 |
 |
|
WINTER 2007: PDF VERSION (2.9 MB)
IN THIS ISSUE:
WORKING WITH NATURE:
Listen to Your Mother
When it comes to the landscape, Mother Nature knows best.
Her handiwork illustrates her phenomenal skill. Walk down Main Street and you can't help but marvel at the grace of a stalwart elm tree traced with snow. Peruse the forest and you'll come to respect the intricately laced relationships forged beneath the canopy.
In all of her work, Mother Nature attempts to lead by example. The problem is that we don't always follow.
Perhaps its time for us to pay closer attention before Mom gets mad. The arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in North America — and the subsequent loss of over 20 million ash trees to date — should serve as a sufficient wake-up call. We must hear and heed what the presence of EAB is telling us about our relationship with the environment.
Mom always told us to look for the silver lining. This time we might need to look hard.
One Global Community
There's no doubt about it — the world is shrinking. Never before have so many products been transported with such speed around the globe. Of course, such a transition has had an impact upon the environment.
As we all know, it is believed that the Emerald Ash Borer arrived in North America on packing crates from Asia. However, EAB is not the first nuisance to hitch a ride to new feeding grounds via human transportation.
Chestnut blight, gypsy moth, Dutch elm disease, and Asian longhorn beetle have likewise made their way to North America courtesy of human activity. Here, these insects became pests and fungi became diseases when each found an ample supply of host trees. As a result, American chestnut, American elm, and ash — which have been a significant portion of the urban and native deciduous forests in the eastern United States — have been considerably depleted if not lost.
OK, Mother Nature. You got our attention.
Plus Limited Plant Diversity
North America proved to be a veritable schmorgasbord for these pests and diseases because of the dense population of host trees.
The American chestnut once comprised approx 25% of the eastern deciduous forest; now it is all but gone. The American elm once typified the All-American street; now the elms that remain are cherished monuments.
It is estimated that 20-30% of Chicagoland's urban forest is comprised of ash trees.
American chestnut, American elm, and ash are native trees that became popular additions to the urban forest due to their attractive forms and rapid growth rates. In fact, they became too popular. As a result of an excessive population of these specimens in the urban forest, insect pests and diseases spread like wildfire. If the urban forest was more diverse, at the very least it would slow the progress of the pests.
What did Mom always say? Oh yeah, "too much of a good thing..."
Equals an Important Lesson
Mother Nature's messages are pretty clear: the world is getting smaller thanks to globalization and as a result, a lack of diversity in our urban forests is a welcome mat to foreign insect pests and diseases.
So what is our proper response to the arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer? Apart from making every effort to eradicate the pest and utilizing the best that science has to offer in that effort, we must also heed Mother Nature's warnings. The best place to start is in your own yard. (Aha! There's the silver lining!)
If you lose an ash, plant a new tree in its place.
Don't get me started about global deforestation. The trees planted in your yard play a vital role in the health of our entire planet. If you lose an ash tree due to EAB, replace the tree with one (or more) new, non-ash specimens. The practice just makes sense.
Help to diversify the urban forest.
Conscious of the need for diversity in our urban forest, homeowners should pay attention to what varieties of trees they select for their property. Believe it or not, the Illinois landscape has more to offer than ash, maple, and honeylocust (lovely as they may be). Whenever possible, select tree varieties that are native to Illinois. To get started, see the list of possible ash tree replacements in the article below.
Don't move firewood.
Insect pests travel the world on packing materials; when traveling locally, your car will do. Most often, pests are inadvertently transported on firewood or nursery stock. Current quarantine restrictions are in place to limit the spread of EAB by these means. Please adhere to quarantine restrictions.
Most importantly, though, Mother Nature is reminding us of our role: we must accept responsibility for nurturing our environment.
CELEBRATE DIVERSITY
An ideal time to add a new tree to your yard is in early spring (believe it of not, spring is just about to arrive). Prepare for the upcoming planting season by considering these native tree species.
