Tre e C a re A d v i s o r N ew s l e t t e r http:// www.mntca.org
Gary Johnson and Dave Hanson, Managing Editors Persistent Fruits Enhance
Inside This Issue:
Landscapes Beyond Autumn Color
Persistent Fruits… By Mike Zins
1
Quick Hits /
2
Volunteer Opps Putting Down Roots By Cliff Johnson
3
Sidewalks and Trees
4
With Rubber Sidewalks, Trees Rebound
5
A Note: Andy Sobert
7
What’s New… By Dave Hanson
8
Research Rambles… By Gary Johnson
8
Contacts
Sorbus Accuparia Fruit
12
By Mike Zins Are you tired of leafless landscapes from October to May? After the last leaf lazily lands and is carted off to the compost pile you may feel resigned to another winter of bland-looking bare branches. But there is hope! Beyond autumn leaf color, many of our deciduous plants produce attractive, fleshy fruits that persist in various degrees throughout the winter. Some of them attract fall migrating birds and can disappear quickly while others decorate our gardens until the rigors of winter cause their demise. Some even persist until spring migratory birds feast on them or until new growth causes them to drop. So why not look into adding plants with fruiting capabilities to enhance your winter landscape? The plants discussed in this article will have fleshy fruits. While there are many other plants with attractive dry fruits that also persist, the fleshy fruits tend to be the most prominent and perhaps most colorful in season. As any birder knows, it is also the fleshy fruits of some species that seem to attract migrating birds to a landscape. And it is the same fleshy fruits of some species that ferment over winter causing more than one returning robin to become a bit tipsy after indulging on them! The following species or
Volume 9 Number 3
groups of related species will be most fleshy fruit selections for discussed, not to the exclusion our landscapes. They vary in size from low creeping plants of others of equal interest. such as Cranberry Cotoneaster Trees to tall almost tree-like ViburNot surprisingly, three num. Like their tree countergroups of plants to be discussed parts, they vary in fruit colorahere all belong to the Rose fam- tion, persistence and usefulness ily. Crataegus spp. or Hawthorn, to wildlife. Of course being smaller in stature gives gardenMalus spp. or Crabapple, and ers an opportunity for more Sorbus spp. or Mountainash all variety in smaller spaces. have fleshy fruits that can be Groups of cultivars of a given brightly colored from yellow, orange, pink and many shades of species such as Winterberry can make for spectacular fruiting red. Most fruits on the desirable ornamental crabapples tend displays. to be about ½ inch in diameter Glossy Black Chokeand are generally found in clusberry, Aronia melanocarpa, deters. Depending on the species, velops shining purple-black some are more desirable for fruits that persist well into winbirds than others. Foraging ter. The ½ inch oblong fruits animals such as squirrels and are not taken by birds. Plants raccoons will utilize them as grow in partial shade, wet or well. Many cultivars of crabapdry conditions. Two species of ples have been selected for fruit Barberry have been grown in quality and persistence. An our landscapes for years. The older standby, Cockspur HawKorean Barberry, Berberis korethorn, Crataegus crus-galli, has ana, has ¼ inch rounded bright bright red fruits that persist well into winter. Three Mountainash red fruits hanging in elongated species have nice, showy fruits. clusters throughout the winter. The European Mountainash, The Japanese Barberry, Berberis Sorbus accuparia, has several thunbergii, is a shorter stature cultivars with a variety of colplant with small leaves and 1/3ored fruit. Pink, orange and red inch oblong bright red fruits predominate. The Korean that are solitary along the stem. Mountainash has delightful pink- Both species are not eaten by ish to scarlet fruits. Last but our native birds. not least, the Showy MounAnother group of tainash, Sorbus decora, native to plants in the rose family with northern Minnesota has large very showy and persistent fruits clusters of dark red fruits that are the Cotoneasters. They tend to overwhelm the range in size from ground hugbranches. It is also a favorite of gers to over 12 feet tall. Most many birds. species have bright red crabapple sized fruits that persist to Shrubs mid fall. Continued on page 7 The shrubs offer the
Page 2
Quick Hits Hey,Tree Care Advisors You're invited . . .
Free subscription to The Shade Tree Advocate newsletter. How do you join? to join the Minnesota Shade Tree AdviJust attend a MnSTAC program and be welsory Committee (MnSTAC) comed as a new member. Membership is open What's MnSTAC ("Minn-stack")? to people actively involved in urban & commuMnSTAC is the urban forestry council in nity forestry, based on their professional experiMinnesota, advising the State Forester, decisionence, community involvement, or advocacy. That makers, and the public about the health and wellincludes us! being of community trees. And it provides a forum for exchanging and communicating infor- When? MnSTAC members meet the 3rd Thursday of mation and experiences about community forestry. [More information at: www.mnstac.org ] each month (except August). Check the web What's in it for you? site www.mnstac.org for future meeting locations. Learn the latest tree information directly from Please join me at a future MnSTAC program! the experts . . . before it's even published. Lorrie Stromme It's free!!! No membership fee. TCA & MnSTAC member Rack up TCA volunteer hours! Network with your peers and other tree people - your schmoozing may lead to rewarding volunteer opportunities! Meet city foresters and state & federal agency reps.
Volunteer Opportunity A creative person or a group of creative people are needed to develop a display board. Creators will determine the size of the board(s) and the content.
