since 2019. Since then, she has developed numerous outreach products, including videos, factsheets, and websites. She has organized and led webinars and workshops in the two states and helped lead Great Lakes-wide projects.

Throughout her four years with the program, Shambach has worked closely with fish farmers—she has been someone they can turn to for guidance and information. As a result, she was able to help some farmers successfully secure federal support during COVID and then when an ice storm hit southern Illinois.

“It is unusual for someone to launch so many high-output, high-impact programs so early in their Sea Grant career, especially when they begin the job with little outreach experience,” said Stuart Carlton, IISG assistant director. “However, Amy is not usual, she is special, and is well deserving of recognition for her work.”
To see full article, please visit: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant recognized for outstanding outreach efforts.

Amy provides outreach and extension services to producers, potential producers, and consumers, which is also shared through IISG partner Purdue Extension.

To view Amy’s publications and products, please visit Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s Resources Page.
For free downloads of the publications, view The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center, and place “Amy Shambach” in the search field.

Resources:
Freshwater Prawn Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Largemouth Bass Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, The Education Store
Atlantic Salmon Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, The Education Store
A Guide to Small-Scale Fish Processing Using Local Kitchen Facilities, The Education Store
Walleye Farmed Fish Fact Sheet: A Guide for Seafood Consumers, The Education Store
Sustainable Aquaculture: What does it mean to you?, The Education Store
Center For Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL), Website
Scientists bring the Great Lakes to students learning from home, Got Nature? Blog
Aquaculture Industry in Indiana Growing, Purdue Today
Largemouth Bass Market Trends, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Ask An Expert: Hot and Cold, Video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Video: Cage Culture and Aquaponics, FNR Youtube Channel
Eat Midwest Fish, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant online resource hub

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG)

 

---

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

---

Tree-of-heaven (ToH), also known as Chinese sumac, varnish tree, or stink tree, is a large, rapidly growing deciduous tree native to parts of China. Tree-of-heaven was introduced to North America as early as the late 1700s and has since become invasive in most areas of the United States. Tree-of-heaven can be found, sometimes in abundance, in both urban and rural environments. The tree spreads through abundantly produced wind-scattered seeds from female trees, and sprout colonies arising from established trees, in some cases producing monoculture stands of the species. ToH has also been shown to produce allelopathic chemicals that can inhibit the growth of neighboring plants, providing an additional competitive advantage.

Tree-of-heaven is a serious threat as an invasive species in many habitats or untended areas. It can reach 80 feet or more, its growth rate outpaces most native tree species, and wind scatters seeds that female trees produce in abundance. Controlling ToH is a challenge. In this publication, Purdue University extension specialists and property managers explain herbicide options, application techniques and strategies to control and manage ToH.

To receive the free download visit the Purdue Extension’s resource center: The Education Store – Invasive Plant Series – Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima.

View Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Video: ID That Tree: Invasive Tree of Heaven.

Resources:
Invasive Species, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Report Invasive Species, Purdue Invasive Species
What are invasive species and why should I care?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Invasive plants: Impact on Environment and People, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Youtube Channel
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR Youtube Channel
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Tree Risk Management – The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Woodland Invaders, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Invasive Species
Invasive Plant Species Identification, Video, Purdue Extension – FNR Youtube Channel
Mile-a-minute Vine, The Education Store

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

Ron Rathfon, Regional Extension Forester, Southern Indiana Purdue Agriculture Center (SIPAC)
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources

---

We all want clean water but sometimes it is hard to know how one individual or family can make a difference. People who have a home with a yard have the opportunity to make decisions that can protect and improve water quality.

Rain that falls on your yard does not necessarily stay in your yard. Some water is infiltrated into the ground, some is drawn up through plants and into the air, and some can run off and flow into a roadside ditch or storm sewer, where it continues to flow to a lake or river. This runoff can pick up soil particles, motor oil, lawn chemicals, or other pollutants on your property and carry them downstream, where they can cause water quality problems.

Anyone who has a home with a yard can help protect and improve water quality. This publication offers practical advice about reducing impervious surfaces, select proper landscape plants, effective management of lawns, installing rain barrels and rain gardens, and proper care of septic systems.

To receive the free download visit the Purdue Extension’s resource center: The Education Store – Homeowner Conservation Practices to Protect Water Quality.

Resources:
Improving Water Quality by Protecting Sinkholes on Your Property, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
A Landowner’s Guide to Sustainable Forestry: Part 5: Forests and Water, The Education Store
Improving Water Quality Around Your Farm, The Education Store, YouTube
Animal Agriculture’s Effect on Water Quality: Pastures and Feedlots, The Education Store
Improving Water Quality At Your Livestock Operation, The Education Store, YouTube
The Nature of Teaching: Discovering the Watershed, Purdue Extension-The Nature of Teaching
Rainscaping Education Program, Purdue Extension
Community Planning, Purdue Extension

Kara Salazar, Assistant Program Leader and Extension Specialist for Sustainable Communities
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Nick Burgmeier, Research Biologist and Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Laura Esman, Water Quality Program Coordinator
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

---

Drones can be used to assess crop health, monitor livestock, disperse cover crop seed, optimize natural resources, for public safety, and much more. Purdue Extension’s UAV pilots are flying fields, forests, and urban areas through Indiana to help farmers, land and business owners, and government officials turn images into insights. Purdue Extension’s personnel are learning how to help farmers and agricultural professionals more easily analyze and apply data from UAVs or drones.

