"Have not heard about using potassium bicarbonate for the control of apple scab. Can you expand on this a bit? How effective is it? Any downsides? Timing of application? Sources for more information? "
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"Thinning to minimum stocking levels may help. Also, research on the benefit of nitrogen fertilizer application is ongoing."
Terminal Bud Scar: A Tree's Health Chart
Scarred for LifePaul Hetzler, ISA Certified ArboristIt makes sense that dying trees have terminal bud scars. Sounds like an awful condition – my condolences. But the healthiest trees have them, too (terminal scars, not condolences). It’s a good thing, since terminal bud (aka bud-scale) scars provide an excellent way to leaf through a tree’s health records going back 5 to 10 years.After a woody plant has its full complement of leaves, and they have hardened off, that tree or shrub makes both…See More
Treeconomics 101: Early Fall Color Explained
Treeconomics 101: Color-Coded ProsperityDeciduous trees, lakeside ice-cream stands, and marinas all close down each autumn for the same reason: as daylight dwindles and cold creeps in, their outfits become less and less profitable. At a certain point it makes sense to batten the hatches until the following spring. Some enterprising holdouts stay open longer; perhaps they have a cost advantage others do not, or have less competition. A few are the opposite, closing shop at the first hint of…See More
New Beech Threat Nothing to Sneeze At
Beech Health UpdatePaul Hetzler, ISA Certified ArboristIn the early 19th century, a Prussian diplomat asserted that “when France sneezes, the whole of Europe catches a cold.” Things changed, obviously. For a long while it has been an American financial sneeze able to make the world ill. Though China’s economy is projected to soon zip past ours, other countries still put hankies to their faces when the USA coughs.Canada has been covering up for some time now, but not for the usual reasons.…See More
Forest Pests are Exploding
Forest Health ForecastIf you’re tired of hearing about new invasive forest pests, I’m right there with you. Seems they arrive at an ever-increasing pace, and the harm potential ratchets up with each newcomer. At this rate maybe we’ll get a wood-boring beetle whose larvae explode, which would put things in perspective. As distasteful as it is to peer at the cast of ugly new characters, it’s better to know what we’re up against.Novel pests put everyone on a steep learning curve. For the species…See More
Preventing Anthracnose and Apple Scab
Crabby Apples and Other ComplaintsWe waited a long time for summer to arrive this year, so it is unfair that some flowering crabapples are turning yellow and brown and shedding their leaves already. Mountain-ash, serviceberry, and hawthorn are also affected by the same disorder. Here and there a few maples and other species are also dropping random leaves, which are for the most part still green, often with patches of black or brown. The latter situation has a different origin, but both are…See More
Oak Wilt: You Can Make a Difference
Oak WiltIt’s hard to be cheerful in a job where I am expected to keep up on each newly arrived or imminent threat from invasive insects, novel plant diseases, and worrisome trends in the environment. Although I typically deflate everyone’s happy-bubble when I give a talk, I’ve discovered we need not fret that the sky is going to fall.The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) is a joint effort of research institutions, government agencies and nonprofit groups; their mission is to…See More
Healthy Forests, Healthy Fish
Fish ForestryAs many anglers know, trees and fish are closely related. Really; it goes way beyond basswood. The relationship is not in the sense of phylum or family, of course. And it's not like the way in which tomatoes and fish were briefly married in a 1996 experiment at Oakland, California-based DNA Plant Technology in an attempt to get a frost-tolerant tomato (or possibly a saucy fish). If it weren’t for tree cover, cold-water fish species would not survive in most of the streams they now…See More
Trees Are Sick of the Weather
Maple Motion SicknessNo one wants to be told they have a weathered complexion, but many trees this summer, especially maples, are looking a bit worse for the wear as a result of conditions earlier in the season. “Leaf tatter” is a term used to describe foliage which may be torn and bedraggled-looking, distorted, sometimes with blackened spots or zones. It can easily look like a disease or mysterious pest is ravaging the tree.As tree buds open and young leaves begin to unfurl, they can get…See More
Ice Meadows
(N)ice MeadowsNow that the weather has finally warmed up, we can appreciate ice a little more. Among other things, ice greatly improves summertime drinks, and an icy watermelon is hands-down better than a warm one. And in this part of the world, ice also provides us with unique wildflower meadows. Along stretches of riverbank in the southern Adirondacks, rare Arctic-type flowers are blooming now in the fragile slices of native grasslands that are meticulously groomed each year by the scouring…See More
Perennial Pet Peeves
Local VolcanoesWhen you think about it, landscape trees have a rough life. Firstly they don’t get to choose their neighborhood, whether good, bad or indifferent. Depending where they are planted, they may need to contend with helpful watering by territorial dogs, materials-testing by energetic kids, entanglements with errant kites, or other issues.Rooted in one spot day in and day out, year after year, they suffer from – well, boredom, I imagine. And from restricted root area, drought stress,…See More
Helping Trees Recover from Flooding
Most Things in ModerationAs a teenager, my son had a saying, whether original or borrowed I don’t know (the saying, that is), which went something like “All things in moderation. Especially moderation.” It would seem Mother Nature took that to heart, and dispensed with moderate rainfall and snow melt this spring. If not her, then maybe it was Creepy Uncle Climate Change. At any rate, the resultant flooding has been heartbreaking to observe.While I am of course sensitive to the anguish of those…See More
Happy Tree Day!