Education
Program
Guiding hands
Tree Care Advisors
Conferences, meetings, and short courses on Urban Forestry present the opportunity to inform the professional community of Tree Care Advisors and their programs. Accomplishing that goal could be a multi faceted approach. One of the approaches discussed at a recent TCAAG is a durable, stand-alone display board. An ideal board might contain: an
Insect damage? Disease? Abiotic? What: A field tour to help you brush up on your diagnosis skills re: plant id, insect pests, tree diseases, and abiotic problems. Also, bring along samples of plant problems the experts! FREE brats, beverages, salads, etc., afterward ( talk one-on-one with the experts and avoid rush-hour traffic!) When: Tuesday, August 20, 3:30 to 6-ish
explanation of the TCA program, profile a (fictitious?) tree care advisor, describe typical activities, and outline TCA training topics. Any information selected should be accompanied by pictures and/or graphics. Gary suggested that money could be made available to accomplish this task. If you want to take part in this venture in some way, give Dave a call at 612-624-1226 or send e-mail to dlhanson@umn.edu.
Who: Our field tour leaders: Dr. Cindy Ash, Certified plant pathologist Val Cervenka, plant health specialist, MN Dept of Agriculture Gregg Hove, Eagan City Forester Where:Blackhawk Park, 1629 Murphy Parkway, Eagan RSVP: Lorrie Stromme, stro0293@umn.edu or 612-788-5157
Page 3
Putting Down Roots By Cliff Johnson,
takeover of the understory. Buck-
from now are you hoping for a
Carver and Scott County
thorn can infiltrate a woodlot in a
dense forest wall of trees? Do you
Master Gardener
few short years unless the plants
want trees and shrubs of different
are completely removed.
heights and textures with a mix of blooms and fruit? Is your goal to
Wooded lots change over time; for
attract wildlife?
better or for worse. In the real
Two other forms of intervention I
estate business, the term “wooded
spend a lot of time at are pruning
lot” is magic. Everybody, it seems,
and maintaining a balance of tree
Since I didn’t want the dense forest
wants to live on a wooded lot.
species. I want a variety of species
look, I decided the basswoods had
because disease can quickly wipe
to go. Basswoods grow very fast
out a monoculture of trees. It’s
and wide and tall. Already, some of
happened with American chestnut,
the basswoods growing outside the
elm and many stands of seemingly
dining room window had trunk
healthy oak.
diameters of 8 in. or more. “You
I have a hunch, however, that quite a number of folks who live on wooded lots don’t spend much time contemplating how their
mean you intend to cut down all
wooded space is going to change (for better or for worse) over time. My dining room window looks out And the fact is, wooded lots don’t on a back yard of trees and a pond.
those huge trees with the smooth gray bark and sweeping branches of large, glossy leaves?” visitors would
change for the better unless wood-
Ten years ago this space was occu-
lot managers intervene and manage
ask me incredulously. “That’s my
pied by two giant bur oaks and
the space. “Letting Mother Nature
plan,” I would say, adding that I also
dozens of smaller trees of many
take her course” isn’t usually a
planned to cut down several large
species: elm, red and bur oak,
good idea in a woodlot.
elms, oak and ash. “Well, I think
cherry, plum, apple and basswood.
you’re nuts,” they’d respond.
I live on an acre and a half that is
Gradually I came to realize that not
mostly wooded. I have learned
all these trees could grow to ma-
that, left on its own, a woodlot can
turity in the spots in which they had It’s been almost two years since I
quickly develop bad habits. One
taken root. Some (actually most)
dramatic example is the almost-
would have to be removed to allow place, I planted two crabapple, two
overnight invasion of noxious, non-
space and light for the most desir-
Japanese tree lilacs, 25 arborvitae
native plants such as buckthorn.
able trees I hoped to look out on
and several rhododendron. I also
The index finger on my right hand
and appreciate in the decades
moved in a half dozen young Pa-
removed the basswoods. In their
presently feels like sandpaper and is ahead.
goda dogwood from other spots. I
creased with imbedded soil: the
left in place several oak and apple
result of hand-pulling hundreds of young buckthorn seedlings that appeared out of nowhere this spring.
Where did all the buckthorn come
trees and highbush cranberry My overall objective is to nurture
shrubs.
multiple generations of desirable and primarily native trees and shrubs and remove all undesirable
I won’t deny that the view from my
species. This aspect of woodlot
dining room window these past
management is like the parenting
two years has been more open and
sparce than I would have liked. from? Birds planted them, one tree concept of “tough love.” It’s hard to do but it’s best for the child over Certainly the view is more open at a time, as the birds perched in overhead tree branches or dropped the long haul.
than the dense, dark wall formed by
their biological greetings during
the basswoods. Think about this,
flyovers. My bumper crop of buckthorn seedlings ranges in height to 3 ft. It’s critical that I pull them out, roots and all, to prevent a total
however: Every year for the next Deciding which trees to remove
decade or two the view will im-
requires having a clear picture of
prove
your objective. Five or 10 years
Continued page 7
Page 4
Sidewalks and Trees tulipifera), pin oak (Quercus palustris), poplars and cottonwoods (Populus spp.), willows (Salix spp.) and American elm (Ulmus americana) are examples of shallow rooted trees.
Photo courtesy of: http:// www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/trees/430028/430-028.html
Sidewalks and Trees How many times have you gone for a walk and noticed sidewalks cracked or heaved out of place because of tree roots? Unfortunately this problem is all too common. Not only are the damaged sidewalks a potential accident for pedestrians, correcting the situation can be damaging to the tree. Prevention is the best possible way to avoid having to deal with problem tree root systems. When root problems develop, root pruning may be necessary. Root pruning, however, should not to be taken lightly. Avoid planting trees in areas with less than three feet between paved areas. In areas with 3 to 4 feet between paved areas, plant trees that grow to a mature height of less than 30 feet. In areas with 5 to 6 feet between paved areas, select trees that mature about 50 feet tall. Reserve trees that mature higher than 50 feet for areas with at least eight feet between paved areas. This allows adequate space for the tree roots.
