Urban Forestry
On October 18th, a Northwest Ohio Urban Forestry Seminar was held on the serene, tree filled campus of Bluffton College in Bluffton, Ohio. The topics included diagnosing tree problems, the latest about gypsy moths in northwest Ohio, tree diseases, and insects, and utilities and trees.
The seminar was arranged and conducted by Stephanie Miller, an Urban Forester of District 2, working from her office in Findlay. Her address is 952-B Lima Avenue, Findlay, OH 45840 and her phone number is (419) 424-5004.
Attending from Tiffin were Sue Kuhn, Superintendent of Public Works/ Street Department.; Brad Borer, Director of Water Pollution Control Center, supervisor of the Tiffin Tree Nursery and a member of the Tree Commission; Lowell Hetzel of Public Works/ Street Department, and the Tiffin Arborist; and Patricia Gottfried and Percy Lilly of the Tree Commission.
Mark Markal, Forestry Supervisor of the American Electric Power Company discussed utility tree trimming in the 21st century. Although very much on the defensive among mostly tree lovers, he said that the policy of the AEP is to distribute uninterrupted power to its customers and to have increased safety for its personnel. He asked, “Why plant a potentially 40 foot tree under a 20 foot power line?” It will be topped when it gets close to the power line!
Drew Todd of the Ohio Division of Forestry talked about the Asian Long-horn Beetle, probably the greatest problem we face for its potential to destroy our urban and rural forests. It is a rather large beetle, introduced from Asia, probably in wooden crates. The beetle attacks most species of trees. There is no known cure for the tree once it has been invaded by the wood-boring beetle. The infected tree must be burned. There are no known cases in Ohio yet.
Amy Stone of the OSU Extension gave an update of the Gypsy Moth in Northwest Ohio. The white female moth is about one to one and a half inches long and the male is dark and smaller. The young are foliage eaters and do feed on many species. Spraying with all of its problems is a partial control, but Amy thinks that we can never completely eradicate this pest. This moth is now found in several counties in Ohio. There is an infestation in Hancock County, near Findlay and several sites north toward Toledo.
Curtis Young, the OSU Extension Agent, talked about several diseases in trees, and particularly, a fungus disease known as Anthracnose. This fungus attacks sycamores early in the spring just after the leaves have fully formed. Many and sometimes most of the leaves will appear lighter, then shrivel and fall. There is no practical cure, but generally, the trees form a second growth of leaves and they do survive with this infection. Also noted was a fungus disease, Sphaeropsis (Diplodia) that attacks Austrian Pine. The bark of this tree is very rough with blotched gray and brown plates. It has two long needles in each fascicle. There are many Austrian Pines in Tiffin including some magnificent specimens on the Heidelberg Campus. Small branches die and there are many scattered areas of brown dead needles. There is no known cure, but the life of the tree may be extended by removing the small infected branches and clearing and burning all the fallen needles and cones.
Nancy Taylor, an Extension Pathologist of the Ohio State University, discussed several common diseases, including insects, pathogens and deficiencies. She invited us to contact her about tree problems and also to send her specimens of the diseased parts. Her address is 110 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffed Road, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210. Jenny Gulick, an Urban Forester of the Davey Resource Group, presented a list of insect and disease resistant trees for a healthy urban forest. Recommended small trees were:Tartarian maple, Carolina silver bell, American hophornbeam, Giant dogwood (Cornus controversa), Trident maple, Japanese snowbell, and the Crabapple hybrids – Malus Adirondack, (pink flowers), Prairiefire, Red Jewel, Sugar Tyme, Summer Snow (no fruit) and Zumirang.
Medium sized trees are Netted Hackberry, Hardy Rubber Tree, Mongolian Linden (resistant to Japanese beetles), Osage Orange (the thornless variety), Japanese Treelilac, Amur Chokecherry, Saphora/ Pagoda Tree (in parks), Korean Evodia, American Smoketree, Himalayan White Birch, Redmond Linden, European Hornbeam, Persian Parrotia (fall coloration), Katsuratree (in parks), Sevenson Flower Tree (flowers and fruits in August and September) and Zelkova.
Large trees include the Lacebark Elm, Ginkgo (male trees), Goldenrain Tree, Dawn Redwood, Kentucky Coffeetree, Sourwood (requires acid soil), Yellowwood, Bald Cypress, and the American ‘Princeton’ Elm.
For more information about these trees, contact Jenny Gulick, Davey Resource Group, 962 Summit Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45246.
An underlining theme of this seminar stressed the importance of a healthy tree in its ability to thwart pathogens and many diseases. In my opinion, topping a tree is one of the most damaging practices that we do. It shortens its life, saps its resources, and ruins its beauty and characteristic shape. Just as an open gaping wound weakens animals, topping opens the tree to all sorts of problems.
– Percy