UW Stevens Point Offering Tree Health Workshop

Posted on by kirsten.biefeld

The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point is hosting a workshop that will be of interest for those who wish to learn how to identify potential hazards and structural health concerns of trees.

The class is called “Leaves Down, Loop Up! A Tree Health Workshop,” and takes place on Nov. 4, 2022 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and will take place at the Trainer Natural Resources Building. The registration fee is $30 and the registration deadline is Oct. 21, 2022. The listing notes the target audience is for landowners and nature enthusiasts, but municipal employees new to forestry may find it useful.

Find more information here.

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Red Oak Irony

Posted on by brenna.denamur

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

Red oak trees in many areas of northern Wisconsin are aptly fitting their name as many crowns exhibit a red hue this summer.

A red oak tree with a red and green leaves.

Red oaks are producing a second flush of leaves following oak leafroller defoliation in spring, resulting in trees with red-looking crowns. Photo: Wisconsin DNR

Widespread defoliation by oak leafrollers in May and June has led many oaks to generate a second set of leaves after being stripped. New expanding leaves often display a prominent red color that gives the tree crown a stark reddish appearance from afar.

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Eyes On Beech Leaf Disease

Posted on by brenna.denamur

By Ethan Wachendorf, Forest Health Lab Technician, Fitchburg, ethan.wachendorf@wisconsin.gov or 608-273-6276

Forest owners and land managers should be on the lookout for beech leaf disease (BLD), a destructive disease of beech trees. The disease is primarily found on American beech (Fagus grandifolia) but can also be found on ornamental species like European, Oriental and Chinese beech (F. sylvatica, F. orientalis and F. engleriana).

Multiple symptomatic beech leaves showing dark striping between lateral veins on the underside of the canopy.

Symptomatic striping seen from under the canopy. This photo was taken in Ohio. Photo: Wisconsin DNR

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Pine Sawyer Beetle: A Noteworthy Native

Posted on by brenna.denamur

By Linda Williams, Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff, Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

This time of year, you may see black beetles with long antennae flying around, especially in areas with pine trees. These slow, ungainly flyers are a native longhorn species called white-spotted sawyer beetle, also known as pine sawyer.

Pine sawyers are black beetles with long antennae.

Pine sawyer adult male. Photo: Wisconsin DNR

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Troubled White Pines: Disease And Thinning

Posted on by brenna.denamur

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff, Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

Scattered white pine in Oneida and Vilas counties had significant amounts of needles that turned light tan or pale yellow this spring. Those needles have mostly dropped from trees, leaving them quite thin.

Some white pine needles are tan colored due to Lophodermium infection.

Tan-colored needles infected with Lophodermium. Photo: Wisconsin DNR

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Hungry, Hungry Japanese Beetles

Posted on by brenna.denamur

By Linda Williams, Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff, Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) are an invasive insect that feed on many plant species. They skeletonize leaves, which means that they eat the material between the veins and often leave lacy veins that turn brown and curl.

An adult beetle on a leaf.

Japanese beetle adult. Photo: Wisconsin DNR

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Tubakia Leaf Disease Mimicking Oak Wilt

Posted on by brenna.denamur

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff, Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

Tubakia leaf spot (Tubakia dryina) is a leaf disease that typically affects the lower canopy of oaks. It caused some issues in 2021 and is affecting red oak trees in north-central Wisconsin this year as well.

Oak leaves with abnormally-shaped brown blotches.

Tubakia creates abnormal blotches and spots on oak leaves that can coalesce. Photo: Wisconsin DNR

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Local-Use Lumber Grading Course Changing Administration

Posted on by Kirsten Held

UW-Stevens Point’s Wisconsin Forestry Center is taking over the administrative component of the Wisconsin Local Use Dimension Lumber grading course from the Wisconsin DNR’s Forest Products Services team. The DNR will continue to teach the course and handle specific inquiries regarding the content of the course, but registration for upcoming courses and re-certifications for previous attendees will be handled by the Wisconsin Forestry Center.

Information regarding upcoming lumber grading courses will be available on the Wisconsin Forestry Center’s website. The DNR’s Forest Products Services “Training and Events Calendar” webpage will also continue to post links to the registration for upcoming courses. The transition of administrative duties from the DNR to Wisconsin Forestry Center is expected to be completed this summer.