Consider installing expansion joints in the sidewalks near trees. This will limit possible sidewalk replacements to just a few sections rather than large areas. Curving and narrowing sidewalk sections near trees might also reduce heaving. Building sidewalks on beds of coarse gravel is also effective at slowing or stopping the heaving. Tree roots will not grow through porous gravel; instead, they grow deeper. The installation of removable or adjustable semi-permanent pavers near trees can serve as alternatives to poured sidewalks. The pavers can be altered when required to compensate for tree root growth. Install root barriers along the tree-side edge of the sidewalk. The barrier will force tree roots to grow deep below the sidewalk, thus preventing heaving. Barriers can be made of plastic or geotextile fabric. It should extend one foot deep and at least 5 or 6 feet in both directions from the point on the sidewalk edge closest to the tree.
Whenever trees are root pruned, there is always some risk of tree failure. Many factors are involved. Tree species, age, size, site conditions, existing problems, vigor and extent of pruning are just some of the factors. Mature trees are less Avoid planting shallow rooted tolerant of root pruning than tree species near sidewalks. young trees, trees on sites exNorway maple (Acer plaposed to high winds are less tanoides), red maple (Acer ru- tolerant than sheltered trees, brum), sugar maple (Acer sacand trees with defects or poor charum), ash (Fraxinus spp.), general health are not good sweetgum (Liquidambar styracif- candidates for root pruning. lua), tuliptree (Liriodendron The closer to the trunk the
roots are pruned, the greater the effect on the tree. A ruleof-thumb is to make all cuts at least a distance of three times the trunk diameter from the outside of the trunk. Thus, root pruning of a tree with a trunk diameter of two feet should be done no closer than six feet from the trunk. Make all cuts even farther from the trunk for trees which are judged intolerant of root pruning. When root pruning mature and intolerant trees use a stump grinder to level the offending roots. Grinding produces less damage than indiscriminate root pruning. After grinding the offending roots, add coarse gravel as a base for a new sidewalk or pavers. Root pruning machines and vibrating plows cause less damage than do trenchers and backhoes. Prune only one quadrant of a tree's root system in a given year; wait at least two years before pruning another quadrant. Trees tolerant of root pruning include elm, ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis), red maple, silver maple (Acer saccharinum), and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). Intermediate trees include ash, linden (Tilia spp.), Norway maple, oak, and willow. Trees intolerant of root pruning include beech (Fagus grandifolia), birch (Betula spp.), conifers, Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'), sugar maple, and tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera). Many trees intolerant of root pruning exhibit problems with windthrow following pruning.
Page 5
With Rubber Sidewalks,Trees Are on the Rebound Bob Pool / LA Times 14jul01 Walkways: Panels pop out, giving access to roots, so removing ficus isn't only option.
crete sidewalk surface. That walkway--beneath a ficus tree The rubber sidewalk has been a
next to the city's library branch at
dream of Santa Monica street in-
Ocean Park Boulevard and 21st
spector Richard Valeriano for seven Street--was a success. Soon Santa years. It came to him, in fact, while
Monica crews were installing the
he was asleep.
rubber pavers under ficus trees at half a dozen other places in town.
The popularity of Southern California's most destructive curbside
"In my dream, sidewalks were all
shade tree is starting to bounce
bending and twisting, but there was Santa Monica's rubber sidewalks
back--thanks to rubber sidewalks.
no cracking," Valeriano said. "I
got some unexpected bounce in
woke up and said, 'Wow! Elastic
April because of ficus tree-cutters
Leafy ficus trees have helped cool
sidewalks! I wonder how we can
near Torrance.
neighborhood roadsides for dec-
make them?' " Lindsay Smith, a Gardena screen-
ades. As they have grown, though, their stubborn roots have created
Valeriano answered his own ques-
writer and producer, spied a Los
safety hazards by pushing concrete
tion a short time later when the
Angeles County work crew starting
sidewalk slabs out of the ground.
West Los Angeles health club
to cut down 26 ficus trees along
where he works out was remod-
Redondo Beach Boulevard near the
That has prompted repair crews
eled. New flooring made of rubber- Alondra Park Golf Course.
throughout the region to chop
ized tile squares was installed.
down rows of the dense, green-
"That's it!" he exclaimed.
Smith persuaded the workers to
canopied trees. Replacement trees
hold up until alternatives to the
have generally been slower-growing After some research, Valeriano linked up with a Rancho Cucaand scrawnier-looking.
cutting could be discussed. Then she got on the telephone and
monga rubber mat manufacturing
started calling arborists in hopes of
But street maintenance workers in
firm, U.S. Rubber Recycling Inc.
finding a way to save the trees. One
Southern California will soon be
With his help, the company pro-
expert mentioned Santa Monica's
stretching the life expectancy of the duced a 30-by-12-inch tile from ground-up tires. When baked unficus by using flexible sidewalks
epwm.santa-monica.org/epwm/ maintenance_mgmt/pavers.htm
rubber sidewalk experiment.
made from recycled automobile
der pressure in a mold and dyed a
tires.
red-brick color, the finished rubber ficus trees after arranging a demon-
The rubber sidewalk gently bends
Photo courtesy of: http://
Smith managed to save 12 of the
tile has the look of five bricks ar-
stration of Santa Monica's rubber
ranged in a pattern.
walkways. Public works officials from the county and from adjoining
when pushed from below by tree roots. It's also soft enough to cush-
New Pavers First Used Near
South Bay cities showed up. A sec-
ion the landing of anyone unlucky
Library Branch
ond demonstration drew officials from cities in Orange County as
enough to trip and fall on it. When the roots need trimming, the rub-
Valeriano got the backing of his
ber panels can be popped out and
Santa Monica bosses to purchase a
then reused.
pallet load of the 2-inch-thick
well.
molded pavers and began experiThe panels are made from high-
menting with ways to glue them
density, non-mushy rubber that is
down. In 1999, he wrapped up two
tough enough to handle skate-
years of tests at the city street
boards and women's high heels.
maintenance yard by replacing a
Around trees, they replace about a
badly cracked section of public
10-foot length of conventional con- sidewalk with rubber.
