Month: July 2022

Preliminary Seedling Availability From The Wisconsin DNR Reforestation Program For Spring 2023 Planting

Posted on by Kirsten Held

Proper tree planting requires a lot of decision-making, and one of those decisions is which species and age are the most appropriate and cost-effective to plant. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Reforestation Program is taking some of the unknowns out of that process by giving landowners and property managers an early peek at the seedlings we anticipate having available in fall 2022 for planting in spring 2023.

This list is preliminary, as some species may be added or removed depending on health, growth and other factors as the growing season progresses.

These tree and shrub seedlings will be available to purchase starting Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. Even with the expected high demand, we anticipate having a variety of species and ages available to all customers. Continue reading “Preliminary Seedling Availability From The Wisconsin DNR Reforestation Program For Spring 2023 Planting” →

2023 DNR Urban Forestry Grant Application Now Open!

Posted on by patricialindquist

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to apply for a 2023 DNR Urban Forestry Grant.

The grants range from $1,000 to $25,000, and grant recipients must match each grant dollar for dollar. A startup grant of up to $5,000 is available for communities that want to start or restart a community forestry program. The DNR will award grants to projects that align with state and national goals for increasing the urban forest canopy and the benefits it provides.  

Continue reading “2023 DNR Urban Forestry Grant Application Now Open!” →

Trees Will Need More Water this Summer

Posted on by patricialindquist

We are likely to see a hotter than average summer, which means you, your pets, your plants, and yes, your trees, will need more water!

Stress from drought can affect all plants, from a newly planted sapling to a well-established, mature tree. Trees that are already weakened from other types of stress, such as tree leaf predation by spongy moths, are of particular concern.

See our watering tips below for how you can help!

Continue reading “Trees Will Need More Water this Summer” →

2021 Tree City USA Statistics and Community Recognition

Posted on by patricialindquist

The 2021 Tree City USA Summary is out, and with it is great news for Wisconsin’s Urban Forests!

Wisconsin communities reported planting 29,370 trees and spending $48,120,648 on Urban Forestry Management.

There are 201 Tree City USA communities within the Wisconsin, and 59.75% of the state lives in a Tree City USA community. Of the previous Tree City USA communities, 99% have been recertified to the program!

We deeply appreciate the commitment to urban forestry demonstrated by our 2021 Tree City, Tree Campus and Tree Line USA participants. Thank you for your hard work.

Keep reading to see more community specific awards and highlights.

Continue reading “2021 Tree City USA Statistics and Community Recognition” →

Wisconsin DNR Urban Forestry Program Welcomes New Summer Interns

Posted on by patricialindquist

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) welcomes two urban forestry summer interns to the agency’s Milwaukee office. The internship marks the beginning of a new collaborative program between the department, the USDA Forest Service and Southern University and A&M College, a public historically black land-grant university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

The two inaugural interns, Odell Kimble and Kolin Bilbrew, are juniors majoring in forestry at Southern University, the first and only historically black land-grant university that offers a degree in urban forestry.

The Wisconsin DNR welcomes 2022 Urban Forestry summer interns Odell Kimble (left) and Kolin Bilbrew (right) who are working with Dan Buckler (middle) and Kim Sebastian (not pictured) at the Milwaukee office.

Continue reading “Wisconsin DNR Urban Forestry Program Welcomes New Summer Interns” →

Urban Forestry Council Highlights: Departing Members, Urban Forestry Updates, Awards

Posted on by patricialindquist

Wisconsin DNR Division of Forestry thanks departing Urban Forestry Council members Marla Eddy, Mark Freberg, August Hoppe and Gail Sumi for their time and dedication to the council. Pictured above are August Hoppe (far left), Heather Berklund, Wisconsin State Forester (left middle), Gail Sumi (right middle) and Mark Freberg (far right).

The Urban Forestry Council met on June 22, 2022, for the first in-person meeting since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was a bittersweet mix of saying goodbyes to departing council members, sharing exciting updates and voting on new council member recommendations. DNR forestry staff provided updates about the newly released Urban Forestry Economic Report, grant overview and general updates and highlights.

Continue reading “Urban Forestry Council Highlights: Departing Members, Urban Forestry Updates, Awards” →

Launch of New Strategic Plan

Posted on by Kirsten Held

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has begun implementation of a new forestry strategic plan for fiscal years 2023-2027.

The Division of Forestry’s Strategic Direction is a five-year plan that builds off of the Wisconsin forestry community’s 10-year Statewide Forest Action Plan. Tying into that plan allowed the division to define tangible strategies and actions that support the broader vision for the sustainable management of Wisconsin’s forest resources.

Find the new plan and learn more about the process used to develop it by visiting FY2023-2027 Strategic Direction.

Summer Of Spongy Moth

Posted on by brenna.denamur

By Andrea Diss-Torrance, Invasive Insects Program Coordinator, Madison, Andrea.DissTorrance.wisconsin.gov

Spongy moth* (formerly known as gypsy moth) populations are entering an outbreak phase in southern Wisconsin due to last year’s dry, hot weather. This pest is rising most rapidly in oak-dominated areas, especially in landscaped spaces with turf and high human activity (i.e., parks, picnic areas, campgrounds and yards). This open ground and human disturbance deter spongy moth’s predators and diseases.

Large, defoliated yard trees along road in neighborhood.

Oak trees are more vulnerable to defoliation in disturbance-heavy environments. These oak trees in Middleton, Wisconsin are facing heavy defoliation by spongy moth. Photo: Wisconsin DNR

Continue reading “Summer Of Spongy Moth” →

Catastrophic Hail Injury To Trees In Northwest Wisconsin

Posted on by brenna.denamur

By Paul Cigan, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Hayward, Paul.Cigan@wisconsin.gov or 715-416-4920

Conifer and hardwood trees have begun showing more apparent and often substantial signs and symptoms of damage from a severe hailstorm that spread across several northwestern Wisconsin counties on May 9, 2022.

The storm produced golf ball-size hailstones and high-speed winds causing catastrophic injury to tree branches and stems, in addition to defoliation. Few tree species were spared in its path. The heaviest impact occurred in northeastern Polk County, where defoliation of aspen and black locust reached nearly 100%, and pine exceeded 90% (Fig. 1). Red and white oaks show more moderate damage.

Aspen trees nearly entirely defoliated.

Figure 1. Polk County had nearly 100% defoliation from a severe May hailstorm. Photo: Wisconsin DNR

Continue reading “Catastrophic Hail Injury To Trees In Northwest Wisconsin” →

Giant Hogweed Or Cow Parsnip?

Posted on by brenna.denamur

By Jaqi Christopher, DNR Forest Invasive Plant Specialist, Rhinelander, Jacquelyn.christopher@wisconsin.gov

Giant hogweed is a large invasive species commonly confused with the native look-alike cow parsnip. Although giant hogweed is uncommon in Wisconsin, it’s important to know the difference between the two.

Person standing with giant hogweed towering over them.

Giant hogweed can invade woodlots and get 8-20 feet tall. Photo Credit: Ramona Shackleford

Continue reading “Giant Hogweed Or Cow Parsnip?” →