Care for your woods

Oak Leaf Issues That Are Not Oak Wilt

Posted on by akabelowsky
Closeup photo showing oak wilt leaf symptoms on a red oak leaf. Leaves often show browning on the outer portions of the leaf while the base of the leaf will still have some normal green color.

Oak wilt leaf symptoms on a red oak leaf often show browning on the outer portions of the leaf while the base of the leaf will still have some normal green color. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

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

Oak wilt symptoms are active right now, but so are several other oak issues that may be mistaken for oak wilt.

Issues including Tubakia leaf spot, mite damage and leaf scorch are all causing problems in northern Wisconsin and may be mistaken for oak wilt.

Continue reading “Oak Leaf Issues That Are Not Oak Wilt” →

Which Witches’ Broom Is It?

Posted on by akabelowsky

Witches’ broom on serviceberry. The leaves of this infected shrub are dying because of prolific spore production on their undersides. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Tim Shively, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Eau Claire
Tim.Shively@wisconsin.gov or 608-772-6974

Witches’ broom is a term that describes a disease of many different plants. It’s a distinctive, abnormal growth typically caused by a pathogen — though in some cases it can result from insect feeding.

The namesake symptom appears as abnormally dense clusters of stunted shoots, branches, and foliage that strongly resemble a witch’s broom from storybooks and folklore. In Wisconsin, this is not often a critical forest health concern that merits management action, but Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Health staff recently observed widespread incidence of two particular witches’ broom diseases.

Continue reading “Which Witches’ Broom Is It?” →

Networking At Riveredge Nature Center

Posted on by janness

By Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator; Olivia.Witthun@wisconsin.gov or 414-750-8744

Tree managers met at Riveredge Nature Center (RNC) for a networking meeting/field tour at the end of July. RNC is located in Saukville, ground zero for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Wisconsin, which was discovered in 2008.

The indoor portion of the meeting consisted of updates from DNR Urban Forestry and Forest Health staff.  There was also time for open sharing amongst attendees and an overview by Matt Smith (RNC) about what we’d be seeing in the field. Continue reading “Networking At Riveredge Nature Center” →

Upcoming Trainings

Posted on by janness

*These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and do not constitute an endorsement from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

See below for information on training topics, including Z133 updates, urban tree lifespan, maintaining urban trees on private lands, conferences and watering. Continue reading “Upcoming Trainings” →

Golden Oyster Mushrooms Aren’t Friends To Native Fungi

Posted on by akabelowsky
Closeup photo showing golden oyster mushrooms growing on a dead American elm tree in Green County in June 2025.

Golden oyster mushrooms grow on a dead American elm tree in Green County in June 2025. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Kyoko Scanlon, DNR Forest Pathologist
Kyoko.Scanlon@wisconsin.gov or 608-235-7532

Golden oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) have eye-catching bright-yellow caps with branch-like white gills. Recently, more people have been noticing these gorgeous-looking clusters of mushrooms growing on trees in Wisconsin, especially in southern Wisconsin.

These mushrooms, prized for culinary delicacy, are native to eastern Asia. However, they are found in forests throughout the Midwest and northeastern United States, including Wisconsin.

Continue reading “Golden Oyster Mushrooms Aren’t Friends To Native Fungi” →

Keep An Eye Out For Beech Leaf Disease

Posted on by akabelowsky
Photo showing symptomatic striping from beech leaf disease, seen from under the canopy.

Symptomatic striping from beech leaf disease, seen from under the canopy. / Photo Credit: Kyoko Scanlon, Wisconsin DNR; taken in Cleveland, Ohio

By Kyoko Scanlon, DNR Forest Pathologist
Kyoko.Scanlon@wisconsin.gov or 608-235-7532

Forest owners and land managers should look for beech leaf disease (BLD), a destructive beech tree disease in the United States, this summer.

Although it has not yet been found in Wisconsin, recent discoveries of the disease in Michigan and other nearby states highlight the continued importance of monitoring BLD’s expansion. There is potential for BLD to move into Wisconsin, as the eastern portion of the state overlaps with the native range of American beech.

Continue reading “Keep An Eye Out For Beech Leaf Disease” →

Woodland Owners Group And MFL Keep Forests Growing

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications, Fitchburg Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov; 608-335-0167

Nancy Bozek (far right), executive director of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association (WWOA), joins the Women of WWOA group for a photo after a guided tour of the International Crane Foundation outside of Baraboo.

Nancy Bozek (far right), executive director of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association (WWOA), joins the Women of WWOA group for a photo after a guided tour of the International Crane Foundation outside of Baraboo. / Photo Credit: Contributed by Nancy Bozek

There are plenty of trees in Wisconsin forests that haven’t been around as long as the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association (WWOA).

In many cases, the 46-year-old WWOA has facilitated the information sharing, networking and hard work necessary to keep as many of those trees as possible, along with the older ones, of course, green and growing.

WWOA’s mission statement is one of those simple ideas that needs a lot of effort to become reality: “(T)o conserve and enhance the private woodlands of the state through the following actions:

  • Sustainably manage our woodlands with informed management plans that utilize best silviculture practices.
  • Assist private landowners in achieving their management goals by connecting them with natural resource professionals and fellow woodland owners.
  • Educate the public on the value of woodlands for economic, environmental, recreational and wildlife habitat purposes.”

Continue reading “Woodland Owners Group And MFL Keep Forests Growing” →

2026 DNR Urban Forestry Grant Application Now Open

Posted on by janness

Cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in or conducting urban forestry projects in Wisconsin can now apply for a regular or startup 2026 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Urban Forestry grant. The total 2026 available funding is $559,680, with a possible release of $139,920 of catastrophic storm reserve to fund a second round in March 2026. Continue reading “2026 DNR Urban Forestry Grant Application Now Open” →

Invasive Species – Fall Workshops

Posted on by janness

By Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator; Olivia.Witthun@wisconsin.gov or 414-750-8744

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is partnering with the UW-Madison Division of Extension to host a series of fall workshops on invasive species plant identification and management. Learn about invasive plants in urban settings, focusing on identification, impacts, management and available resources. Dr. Mark Renz (professor and Extension specialist with UW-Madison) will lead the instruction, with Travis Wilson, Matt Wallrath and John Zabrosky assisting. Each workshop will include morning classroom instruction followed by hands-on field demonstrations in the afternoon. The cost of the workshop is $40 and includes lunch. Continue reading “Invasive Species – Fall Workshops” →