Photo courtesy of: www.treelink.org/ woodnotes/article2.html
With Rubber Sidewalks,Trees Are on the Rebound Public works leaders from Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Glendale, Cerritos and the city of Orange were among those from 15 cities who pledged their own rubber sidewalk tests. Officials from a dozen other cities expressed interest.
public works official: "From what I've seen, it looks good. It might be something that can help us." L.A. Considering Test of Rubber Sidewalks
In the city of Orange, officials planning to test about 100 The cities' walkway evaluations square feet of rubber sidewalks will cost about $1,000 per tree. are hoping the material will put But since recycled tires are an end to jackhammering and used for the rubber, the tests conventional concrete replacecould end up being underwrit- ment, said Tara Finnigan, the ten by state grants financed by a city's business and public affairs $1 per tire recycling fee motor- manager. ists pay when they replace their cars' tires. Rubber sidewalk experiments are also being considered in At current prices, rubber walk- each of Los Angeles' 15 council ways are about twice as expen- districts. sive as concrete. But the cost evens out when sidewalks next "We like the project. We like to trees have to be repaired the possibilities. We want to every five or six years, Valerisee what happens," said Cora ano said. He speculated that Fossett, a spokeswoman for the rubber sidewalks are tough Department of Public Works. enough to last for decades. "We'll hopefully put them in places where property owners U.S. Rubber Recycling President really want to save the trees." Rick Snyder said the $6-asquare-foot cost of each rubber Some arborists contend the panel is likely to fall dramatically ficus is the wrong tree for urif they come into wide use. ban curbsides. But they say they are interested in how the rub"People call Lindsay a treeber sidewalks handle its tough hugger. . . . She's doing this from roots. her heart. We're not paying her," he said. "I need to see it before I can imagine it," said Jim Summers, Municipal officials are cautiously forestry director for TreePeooptimistic about taking rubber ple, a Los Angeles arbor group. from the road and putting it on "We want to preserve as many the sidewalk. Unlike Santa ficuses as we can, but there Monica--which has a no-cutting comes a time when resources policy toward street trees-can be better spent finding a most cities routinely remove different tree." trees when their roots buckle sidewalks or threaten to do so. In Santa Monica, meantime, officials have invested about "It's a new idea, and we're look- $40,000 in molds for the rubber ing for new ideas," Jeff Porch, a pavers and in various types of Long Beach street maintenance adhesives for tests in gluing supervisor, said of the rubber them down. Although other walkways. cities have asked for gray, concrete-colored rubber, Santa Said Ray Torres, a Glendale Monica favors red because it
Page 6
seems to fade less in sunlight, Valeriano said. A recent survey of Santa Monica's 235 miles of sidewalks shows that even with rubber repairs, city resources could be thinly stretched. There are 664 places were roots have raised sidewalks 3 inches or more, and 1,800 other spots where the displacement is slightly less, Valeriano said. Those who walk on the flexible sidewalks seem to like them. Outside the library on 21st Street, 10-year-old Isabel Spiegel had an unusual spring in her step as she skipped over the walkway. "It feels better than regular brick," she said. Her father, Venice advertising copywriter Jeff Spiegel, said he's not surprised that cities are jumping on the rubber walkways. "Big camphor trees tear up the sidewalk where we live," Spiegel said. "This seems like it would be worth a try in Venice."
http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/ Rubber-Sidewalks.htm, Online. Available. Internet. 05/29/2002
Photo courtesy of: www.lgc.org/freepub/energy/ newsletter/jan_feb2002/page02.html
Page 7 Continued from page 4: Sidewalks and trees Because trees can experience tremendous damage following root pruning, have the trees inspected by a certified arborist prior to pruning. He or she can help predict how the trees will respond to the procedure. When contemplating tree planting make sure and consider all aspects of the trees location. Look up for power lines, down for underground lines, and around for potential trouble spots. Many future problems can be avoided by taking a few moments for proper planning. This article originally appeared in the March 31, 1995 issue, p. 36. Prepared by Sherry Rindels, Department of Horticulture Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. This information subject to a usage policy. Last updated 1/5/98 by John VanDyk http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/h ortnews/1995/3-311995/sidetree.html
Continued from page 3 Putting Down Roots
Continued from page 1 : Fruits The Cranberry Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster apiculatus, is particularly effective hanging over a wall or as a foundation planting as is the Creeping Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster adpressus.
rather than grow darker and more oppressive. The crab apples and tree lilacs will grow to 20-25 ft. and bloom with pretty flowers. The winter view will be enhanced by the arborvitae and by the winter fruit on the crabapples and A large group of culhighbush cranberries. tivars make up the Deciduous Holly or Winterberry, Ilex verticillata. This versatile plant Do you have a clear picture of is dioecious. A variety of culwhat your woodlot will look like tivars produce abundant fruit a decade from now? Are there of many shades of pink, orinvasive, non-native woody plants ange and red on the female that are crowding out your more plants. Once the dark green desirable trees and shrubs? If leaves fall, the fruits become you’re not sure and would like very showy. With winter answers to these questions, you snow as a background, the may want to consult a landscaper setting becomes even prettier. or arborist. One thing I know for The only damper to this scecertain about woodlots: They nario is a large migrating flock don’t stay the same. Whether of Waxwings which can strip Cotoneaster spp. your woodlot evolves for better the fruits! or for worse depends on the A couple of native decisions you make now. species that tolerate shade have quite divergent but interesting fruits for winter landscape. The Common Snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus, and Coralberry, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, often are collectively called Buckbrush.
