Tree Guys Don’t Know Anything          Paul Hetzler

What is an arborist?

1. What a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan calls herself/ himself.  

2. A person who has received extensive training in all aspects of tree care.  

3. As opposed to your borist.

Tree topping is:

1. A type of syrup that forest-industry workers prefer on their ice cream.  

2. An incorrect way to reduce a tree’s height, one which leads to a very weak and…

Only Bury Your Tree After It’s Dead

Paul Hetzler

In springtime, driving around on weekends makes me sad. Invariably I’ll pass someone out in their yard, shovel in hand, maybe with their kids or spouse, and they have a cute little tree from the garden center on one side of them, and a wicked deep hole in the ground on the other. If I wasn’t so shy, I’d stop and offer my condolences, because clearly they are having a funeral for the tree.

Here’s an arborist joke: What do…

sorry fdor the NNY bias...feel free to use this any time/way you like, and to edit out the offending parochial sentiments.

Helicopters and Handkerchiefs: Signs of Stress

Paul Hetzler

Here is a forecast the entire region can bank on: this spring will be characterized by pollen storms, and in a related development, it will rain helicopters this summer. Don’t panic—it has nothing to do with aircraft. It has everything to do with stress.

Short-term, moderate…

Sugarbush management is an important part of the responsibility of maple producers to ensure healthy and productive trees.  Like all the duties of a maple producer, learning how to manage your sugarbush will take some time, involve learning new skills, benefit with assistance from others who are more knowledgeable, and take some time to achieve mastery.

An article…

Google Earth and Web Soil Survey

Google Earth Pro is free software that allows the user to visualize specific locations any place on 

earth.  Google Earth Pro (GEP) is available free to download from this web URL  https://www.google.com/earth/download/gep/agree.html

Woodland owners can obtain useful data from GEP.  GEP allows the user to draw property boundaries, locate positions…

I just came across a new Forest Science Fact Sheet publication by Dave Jackson of PSU on the ecology and management of ferns.  If you're dealing with ferns, this is a great resource.  I've pasted the first paragraph below, and linked to the full publication. The publication is developed in the context of Pennsylvania's forests, but the message and content has application…

Roadside trees present special considerations for management given their crown may have an imbalance of sunlight and thus crown architecture, and because if the tree fails the consequences may impact transportation or public utility

rights-of way.…

Workshop

Interference with the Regeneration of Hardwood Forests

Come to Cornell’s Arnot Forest on September 30, 2016 for a day-long workshop that will (i) provide foresters and woodland owners information about the ecological role of American beech (and other interfering vegetation) and deer in limiting forest regeneration, and (ii) review herbicide, organic and fence management strategies to ensure effective regeneration.…

Today's webinar recording, slides, materials, and certificates of attendance will be emailed to attendees within one week. There will be two emails - one with the recording / materials, and one with the certificate of attendance (if applicable).

call the office at 608-828-3000 and ask…

https://news.mongabay.com/2016/08/deforestation-has-been-occurring-continuously-in-new-england-since-the-1980s/?n3wsletter

Want to get more from your woods? Take a six-week online Woodlot Management course with the Cornell Small Farms Program with extension forester Peter Smallidge and Extension Agroforestry Specialist Steve Gabriel.



Examine the methods to assess forest resources and discuss common woodland activities such as cutting firewood, harvesting logs for mushroom cultivation, and support for wildlife and long-term forest health.



The course runs September 27 to November 1, with weekly…

Timber sales are relatively uncommon for most woodland owners, yet most properties are harvested at some point.  Harvests are infrequent, potentially of high value, and are unique in that the harvest puts the next crop at risk. Timber harvests need to have a written contract, but what details should be included in a process that isn't standardized.

A webinar on this topic will be offered on Wednesday July 20, 2016 through…

I am offering an invitation to participate in focus groups which I am going to be conducting on biomass boilers.

We are trying to collect marketing information for the Cleaner Greener Grant we won to initiate bulk wood pellet delivery as a green alternative for fuel and propane delivery dealers.  I am trying to cover some ground in at least 3 of the 8 Southern Tier counties we are part of so if you know of someone besides yourself  in Steuben, Schuyler, Chemung, Tioga, Tompkins,…

This is a picture of one of four Princeton Elms that I planted. The Princeton Elm is said to be highly resistant to Dutch Elm disease.
Can anyone tell me if this id Dutch Elm disease? 

Our horticulture educator at CCE-Broome just confirmed jumping oak gall as the culprit for a sample of damaged white oak leaves that were submitted for diagnosis.  If you have white oak in your woodlot now is good time to look for this interesting insect.  Fortunately the leaf damage does no lasting harm to the tree.  Here's a link from Michigan State University that discusses this and other interesting oak galls …

AVID - Assessing Vegetation Impacts from Deer.  

Kristi Sullivan, Peter Smallidge and Paul Curtis. Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Department of Natural Resources, Ithaca, NY. 

Obtain a copy here

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can significantly influence New York’s forests. As selective…

The northern long-eared bat population has declined as a result of the white-nosed syndrome.  Although forest harvesting does not impact the bat or habitat per se, felling a tree where a bat is located or disturbing a hibernaculum would be problematic.  There are both state and federal regulations that apply.

Here is communication from NYSDEC on May 5 2016

"As you may know, the northern long eared bat (NLEB) has been listed by the USFWS as threatened due to declines…

If you are one of those people who now harvest their wood lot for winter heating  - and are getting older and just tired of doing so or have a wife who is encouraging you not to – then you may be interested to learn about new developments in New York State. Developments that contribute to local jobs, use local sustainable resources, supply alternative energy, maintain a market for low-value trees, and keep forested land from being lost to development.  

New York State has given a…

Sugar maple is one of the most iconic and economically important trees in our forests. This webinar will address some of the most important current and potential insect pests and stressors that may accentuate their impacts. Insects (and other pests) tend to target specific parts of trees.  By understanding these parts, and their interaction with pests, owners, producers and managers can better understand and utilize methods of control.  Join Mark Whitmore of the Cornell University…

Somewhat related to the deer problem we have in our forests. Who knew that Italy was facing a similar problem with deer and boars? http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/08/world/europe/italy-tuscany-chianti-wine.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0