Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense) is a relatively new invasive plant found in at least four Wisconsin counties. It is classified as Prohibited under Wisconsin’s invasive species law, NR 40. The female cork tree cannot be possessed, transferred, transported or introduced in Wisconsin. We ask that you report this tree to DNR because it is invasive here and in other states and DNR is mounting control efforts before it becomes widespread. DNR works with property owners to achieve this by providing advice, tools and resource opportunities. Continue reading “Amur cork tree is an emerging threat to Wisconsin forests.”
Urban Forestry News
Wind and hail damage caused by the April 9, 2017 storm
The National Weather Service local storm reports map shows hail was most commonly reported, with some tree damage, and one tornado (west of Wausau).
During the night of April 9-10, 2017 a strong line of storms moved through Wisconsin. Reports ranged from pea sized to tennis ball sized hail, with most stating quarter sized hail. Immediately following the hail, winds picked up and straight line winds took down trees in a number of areas around Oneida and Vilas Counties. The National Weather Service reports that there was a tornado touch down west of Wausau, and reports of tree damage showed up in the National Weather Service’s local storm reporting page.
Damage to trees from hail was most noticeable on the conifers which had needles knocked off, creating a green carpet below the trees. Fine twigs on white pines were damaged by the hail and some fine branch mortality may occur if the twigs were damaged badly enough. Damaged red pine may be more prone to getting diplodia where the twigs were wounded.
April 9 hail wounds on white pine branches (yellow arrows) appear small but will dry, and the bark will crack further as spring progresses. Some branch dieback may occur.
April 9 hail wounds on young aspen and the fine branches of mature aspen appear as scuffed bark (yellow arrows). These will callus over relatively quickly.
Small wounds on young aspen should callus over.
Written by: Linda Williams, forest health specialist, Green Bay, (Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov), 920-662-5172.
Emerald ash borer new locations in Wisconsin
EAB quarantine and detections map. Counties shaded in tan are quarantined for EAB, green areas are townships and municipalities where EAB has actually been identified.
Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) continues to be found in new areas. Wisconsin continues to track EAB at the municipality or township level; quarantined counties are shown in tan and known infested areas are shown in green on the map.
If you know you have EAB, please contact us with that information so we can verify the infestation and update the maps. If your area:
- is not shaded in green on the map please contact DNR or
- is not shaded at all on the map please contact DATCP.
You can reach both agencies from the menu options when you call 1-800-462-2803.
New county quarantines
- none
New finds in counties already quarantined
- Adams/Columbia/Juneau/Sauk counties — city of Wisconsin Dells
- Brown County — village of Allouez
- Crawford County – town of Bridgeport
- Columbia County – town of Lowville
- Columbia/Dodge counties – village of Randolph
- Dane County – village of DeForest
- Green County – town of Monroe
- Jackson County — towns of Melrose and North Bend
- Jefferson County – towns of Aztalan, Farmington, Hebron, and Sumner
- La Crosse County – town of Shelby
- Monroe County – city of Sparta
- Rock County – towns of Clinton, Harmony, Johnstown, and Lima
- Sheboygan County – village of Kohler
- Trempealeau County — towns of Ettrick, Gale and Preston
Written by: Linda Williams, forest health specialist, Green Bay, (Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov), 920-662-5172.
New staff members
Recently the Urban Forestry Program has filled three positions: West Central Urban Forestry Coordinator, Urban Forestry Grant Specialist, Urban Forest Assessment Specialist. The team is looking forward to the value and expertise these individuals will bring.
Celebrate Arbor Day
In 1854, J. Sterling Morton, a prominent newspaper editor and publisher, moved from Detroit to the area that is now Nebraska. He and other pioneers noticed a lack of trees, which were needed to act as windbreaks to stabilize the soil and to give shade from the sun. Morton planted many trees around his own home and encouraged others to do the same.
New Tree City USA designees
Congratulations to Wisconsin’s newest Tree City USA designees – Gays Mills, Milton, Mukwonago, and Stratford. The Tree City USA program, sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation and administered in Wisconsin by the DNR, provides communities with a tangible goal and national recognition for their community forestry efforts.
April showers: urban forests improve water
Urban forestry programs and community trees provide many benefits to the individuals and families who inhabit those areas: improved mental health, increased energy savings, cleaner air and beauty. Another benefit of urban trees, and perhaps a lesser-known benefit, is better water quality. Continue reading “April showers: urban forests improve water”
Lesser celandine is an emerging threat to Wisconsin forests – be on the lookout.
Spherical bulbils of lesser celandine form during the spring growing season. Later they drop off and sprout to form new plants.
Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), also known as fig buttercup, is a ground layer plant and an aggressive invader of forests in North America. So far, it is relatively unknown in Wisconsin but has been found in the southeastern part of the state, especially in moist (mesic and wet-mesic) forests and along river banks.
Lesser celandine is a spring ephemeral that emerges in early spring, develops flowers, dies back by early summer, and remains dormant in underground tubers. During the short growing period the plant produces bulbils which sprout and give rise to new plants. After the round bulbils drop off they are spread by gravity, water, small animals, and like the tubers, transported when soil is moved. Continue reading “Lesser celandine is an emerging threat to Wisconsin forests – be on the lookout.”
Oak wilt found in Price County, plus prevention steps
Map of the known distribution of oak wilt in Wisconsin as of December 1, 2016.
Oak wilt, a deadly fungal disease affecting red oaks, was confirmed for the first time in Price County in 2016. In addition to the new county find, the disease was also confirmed in various townships in northern Wisconsin counties where we already knew oak wilt was present.
The map in the oak harvesting guidelines was updated based on the find.
Oak wilt is commonly found in the southern two-thirds of the state, but has been creeping northward. The disease was found for the first time in 2010 in Oneida County, in 2012 in Lincoln, Sawyer, and Vilas counties, in 2013 in Rusk County, and in 2014 in Washburn County. Oak wilt has been confirmed in all Wisconsin counties except Ashland, Bayfield, Calumet, Door, Douglas, Forest, Iron, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and Taylor.
Read more about oak wilt prevention in the news release from March 21, 2017: Protect oak trees from oak wilt by waiting until after July to prune.
Written by: Kyoko Scanlon, forest pathologist, Fitchburg (Kyoko.Scanlon@Wisconsin.gov), 608-275-3275.
Oil or remove gypsy moth egg masses now
Gypsy moth egg masses.
Homeowners who are interested in reducing gypsy moth caterpillar numbers this summer should consider oiling or removing reachable egg masses well before the eggs begin hatching in the second half of April. Gypsy moth egg masses are tan-colored lumps about the size of a nickel or quarter, and usually contain 500 to 1,000 eggs. The egg masses can be found on any rough or protected surface including trees, houses, firewood piles, bird houses and other outdoor objects. Do NOT scrape the egg masses onto the ground or step on them or break them apart. Many of the eggs will survive and still hatch.