As the name implies, Snowberry has white ½ inch Dear TCA'S: diameter fruits borne in clusAlthough I haven't been a stellar performer in the TCA program, I ters that will persist up to the holidays. After that they start believe very firmly that the mission, guidance and dedication of the losing their clean white apgroup is awesome!! Ilex verticilata pearance. Coralberry has In my application for acceptance into the TCA program, I stated that tight clusters of 1/8-inch winterberry bright red fruits borne on I believed in the "permanency" of trees, along with the slender stems that make a Viburnum trilobum many benefits which they provide. I now believe that more than ever! good show against a snowy Highbush cranberry background. Both species get Alice and I have opted to relocate "back home" to Louisiana, amid old friends, Cajuns and countrymen. On several trips back there re- about 3 feet tall and colonize areas. cently, I was reminded of the beauty of the oaks and Crape Myrtles The last major group which I ignored when I was so eager to venture forth and of species with showy fleshy discover new challenges. fruits is the Viburnums. This is a large family with about I wish all of you the very best in life and in your endeavors to help 150 species and numerous sustain urban forestry. Andy Sobert cultivars. Continued on page 12
Page 8
What’s New Online? All right for those of you with internet access -- Did you check out the Iowa State University publication on mulching? Using Mulches in Managed Landscapes is an excellent publication containing a lot of good information. Take some time and have a look, the URL is: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/SUL12.pdf . Also, check out the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry web-page at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/urban/index.html . This month I have included two articles on sidewalks. One of them covers a topic I have long wondered about: “Rubber Sidewalks.” Several cities in California are giving this idea a test, Maybe one day we’ll be seeing these products tested in Minnesota. If you want more information, bring up your favorite search engine and type in “rubber sidewalks.” Nothing new on the TCA site at this time. However, suggestions are being made for improvements and suggestions are definitely welcome. I suspect this coming fall and winter I will have time to really dig in and make the site a little more attractive and user friendly. If you find something about the site cumbersome or unwieldy send me an e-mail (hanso355@umn.edu). To submit TCA volunteer hours online. Go to www.mntca.org , find the “Staying Involved” link at the top of the page and left click on it. On the page that comes up look to the left side and follow the link “Submit Volunteer Hours Online.” Fill in the form that comes up and click the submit button at the bottom of the page. Or send volunteer hours via e-mail or snail-mail. We pretty much accept the hours in any understandable format that one can come up with. Dave Hanson
Research Rambles... Gary Johnson One Loss, One Win
classes at the U didn't demand
vinced Andy knows how to
their money back. And I'm get- retire) in Louisiana later this ting close to finishing that bath-
month, and Louisiana's gain is
Over all, I feel pretty good
room-remodeling project.
our loss.
about the past 12 months. That
The Loss. Two of my favor-
"Planting Trees and Shrubs for Long-Term Health" publication that Bekky and I started working on over a year ago has finally been printed. The Shade Tree Short Course broke another attendance record this year with 700 people coming together (to complain about the food). We had another great class of new TCAs suffer through the training this spring (including our own Dave Hanson). The students in my
ite people are leaving Minne-
Andy served as a TCA in many
sota. For 26 years, Andy and
different ways. He was on the
Alice Sobert lived, worked and
editorial board for the Shade raised a family in Minnesota, and Tree Advocate, wrote an article for the past few years, I had the with me on nursery stock guarpleasure of working with Andy
antees and quality, offered wise
as a TCA, a co-author, a com-
counsel at MnSTAC meetings,
mittee member, and (hopefully)
and assisted with our storm
as a friend. Andy and Alice hail
damage research. My favorite from the deep South, and never memory of working with Andy lost their genuine warmth and was last year when we had full southern hospitality. They are
access to a golf course that had
settling down (note: I didn't say
significant storm damage to its
retire because I'm not con-
trees. For a couple of days,
Page 9
Research... Andy and I flew around that golf ter. However, the whole point
tough sites. Two times a year,
course on one of their carts,
of dredging up those memories
we evaluate the condition and
collecting data on almost 100
was the MnSTAC meeting.
health of those trees, focusing
trees. For those two days, we were boys again! And I actually get paid to do this kind of stuff!!!
TCAs were the most representative group at that meeting! More than agency people, mu-
subtle humor. I'll miss that and his ever-present, editorial eye (he can spot a grammar problem at 100 yards). But his greatest attribute (in my opinion) is his never-ending thirst for knowledge. Andy loves to learn and re-learn, and I wish that I had a hundred students and colleagues like him. I hate to see you go, Andy, but it's been a fun ride and I've learned a lot from both you and Alice.
The Win. Last month's MnSTAC (Minnesota Shade
caliper growth, annual twig growth rate and mortality.
nicipal foresters, non-profit organizations, University faculty or
Andy has a gift for words and
on stem and canopy condition,
private arborists. It all felt right to me. TCAs are a respected and important part of the urban and community forestry scene and profession in Minnesota, and it's because you've earned that respect. You are listened to, you impact decisions, and you are a force for getting
This site is bad. "Soil" consisting of gravel, clay, concrete and metal debris. The soil pH ranges from 7.9 to 8.6, and that's not a typo! Everything is fully exposed, with a minimum of maintenance (those trees were watered a total of 4 times last year).
things done. You should be very proud of yourselves and
So far, the most notable per-
your achievements because
formers are the ashes and the
there's no other state in the
Accolade elms. Those trees are Union that has anything close to not only surviving under the this type of (urban forestry) toughest conditions, but they program, this degree of influ-
are beautiful. I'd be delighted to
ence from empowered volun-
have any one of them in my
teers.
landscape. This is notable be-
Tree Advisory Committee)
cause often, trees that survive
meeting was held on Nicollet
tough sites are life-long ugly
meeting. It's been almost two
wimpy canopies, great leaf color
years since a number of you
and growth rates.