Plant a Legacy on Arbor DayMuskrat Week. Velcro Month. Arbor Day. You know it’s an obscure event when the greeting-card trade hasn’t bothered to capitalize on it. While not the best-known observance, Arbor Day has a respectable history, as well as a local connection.Rooted in northern NY, Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday in April. J. Sterling Morton of Adams, NY germinated the concept in 1872 to highlight the need to conserve topsoil and increase timber in his adopted state of Nebraska.…See More
Profile Information
- How many acres of woodland do you own or annually manage?
- 70
- Please describe, with two or three sentences, why you are interested in woodlot ecology and management. Your answer helps us ensure that only those people truly interested in woodlots are added as members.
- As the natural-resources educator at CCE St. Lawrence, I would like to know as much as possible about woodland ecology because every so often I like to be able to give a correct answer to an inquiry.
Paul J Hetzler's Blog
Terminal Bud Scar: A Tree's Health Chart
Posted on September 24, 2019 at 7:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Scarred for Life
Paul Hetzler, ISA Certified Arborist
It makes sense that dying trees have terminal bud scars. Sounds like an awful condition – my condolences. But the healthiest trees have them, too (terminal scars, not condolences). It’s a good thing, since terminal bud (aka bud-scale) scars provide an excellent way to leaf through a tree’s health records going back 5 to 10 years.
After a woody plant has its full complement of leaves, and they have hardened off, that…
ContinueTreeconomics 101: Early Fall Color Explained
Posted on September 23, 2019 at 4:39pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Treeconomics 101: Color-Coded Prosperity
Deciduous trees, lakeside ice-cream stands, and marinas all close down each autumn for the same reason: as daylight dwindles and cold creeps in, their outfits become less and less profitable. At a certain point it makes sense to batten the hatches until the following spring.
Some enterprising holdouts stay open longer; perhaps they have a cost advantage others do not, or have less competition. A few are the opposite, closing shop…
New Beech Threat Nothing to Sneeze At
Posted on September 14, 2019 at 10:10am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Beech Health Update
Paul Hetzler, ISA Certified Arborist
In the early 19th century, a Prussian diplomat asserted that “when France sneezes, the whole of Europe catches a cold.” Things changed, obviously. For a long while it has been an American financial sneeze able to make the world ill. Though China’s economy is projected to soon zip past ours, other countries still put hankies to their faces when the USA coughs.
Canada has been covering up for some time…
ContinueForest Pests are Exploding
Posted on August 31, 2019 at 12:05pm 1 Comment 0 Likes
Forest Health Forecast
If you’re tired of hearing about new invasive forest pests, I’m right there with you. Seems they arrive at an ever-increasing pace, and the harm potential ratchets up with each newcomer. At this rate maybe we’ll get a wood-boring beetle whose larvae explode, which would put things in perspective. As distasteful as it is to peer at the cast of ugly new characters, it’s better to know what we’re up against.
Novel pests put everyone on a steep learning…
ContinueComment Wall (1 comment)
- At 2:28pm on May 18, 2017,
Ronald L Frisbee said…
Welcome Paul! Any chance we will see you at FRESH? I hope so! Ron Frisbee
Forum
How to find a Forester
Started by Hannah in Forest Health. Last reply by Hannah on Monday. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Hello! We have purchased a large property in Tioga County, and as part of our contract, we have agreed to put together a forest management plan, which will require working with a local forester!I am hoping to get some advice as to how to find and…Continue
Tags: Forester
Walnut caterpillar
Started by Anna Bartel in Agroforestry Sep 9. 0 Replies 0 Likes
I noticed some defoliation in some young volunteer black walnuts and discovered the walnut caterpillar. Mine are in the fourth instar right now, according to this…Continue
USDA Deregulates American Chestnut Engineered for Enhanced Blight Tolerance
Started by Stephen Kutney in Forest Health Sep 1. 0 Replies 0 Likes
USDA Deregulates American Chestnut Engineered for Enhanced Blight ToleranceContact: …Continue
Prscribed burns
Started by Gail Sanford in Woodlot Management May 25. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Have prescribed burns for forest health been done in the Finger Lakes area or on Arnot Forest? Thank you.Continue
Sapling Puller
Started by Daniel Farrell in Woodlot Management. Last reply by Peter Smallidge Apr 20. 1 Reply 0 Likes
I'm seeking a broader perspective on devices for manual pulling of undesired shrubs and saplings. The intent is to mechanically remove, including roots to the degree possible, sapling sized invasives and non-invasives in woodland trails and…Continue
Sapling & Shrub Puller Field Guide
Started by Daniel Farrell in Woodlot Management Apr 19. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Click on linkSapling%20and%20Shrub%20Puller%20Guide%20Final%204.19.2026.pdfContinue
Small-Scale Logging
Started by Peter Smallidge in Project Profiles. Last reply by John McNerney Apr 1. 7 Replies 1 Like
Small-Scale Logging: Sugarbush and Woodlot Management Issue: Many woodlot owners and maple syrup producers want to be more active in gathering logs or firewood from their property. Often there are too few acres or too few trees to attract a…Continue
Tags: yourself, harvesting, woodlot, management, it
Practical Woodlot Improvement: Mulching, Drainage Work, and Long-Term Maintenance
Started by Jeremy Edmister in Woodlot Management Jan 27. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Many rural landowners I talk with want to improve woods access, reclaim overgrown edges, or start grazing in a section without making a mess of the land. I’ve found that choosing the right tool depends on your goal, and having a long-term plan is…Continue
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