| |
|
| Black Maple |
Acer nigrum |
| Ohio Buckeye |
Aesculus glabra |
| Allegheny serviceberry |
Amelanchier laevis |
| River Birch |
Betula nigra |
| American Hornbeam |
Caprinus caroliniana |
| Bitternut Hickory |
Carya cordiformis |
| Shagbark Hickory |
Carya ovata |
| Mockernut Hickory |
Carya tomentosa |
| Northern Catalpa |
Catalpa speciosa |
| Hackberry |
Celtis occidentalis |
| Eastern Redbud |
Cersis Canadensis |
| Pagoda Dogwood |
Cornus alternifolia |
| Cockspur Hawthorn |
Crataegus crus-galli |
| American Beech |
Fagus grandiflora |
| Kentucky Coffeetree |
Gymnocladus dioicus |
| Black Walnut |
Juglans nigra |
| Eastern Redcedar |
Juniperus virginiana |
| Tuliptree |
Liriodendron tulipifera |
| Black Gum, Tupelo |
Nyssa sylvatica |
| Ironwood |
Ostrya virginiana |
| Quaking Aspen |
Populus tremuloides |
| White Oak |
Quercus alba |
| Swamp White Oak |
Quercus bicolor |
| Hill's Oak |
Quercus ellipsoidalis |
| Shingle Oak |
Quercus imbricaria |
| Bur Oak |
Quercus macrocarpa |
| Chinkapin Oak |
Quercus muehlenbergii |
| Bald-cypress |
Taxodium distichum |
| American Linden |
Tilia americana |
| |
|
Expanded lists of trees recommended for Northern Illinois can be found by visiting the Possibility Place Nursery Web site (www.possibilityplace.com) or the Illinois Department of Agriculture Web site (www.agr.state.il.us/eab — click 'reforestation').
ASK AN ARBORIST:
More Big Words?! Gymnosporangeum Rusts
Why does it seem that every disease that plagues trees is labeled with a nearly unpronounceable, multi-syllabic name? Gymnosporangeum rusts: the name isn't very pretty — and neither is the fungal disease it represents.
There are actually three types of Gymnosporangeum rust: cedar-quince rust (Gymnosporangium clavipes), cedar-hawthorn rust (G. globosum), and cedar-apple rust (G. juniperivirginianae). Collectively, the fungi are referred to as "rust." (At last! A monosyllabic moniker!)
Each of these closely related fungal diseases causes similar symptoms in their host trees and similar reactions from flummoxed homeowners.
As their common names suggest, each fungus attacks two different hosts. The fungi begin the growing season on a cypress host (e.g. juniper or cedar), then move to a rosaceous host (e.g. apple, crabapple, hawthorn, quince, serviceberry, etc.) for the remainder of the year. Although precise symptoms vary from fungus to fungus and host to host, certain symptoms remain constant.
The most noticeable symptom of Gymnos...I mean rusts...occurs on the cypress host during spring's cool and moist weather conditions. Brown galls ranging from 1/8" – 2" in diameter (depending on the type of host and the specific fungus) develop on the cypress host's branches, from which orange, gelatinous, tentacle-like structures called telia emerge. (Telia. Hmm..there's another one of those words; at least it's only three syllables long!) The telia actually expand and contract from the gall based on weather conditions (they look a bit like mushy carrot shavings). When the weather is cool and damp, the telia release spores that attack the rosaceous host.
Once the spores reach the rosaceous host, the first symptom is the formation of yellow/orange spots on the tree's leaves. Later, pinkish, tube-like structures called aecia (Eek! More italicized words!) develop on branches and young fruit. In July and August, the infected leaves of the rosaceous host and the aecia release their rust-colored spores into the air. These spores return to the cypress host to begin the cycle all over again. In most cases, the rust fungus will survive and grow on the cypress host for nearly a year before any visible symptoms appear.
Due to the popularity of rosaceous and cypress species, it seems that rusts should be rampant in the Midwest. Thanks to judicious plant breeding, though, most modern cultivars are resistant to the fungi. Nevertheless, in susceptible hosts, dieback and decline can result from continued infection.
Fortunately, even if you have a susceptible juniper planted next to a susceptible hawthorn tree, a rust infection can be treated. Just call your ATCE arborist.
For more information about Gymnosporangeum rust (you can just call it rust — we'll understand what you are talking about), contact your ATCE arborist by telephoning 847.729.1963.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| © 2007 Jayson DeGeeter |
|
|
With the arrival of colder temperatures, there seems to be less discussion about the presence of EAB in Illinois. That certainly doesn't mean the borers aren't still wreaking havoc — we just can't see them.
The adults that we saw flying around last summer have since died, leaving their larvae behind to continue the dirty work. During the fall, the larvae were busy chewing zigzag patterns through the cambium layers of countless ash trees. Now, the larvae are resting up before they pupate in early April and eventually emerge as adults in late-May.