Research Update From ducklings. Not these trees…so Island, and a tour of the planting the U far. No stem cracking, no project followed the regular
suffered through the problems
Nicollet Island Brown-
of supervising volunteers on
field Study. A summary of
that project. Soil like concrete,
the tree performance on this
unpredictable plant material
site is attached for your inter-
quality, volunteers coming and
est. For those of you that
going like cats being herded.
aren't very familiar with this
That brownfield tree perform-
study, it's a site where 186
ance project is yielding some
trees, representing 15 different
great results, which are dis-
species were randomly planted
cussed further in the Research
and are being evaluated for
Update section in this newslet-
their potential as trees for
However, the most interesting part of this project to date is the survival rate. Over half of the trees had to be "adjusted" in order to end up with their first roots at the correct depth. "Adjusting" meant that these containerized trees had anywhere from 4-11 inches of soil
Nicollet Island Tour
Page 10
Research... over their first roots in the pots.
We're now two full years into
project that involves the ob-
This soil had to be cut off, with
the planting depth study on our
served performance of several
the accompanying roots to get
field plots at the University.
new elm varieties. These have
them off to a proper (depth)
Dave and I finished up the spring
been collected from around the
start. Oh, you should have heard data collection (thankfully before
Midwest and planted out in our
the nay-sayers screaming! "They
the mosquitoes moved in) and
nurseries for evaluation and po-
will all die." "They will all fall
now just have the normal, sum-
tential as Minnesota landscape
over." "I don't know anything
mer maintenance chores to look
trees. Quite a few different elms
about planting, but this is stupid!" forward to. As a refresher, this
(all resistant to Dutch Elm Dis-
study has 360 trees, two species
ease), some look good, some
(linden and sugar maple), three
pathetic, some beautiful. Just
The mortality rate for the
different planting depths (0, 5 and because an elm is resistant to
"adjusted" trees (96 out of 186
10 inches), and three harvest
DED doesn't mean that it's worth
planted) was 3%. The mortality
dates (3, 6 and 9 years after
planting! That's what this study is
rate for those trees that did not
planting). We're studying the
trying to determine: what's
require adjustment (90 out of
effects of planting depth on win-
healthy and what's handsome.
186) was 11%. This happened
ter hardiness, growth rates, fre-
with 15 different species, on a
quency of stem girdling roots and lousy site with little to no mainte- condition. Bailey Nurseries - Hastnance.
ings, Containerized
If you're interested in getting in
Planting Depth Study.
Feel free to visit this site on your some flexible volunteer hours on This is our newest and most intensive study. Similar to the own. All the trees are on public a research project, this is a perplanting depth study in our camaccess land, so no worry about fect one for you. Contact Dave if pus nursery, this is studying the trespassing. Dave and I are you're willing to weed, mow, working with MnSTAC, Minnea- prune and help with the autumn effects of planting depths with containerized nursery stock. polis and Tree Trust to develop a data collection. Four different tree species, four map and legend for the site, planting depths, for a total of 240 which will make it even easier to visit and learn from.
Planting Depth at TRE
One thing we've learned so far: if trees. Bailey Nurseries is paryou plant young sugar maples too tially subsidizing this study, and deep, expect a very high mortal-
allowed us to set it up in their
TRE Nursery - St. Paul
ity rate. Next year will be the
Hastings' "pot-in-pot" nursery.
campus.
third year of the project and we
Each week through October 4,
Planting Depth Study.
will be harvesting 1/3 of the trees we monitor the trees by reat that time (next June). Lots of cording any leaning in the pots. help will be needed then. Con-
TRE Nursery
The industry has maintained that
tact Dave if you're interested and trees needed to be planted deeply when containerized in willing to help.
U of M Campus
order to prevent excessive leaning. We're putting that to an
Elm Trial Study. Dave and experimental test in this study. Elms at TRE
I are somewhat involved in this
Page 11
Research... At the conclusion of the project
research program. Along with
the forms for collecting storm
(October 4, 2002), we will de-
those are many, smaller studies
damage information. You can
termine if there were any plant-
on wound closure, effects of
either mail in the information or
ing depth effects on caliper
root pruning and species evalua-
just email the important stuff to
growth, twig growth rates, root
tion. The Storm Damage
me (grjonson@umn.edu). As
development and survival. Since Research is always going on,
you examine the tree and the
we collect data every Friday, and but the timing is unpredictable.
data forms, there may be some
will need lots and lots of assis-
When we have a year with a lot
confusing categories or terms.
tance at harvest time, this again
of damaging wind storms, we
As a refresher, if you have ac-
is another great volunteer op-
collect a lot of data. So far this
cess to the internet, hop on the
portunity. Again, contact Dave if year, it's been pretty quiet.
Forest Resources Extension web
you can help out.
site (www.cnr.umn.edu/FR/
Gary Johnson and Patrick Weicherding calculating root volumes at Bailey’s
extension/). On the home page,
Construction Damage in St. Anthony Park. This will be our fourth year of collecting data on tree survival and condition following street/ sidewalk/utility improvements in St. Anthony Park. When the damage was done four years ago, the residents took great steps to demand that root cutting was minimized and that trees were cared for during and after the construction process. Has this paid off? That's what this study
When You Least Ex-
click on "How to Prevent Storm
pect It…
Damage." This is very graphic
Those damaging wind storms can come at any time. Could happen this afternoon, or tomorrow or
where the street widening was
thing that you'll see after a wind storm.
at the end of the summer. Maybe only one or two trees
If you do get involved in this
will be damaged in your
project with us, please do it
neighborhood, or maybe your
safely and carefully. Respect the
entire town will suffer catastro-
emergency workers (especially
phic losses.
those with chain saws!). Don't
in harm's way. You'll find that You as TCAs are in perfect posi- while you're collecting this infortions to collect data for the mation, you will meet a lot of people! This is a perfect oppor-
tunity for you to chat with them 1995. You're spread out around and help them prevent future the southeastern part of the storm damage to their remaining
conducted without much consid- state. You have an awareness eration of boulevard tree health. for trees and problems. All you
trees.