This publication titled Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Checklist for Drones Flying in Indiana by Purdue Extension educators explains the steps required to legally fly a UAV or UAS in Indiana.

To legally fly an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or unmanned aerial system (UAS), several steps must be taken. This document provides checklists to assist you in that process. The primary regulatory agency for UAVs is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). FAA puts drones in three main categories: 0.55 pounds or less, greater than 0.55 pounds to 55 pounds, and more than 55 pounds. The regulation and registration of drones varies, depending sometimes on usage but mostly on weight.

To receive the free download visit the Purdue Extension’s resource center: The Education Store – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Checklist for Drones Flying in Indiana.

For more information regarding Purdue Extension and Purdue Agriculture’s outreach through the agricultural use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) view Purdue Extension-UAV.

Resources:
Integrated Digital Forestry Initiative (iDiF)
Creating a Wildlife Habitat Management Plan for Landowners, The Education Store
Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management Website, Purdue Extension
Timber Harvesting and Logging Practices for Private Woodlands, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Woodland Wildlife Management, The Education Store
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners Video Series, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Frost Seeding Native Grasses and Forbs with a Drone (UAV): Lessons Learned, Purdue Extension Forestry & Natural Resources
A New Drone Supports Pollinator Efforts, Purdue Extension Forestry & Natural Resources

Nikky Witkowski, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension Educator, Purdue University

Mark Carter, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension Educator, Purdue University

Alex Helms, Assistant Director,
Purdue Agricultural Centers

---

Purdue Landscape Report: Some of the questions that I get asked quite frequently are “Are my trees ok?”, “Do I need to have an arborist come work on my trees?”, and “Is there anything I can do to help my trees without hurting my savings?”. Just like many questions, the answers are dependent on the situation. There are a multitude of cases where it is in the best interest of both you and the tree to hire a professional. From removals and storm damage, to pruning at height and/or around utilities, and other dangerous situations, you really should invest in the cost of a certified arborist. But there are instances where you can save some money and feel the pride of caring for your trees yourself by doing some of your own pruning work.

You might not think too much about pruning. Maybe you feel like “Hey! Anyone can cut off a branch”, and you’re right but also not. There is a right and wrong way to pruning and cleaning out dead wood. Depending on where you cut and how much you remove, you might end up doing more damage to your tree and end up requiring the assistance of an arborist earlier than needed. For the pruning layperson, there are several topics that can help you prune like a pro: safety, equipment, and proper pruning cuts.

First and foremost is safety. From this time of the year onward it’s only going to get hotter, but it’s important to protect your body from accidents with your tools, from the elements, and even from the plants you’re pruning by wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE). From the toes up, skilled professionals have their work boots (closed toed shoes), pants (not shorts), at the very least a t-shirt, gloves and safety glasses, and hearing and head protection depending on the equipment and scale of work. And if you’re using power equipment like chainsaws make sure you’ve got protective chaps for that added level of safety.

The standard equipment available for pruning includes hand pruners, loppers, and hand and pole saws (I’ll touch on chainsaws more in a later article). The two main types of pruners and loppers are called bypass and anvil styles. Bypass pruners have two blades that “bypass” each other like scissors, leaving clean cuts on your trees and shrubs. Anvil pruners have a single blade that shuts against a flat surface, the “anvil”, and can leave bruised or crushed plant material after cuts. Use your hand pruners for smaller cuts (up to 3/4” in diameter depending on the quality of your blade) and your loppers for larger diameters that might not require a hand saw.

When choosing a hand or pole saw, it is best to have one specifically designed for pruning. Pruning saws come in different configurations. They can be straight or curved, have fixed or folding blades, and come in different lengths and teeth sizes. A good rule of thumb is shorter blades or blades with smaller teeth for finer pruning cuts and longer blades with larger teeth for bigger diameter limbs (pole saws will usually have larger blades attached to single or extendable poles). You’ll also want a blade that isn’t so thin that it buckles on the first cut. For pruning at home, I recommend a 10-12” saw with medium sized teeth. That coupled with a hand pruner and some loppers should cover most of your pruning projects.

Now that you have your PPE and your pruning equipment you’ll want to begin cutting, but there are some considerations along with dos and don’ts for pruning. First, you want to decide what your goals are (raising the canopy off the ground or a building, thinning the crown to increase light and/or wind, or reducing the canopy by shortening limbs) and how much you need to remove from your tree (Fig. 1). In most cases, less is more. Whenever you remove plant material you are doing two things:

1) you are injuring the tree, exposing open cuts to pests, diseases, and the elements

2) you are removing plant material that could continue to create energy for the tree if left on.

