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Please Submit Trees Planted This Spring!

By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist; Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov or 608-445-4578

When your newly planted trees are getting comfortable in their new homes, you’ve pulled the splinters from your hands and you find yourself at a desk asking yourself, “What now?”, we have an answer for you.

Please take a moment and record your trees in the Wisconsin Tree Planting Survey. Those submissions will then appear on the Tree Planting Map and be tallied toward the state’s pledge to the Trillion Trees Initiative. Governor Tony Evers signed the pledge to protect and restore Wisconsin’s rural and urban forests by planting 100 million trees in Wisconsin by 2030. Continue reading “Please Submit Trees Planted This Spring!”

Anthracnose Infecting Hardwood Leaves

By Michael Hillstrom, DNR Forest Health Specialist; Michael.Hillstrom@wisconsin.gov
and Abby Krause, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator; Abigail.Krause@wisconsin.gov

Oak leaves infected with anthracnose.

Anthracnose is a common disease of hardwood trees during cool, wet spring seasons. Some parts of Wisconsin have been cooler and wetter than others this spring, so anthracnose damage may be patchy.

Ash, maple, white oak, sycamore and walnut are the most commonly impacted tree species. Each species has its own species of anthracnose that infects it, but if weather conditions are right, then we tend to see damage on multiple species. Continue reading “Anthracnose Infecting Hardwood Leaves”

Resources For Storm-Damaged Trees

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

With recent storms passing through Wisconsin, communities may still be working on clean-up. Depending on the intensity of the storms and the condition of the trees, damage from high winds, heavy rainfall, hail and lightning can be quite severe. Cracked or broken branches, trunk damage and root failure are some of the main concerns, but also the risk and liability of damage to people and property. Continue reading “Resources For Storm-Damaged Trees”

Why Don’t All Trees Leaf Out At The Same Time?

By Elton Rogers, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator; Elton.Rogers@wisconsin.gov or 414 294-8675

Photo credit: Mike Wendt

Spring is my absolute favorite time of the year. The reemergence of life is all around us, and the smell of fresh rain accompanies the sights and sounds of spring. The birds are scouring the soil for fresh insects to eat, the frogs are croaking away in the swamps and the bees buzz freely from plant to plant. Along with these sights and sounds of spring, another incredible transformation is occurring on our largest and longest-lived organisms in the landscape, trees. Continue reading “Why Don’t All Trees Leaf Out At The Same Time?”

Arbor Day Foundation Reporting Dashboard

Arbor Day Foundation USA Interactive Map
Do you know how many Tree Campus Healthcare facilities are in Wisconsin or how many trees were planted by Arbor Day Foundation partners in the state? Find this and other eye-opening information by visiting the new Arbor Day Reporting Dashboard. Scroll to select Wisconsin on the left side of the page to see state-specific data. Select a tab at the top to see specific information about the Tree City USA, Tree Campus or Tree Line programs. Continue reading “Arbor Day Foundation Reporting Dashboard”

Invasives And Imposters: Native Look-Alikes To Know

By Wisconsin DNR

With 145 invasive plants regulated under Wisconsin’s Invasive Species Rule NR40, it can be challenging to identify some of these plants while out in the woods.

The task can be further complicated by the presence of native lookalikes – plants that have a similar appearance to harmful invasive species but are actually native plants that benefit wildlife, pollinators and ecosystems in Wisconsin.

Continue reading “Invasives And Imposters: Native Look-Alikes To Know”

Watch Out!

Have you ever walked through a patch of poison ivy or brushed up against wild parsnip? If so, you probably learned an uncomfortable lesson about encountering harmful plants. Luckily, there is a less painful way to learn about dangerous vegetation hidden among Wisconsin’s natural beauty. Now is the time to brush up on hazards you may encounter while working or recreating outdoors.

Outdoor Hazards in Wisconsin, a guide published by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, will help you recognize, avoid and handle potential problems caused by wildlife, insects and plants. Continue reading “Watch Out!”

Housing Wisconsin: Home Building Trends, Outlook

Housing Market Index (HMI) Survey, March 2025. Source: NAHB/Wells Fargo. / Graphic Credit: Brian Zweifel, Wisconsin DNR

By Brian Zweifel, DNR Forest Products Specialist, Dodgeville
Brian.Zweifel@wisconsin.gov

Variability and uncertainty seem like key words to describe many things right now, but the words apply especially to current housing markets.

The home construction and remodeling industry is a key driver of forest products markets and can be an important indicator of future demand. Softwood lumber and engineered wood products such as oriented strand board, plywood and laminated beams and joists are used in home construction. Hardwood lumber, however, is used to manufacture flooring, cabinets and other millwork items for interior applications.

Continue reading “Housing Wisconsin: Home Building Trends, Outlook”

Rotstop® C No Longer Available In North America

Photo of a worker manually applying fungicide, imbued with blue dye, to a freshly cut tree stump to fight the spread of fungal diseases such as Heterobasidion root disease.

A worker manually applies fungicide, imbued with blue dye, to a freshly cut tree stump to fight the spread of fungal diseases such as Heterobasidion root disease. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Kyoko Scanlon, DNR Forest Pathologist, Fitchburg
Kyoko.Scanlon@wisconsin.gov

The manufacturer, Lallemand Plant Care, recently decided to remove Rotstop® C fungicide from the North American market.

As a result, the product is no longer available for purchase in North America. If you already have the product and have stored it in an appropriate space, you may still use it as a preventative treatment for Heterobasidion root disease (HRD) as long as the expiration date has not arrived.

Continue reading “Rotstop® C No Longer Available In North America”

Web-Spinning Caterpillars Not Spongy Moth

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

You may already be seeing the web nests created by eastern tent caterpillars, which hatch early in the spring and start feeding on emerging leaves as the weather warms up.

Eastern tent caterpillars can sometimes be mistaken for forest tent caterpillars or spongy moths. Check out the DNR’s comparison fact sheet, which includes pictures for identification and control options. Continue reading “Web-Spinning Caterpillars Not Spongy Moth”