In another year, we'll have
need to do is collect some rela-
enough data collected from this study to compare it with the
tively quick data and send it in to All of this time invested is us. It doesn't matter if it's only counted as volunteer time…port
others and determine if the ex-
for one or two trees, or a hun-
to port, paperwork time, too.
tra efforts have paid off for this
dred trees. It all adds up and
You'll be doing the research pro-
community.
contributes significantly to our
ject and Minnesota's trees a
body of knowledge.
great service whenever you get involved, no matter how few or
Those are the bigger studies that are part of our urban forestry
Straight-line Winds and Stem
slow them down or put yourself Girdling Roots
is about. We have a lot of infor- Storm Damage Research that mation from other, similar con- we've been conducting since struction sites in Minnesota
and illustrates just about every-
many trees you can get Included with this newsletter are
Page 12
Nicollet Island Research Data Based on a 4 point scale
Tree Species
Month/Year Acer nigrum
Ave. Caliper increase
10/01
Stem Condition Rating
Expressed in inches
Canopy Condition
Ave.
Ave.
Ave. Ave. Ave.
Ave.
5/01
10/01
6/02 5/01 10/01 6/02
Twig Growth rate
Ave. Max.
Min.
10/01
0.05
3.8
3.95
3.6
3.8
3.05
2.9
7.8
13.0
1.5
.15
4.0
3.8
3.8
2.9
3.0
3.4
4.8
9.0
2.5
.08
4.0
4.0
3.9
3.3
3.4
3.0
7.3
11.5
1.5
.91
4.0
3.9
3.9
3.7
3.1
3.3
3.9
8.0
<1.0
.09
4.0
3.9
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
13.25 20.0
0.5
.09
3.8
3.7
3.6
4.0
3.9
4.0
7.5
16.0
3.5
.23
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.8
3.9
8.2
18.0
0.5
0.1
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.8
4.0
9.1
16.0
2.25
0.12
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.9
3.9
9.7
16.25
4.5
Gymnocladus dioicus
0.09
3.9
4.0
3.9
2.8
2.8
2.8
6.1
11.5
1.75
Maackia amurensis (male only)
0.05
4.0
3.1
4.0
3.8
3.2
2.9
1.7
2.75
1.0
Quercus macrocarpa x robur ‘Heritage’
0.09
3.6
3.4
3.5
3.8
3.1
3.2
1.8
5.0
0.5
0.2
3.7
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.9
4.9
10.0
1.5
0.19
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.8
3.7
4.0
5.1
15.5
0.75
0.3
3.8
3.9
3.9
4.0
3.9
4.0
5.9
12.0
1.5
‘Green Column’ Acer rubrum x saccharinum
Acer Saccharum Celtis occidentalis
Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Blaze’ Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Purple’ Fraxinus nigra ‘Fall Gold’ Fraxinus nigra x mandshurica ‘Northern Gem’ Fraxinus nigra x mandshurica ‘Northern Treasure’
Tilia americana ‘Boulevard’ Quercus macrocarpa Ulmus ‘Accolade’
Page 13
Nicollet Island Research... Fraxinus nigra x mandshurica "Northern Gem" (12)
Summary of Data
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
Nicollet Island Brownfield Study
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
May / June, 2002
3.9/4 4/4
Mortality rate
0.0%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
0.0%
Fraxinus nigra x mandshurica "Northern Treasure" (13 trees)
Acer nigrum "Green Column" (12 trees) Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
3.6/2.9
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
3.75/2.9
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
4/3.9 4/4
Mortality rate
15%
Mortality rate
0.0%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
25%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
0.0%
Acer rubrum x saccharinum (12 trees)
Gymnocladus dioicus (13 trees)
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
3.8/3.4
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
3.9/2.8
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
3.8/3.3
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
3.9/2.5
Mortality rate
0.0%
Mortality rate
Mortality rate, replanted trees
0.0%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
Acer saccharum (13 trees)
8% 0.0%
Maackia amurensis (12 trees)
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
3.9/3.0
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
4/2.9
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
4/3.5
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
4/3.1
Mortality rate
0.0%
Mortality rate
33%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
0.0%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
20%
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
3.9/3.3
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
3.5/3.2
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
3.9/3.4
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
3.2/3.7
Celtis occidentalis
(12 trees)
Quercus macrocarpa x robur "Heritage" (12 trees)
Mortality rate
0.0%
Mortality rate
17%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
0.0%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
0.0%
Fraxinus americana "Autumn Blaze" (12 trees)
Tilia americana "Boulevard" (13 trees)
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
4/4
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
4/4
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
Mortality rate
8%
Mortality rate
Mortality rate, replanted trees
0.0%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
4/3.9 4/4 15% 0.0%
Fraxinus americana "Autumn Purple" (12 trees)
Quercus macrocarpa (13 trees)
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
3.6/4
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
4/4
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
3.8/4
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
4/4
Mortality rate
0.0%
Mortality rate
8%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
0.0%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
4/3.9
Mean condition rating (stem/canopy)
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
4/3.5
Mean condition rating, replanted trees
Mortality rate
0.0%
Mortality rate
0.0%
Mortality rate, replanted trees
0.0%
Mortality rate
0.0%
Fraxinus nigra "Fall Gold"
(12 trees)
0.0%
Ulmus "Accolade" (12 trees) 3.9/4 4/4
Page 14
Impressions from Research… (opinion page) Initial Impressions of Some Trees and Shrubs on Tough Sites Based on performance at various “brown field” sites in Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Good Performers Abies concolor (white fir)
… Low numbers planted
Acer ginnala (Amur maple)
… Low numbers planted
*Acer negundo (boxelder) Acer platanoides (Norway maple) *Acer rubrum (red maple) *Acer saccharinum (silver maple) Aesculus glabra (ohio buckeye)
… Low numbers planted
Catalpa speciosa (northern catalpa) Celtis occidentalis (common hackberry)
… Good survival, but long establishment period
Diervilla lonicera (bush honeysuckle) Ginkgo Biloba
*Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash) Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo) … low numbers planted *Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis (thornless honeylocust) … Good survival, but long establishment period *Picea glauca (white spruce) Pinus nigra (Austrian pine) *Populus deltoids (eastern cottonwood) *Prunus americana (American plum) Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) *Rhus glabra (smooth sumac) *Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac) Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak) Tilia cordata (littleleaf linden) *Viburnum lentago (nannyberry viburnum)
In-between performers:
Catalpa spp.