Both will stress your tree and it will need time to adapt and heal. You can always remove more later, but once you make your cuts you cannot put them back. If your tree needs a heavier prune, it’s time to bring in an arborist.

Next you need to consider what are you cutting? Are you removing whole limbs back to the trunk or are you shortening limbs? If you are removing limbs you want to avoid flush cuts, cutting back even to the trunk. Flush cuts (Fig. 2) are usually oval and have a larger surface area exposing more of the tree to pests, diseases, and the elements. Instead, you want to cut up to the branch bark ridge, a raised portion of bark on the top of the limb where it meets the trunk, and the branch collar, usually a swollen area on the bottom side of the limb where it begins to flare out from the trunk (Fig. 3). This is a proper removal cut that has the smallest surface area exposed and is usually more circular than oval.

If you are shortening limbs you want to perform a reduction cut, which is removing a larger stem by cutting back to a lateral branch that is at least 1/3 the diameter of the portion you are removing (Fig. 4). This provides sufficient energy production the keep the remaining limb alive. In this situation, you want to avoid heading cuts, which are length reductions without regard to the position or diameter of the lateral branch you are cutting back too. Cutting too far away from the lateral will lead to dead stubs that increase exposure and the time needed to heal over wounds. Cutting to laterals that are too small won’t allow the limb to produce enough energy to survive.

Last, whether you are applying removal or reduction cuts, you want to utilize what is called the ternary or 3-Cut Method (Fig. 5). The purpose of this method to stop damage from splitting and tear-outs in larger limbs that can’t be controlled by hand. The first cut is the undercut, about 1/3 the diameter of the limb and usually 6-12 inches from your final cut. The second cut is the top cut just outside the undercut. This cut continues down until it meets the same plane as the undercut where gravity will take hold as the branch snaps and falls. The final cut is to the branch collar, or the chosen lateral as noted above.

Proper pruning can be a daunting task at first. With time, the correct materials, and practice you can better care for your trees, your landscape, and yourself. If you are still worried about your trees, there are plenty of resources at Purdue Extension and The Education Store or you can always find an ISA Certified Arborist nearby using the Trees Are Good website. They will be able to help assess any other issues and provide excellent professional help.

Resources:
Tree Pruning Essentials, Video & Document
Tree Pruning for the Landscape Webinar, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Youtube Channel
Tree Appraisal and the Value of Trees, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Tree Pruning: What Do Trees Think?, The Education Store
Mechanical Damage to Trees: Mowing and Maintenance Equipment, The Education Store
Tree Installation Process and Practices, The Education Store
Tree Planting Part 1: Choosing a Tree, The Education Store
Tree Planting Part 2: Planting Your Tree, The Education Store
Planting Problems: Planting Too Deep, Video, Purdue Extension – FNR Youtube Channel

Ben McCallister, Urban Forestry Specialist
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources

---

Purdue Agriculture News – Purdue Extension has been selected to support a multistate effort to help rural, tribal and underserved communities access federal funding for energy and environmental improvement efforts.

The University of Minnesota will lead the effort as an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) for Region 5 with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Purdue Extension’s Community Development program will provide central support in Indiana to help communities navigate federal grant application systems, identify partners and matching funds, and assist with project design and development.

“Purdue Extension is positioned well to connect with rural and underserved communities across Indiana with staff in all 92 counties,” said Kara Salazar, assistant program leader for Purdue Extension Community Development and sustainable communities extension specialist. “We look forward to working with regional partners as a liaison for communities in need of resources to assist with clean energy and water, affordable and sustainable housing, and addressing legacy pollution.”

Additional partners in Indiana include the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD), Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD).

Michael Wilcox, associate director of NCRCRD and assistant director and program leader of Purdue Extension Community Development, welcomes interested community partners to reach out to get involved.

“We look forward to connecting with communities across the state while collaborating with our partners across the EPA Region 5. This is another excellent example of states within the north central region working together as partners to address pressing issues while fostering community resilience,” he added.

“Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is enthusiastic to build on our ongoing programs as we partner on this broad project to help support underserved coastal communities around southern Lake Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes in addressing environmental challenges,” said Tomas Höök, director of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and professor in Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Resources:
Implementation Examples of Smart Growth Strategies in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Conservation Through Community Leadership, The Education Store
Community Development, Purdue Extension
Conservation Through Community Leadership, video, Purdue Extension You Tube Channel
Rainscaping Education Program, Purdue Extension
Rainscaping and Rain Gardens, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces, The Education Store
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities, The Education Store
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Program, video, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Community Planning Playlist, Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Indiana Creek Watershed Project – Keys to Success, Partnerships and People, Subscribe to Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Abby Leeds, Senior Communications Specialist
Purdue Agricultural Communications

Michael Wilcox, Associate Director & Program Leader
North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) & Purdue Extension Community Development

---