*Fraxinus americana (white ash)
… good on flats, poor on berms
*Pinus resinosa (red pine)
… very inconsistent survival and performance
*Tilia americana (basswood)
… inconsistent, but better on flats
Poor Performers: *Juglans nigra (black walnut)
… very low survival
*Quercus ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak)
… very low survival
Quercus palustris (eastern pin oak)
… low survival, poor performance
*Quercus rubra (northern red oak)
… zero survival
Tilia cordata “*” Indicates Trees and shrubs native to all or part of Minnesota
More Quick Hits... Tree Lists: Please do not take the list on the previous page too seriously. It is simply an observation of trees growing in very poor quality sites. Poor quality in this case refers to soil fertility, high pH (7.0 +), and compacted, droughty soils. bad.
Observations of this kind are simply that and in no way indicate that the trees are good or
Info-U: Debbie Newman at Info-U asked me to remind you that Info-U is a very good FREE resource. I know several Tree Care Advisors and Master Gardeners who use Info-U. The phone numbers are as follows: Metro callers 612-624-2200 and callers from Greater Minnesota 1-800-5258636.
Room For letters: I understand that some TCA’s write articles for local papers and newsletters. Well, here is a forum to reach a larger audience. Other TCA’s may choose to follow suit and start a column of their own with a local paper. Share your thoughts, ideas, and your writing. Send your work in to me, Dave Hanson dlhanson@umn.edu and I will include them here for other TCA’s to ponder.
TCA Radio Celebrities: For those of you near Buffalo in Wright County, Heide Ludwig and occasional side-kick Polly Auguston can be heard from time to time on radio station KRWC 1360 AM. Since these two are Tree Care Advisors / Master Gardeners the conversation ranges widely across the spectrum of plants. More on this TCA endeavor in a future edition.
Page 15
Contact Phone Numbers Program Contacts:
Gary Johnson – 612-625-3765 or grjonson@.umn.edu Dave Hanson – 612-624-1226 or hanso355@umn.edu Mailing Address: 115 Green Hall, 1530 Cleveland Ave. North, St. Paul, MN 55108
TCAAG Members:
Paula Denman - 612-338-1871 Bob Condon - 952-890-1228 Mimi Hottinger - 507-388-4838 Barb Kirkpatrick - 651-490-9816 Bruce Granos - 952-423-5211 Lorrie Stromme - 612-788-5157
County Contacts:
Anoka County (Patrick Weicherding) – 763-755-1280 or weich002@umn.edu Blue Earth – (507)389-8325 Carver County - (952) 442-4946 Dakota County (Barb Stendhal) – 952-463-8002 or stend004@umn.edu Hennepin County (Bob Mugaas) – 612-374-8400 Olmstead County (Doug Courneya) – 507-285-8250 or courneya@umn.edu Ramsey County – (Doug Foulk) – 651-777-8156 St. Louis County (Bob Olen) – 218-726-7512
Additional Reference Contacts:
Debby Newman (Info-U) – currently 651-704-2069, After July 1st 612-624-3263 Don Mueller, DNR Forestry – 651-772-6148 or don.mueller@dnr.state.mn.us Great River Greening – 651-665-9500 Ken Holman, DNR Forestry – 651-772-7565 or ken.holman@dnr.state.mn.us Rich Hauer, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (certified tree inspector workshop coordinator) 651-296-0592 or rich.hauer@state.mn.us Paul Walvatne MNDOT – 651-284-3793 or Paul.Walvatne@dot.state.mn.us Tree Trust – 651-644-5800 cember but the cold weather makes them shrivel up like a raisin. The last Viburnum is the American Highbush Cranberry, We commonly grow about half a dozen species in Minnesota with several cultivars Viburnum trilobum, a native of our northern wooded areas. It has clusters of 1/3from these species. The Arrowwood inch bright red juicy fruits that persist Viburnum, Viburnum dentatum is a native through the winter. This species holds its species with ¼ inch blue to bluish black fruits borne in flat topped clusters. They fruits better than its European cousin, the European Highbush Cranberry, and it also persist through October or until birds take them. The Wayfaringtree Viburnum, is the one indicted for serving alcohol to unsuspecting returning robins in the Viburnum lantana is a European import which has 1/3 inch rounded fruits that go spring! There are other species of viburthrough a series of color changes before nums in this large plant family with showy fruits that could be tried. being fully ripe. The individual fruits change from yellow to red to black and The list could go on, as there are are grouped in a flat-topped clusters as other plants with interesting fall fruit apwell. Another Viburnum maturing to peal such as Wahoo, Euonymus atropurblack fruit is the Nannyberry, Viburnum pureus, and Celastrus scandens, American lentago. It has ½ inch long drooping bluBittersweet. These fruits are largely seed ish black fruits that are very shiny in early with little pulp. Dry capsules of the lilacs October. They often persist until DePersistent Fruits ...Continued from page 7
persist into winter as well as the inflated capsule of American Bladdernut. But most of them don’t have the showy, bright colors expressed by plants with fleshy fruits or the attractiveness that draws humans or birds to them! All photos: Courtesy of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. “http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/ main.htm” American bladdernut