Although the borers are out of site, they are not out of the minds of state and national regulation agencies. These organizations have been busy establishing quarantine zones, developing policies, and searching for new infestations. Here's an update on the pest's progress:
November 9, 2006: In response to the EAB infestations discovered in Wilmette, Evanston, and Winnetka, the Illinois Department of Agriculture established an EAB quarantine zone in Cook County. The quarantine zone is bordered on the north by Lake Cook Road, on the east by Lake Michigan, on the south by the northern boundary of the Chicago city limits (roughly Touhy Ave.), and on the west by I-294.
December 1, 2006: The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service made a few alterations to their EAB quarantine zones. Previously, the national EAB quarantine was limited to the lower peninsula of Michigan. Now, the national quarantine has been significantly increased to include the entire states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the zone.
December 2006: New EAB infestations were discovered in Kane County — nine miles from the site where EAB was first confirmed in June 2006 — through the aide of the "detection tree" survey program, spearheaded by The Morton Arboretum. Detection Trees are one of several means of detecting EAB infestations. Other methods include bark peel surveys and traps, along with help from the general public during the borer's fly season (May through July).
January 12, 2007: The Illinois Department of Agriculture expanded the EAB quarantine zone to include all of Kane County. The expansion is a result of EAB discoveries in Hampshire, Elgin, Plato, and Blackberry Townships.
For More Information
Visit the Autumn Tree Care Experts web site: www.autumntree.com/eab
Additional information — including details regarding quarantine zones and eradication efforts — is available at www.emeraldashborer.info, or by telephoning the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Hotline: 800.641.3934
ATCE EVENTS
Many of our clients assume that we at ATCE take a break during the colder months. That would be nice. Actually, we are just as busy during winter's chill as we are during summer's balm. Apart from tending to trees throughout Chicagoland, various community projects keep us jumping...which keeps us warm. We love that!
Educational Programs
December 1: Arborist Paul Blome and Crew Leader Jose Lopez served as instructors at the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) Pruning Training Seminar. While there, they helped to educate ILCA member landscapers, foremen, and field staff about the finer points of tree pruning.
January 22: Vice President Dan Klindera and Arborist Paul Blome met with the members of the Garden Clubs of Illinois Judges' Council to discus the impact of the Emerald Ash Borer on ash trees in Illinois and beyond.
February 13: Arborist Stan Holat served as a representative of the Illinois Arborist Association (IAA) at the Western Illinois University Career Fair.
February 22: Ross Hassinger participated in the Oregon High School Career Fair in Oregon, Wisc., to discuss career opportunities in the green industry.
Special Events
February 20: Autumn Tree Care Experts hosted our 9th annual seminar for green industry professionals. This year's seminar featured presentations from ATCE Arborist Paul Blome (EAB and cicada pathology); Mark Cinnamon, Illinois Department of Agriculture (EAB regulation update); and Dr. Christopher Luley, Urban Forestry, LLC (Wood Decay Fungi and Advanced Tree Health). Approximately 200 green industry professionals gathered at the Chicago Botanic Garden for the event.
Volunteer Projects
January 16–17: Autumn Tree Care Experts donated two days of pruning services to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Crew members Jose Ramirez, Antonio Tellez, and Alfredo Gonzalez demonstrated their arboricultural skill while pruning trees located on the west side of the Garden's grounds.
February 13: Arboricultural Services Manager John Kahon and ATCE field technicians assisted with the Chicago Botanic Garden's pest monitoring programs. As in 2005 and 2006, the group's efforts focused on hunting for evidence of gypsy moth egg-masses in the McDonald Woods
Upcoming Events
March 25: Its as if they didn't learn their lesson last year: a few members of the ATCE family plan to run in the 28th annual Shamrock Shuffle in Grant Park once again. We're not too worried about Arborist Ross Hassinger or Administrative Representative Eric Smies; it's Vice President Dan Klindera's intention to run that concerns us. Best of luck, guys!
April 28: Our arborists will celebrate our favorite day of the year: Arbor Day! Join us at the community celebrations in Lindenhurst and Park Ridge, where our arborists will host "Ask an Arborist" booths.
April 28: Members of the ATCE family, led by Administration Director Jackie Jasperson, will participate in the American Brain Tumor Association's 2nd Annual 5K Run along Chicago's lakefront.
May 12 and 19: ATCE arborists will host two guided garden walks at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The walks are will begin from the Visitor Center at 1:00 p.m. Join us as we survey the Garden's most stately arboricultural specimens while surrounded by bowers of spring blossoms.
May 19–20: It will be a busy weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden! Don't miss the annual "Bloomin' Sale," the seasonal opening of the Bonsai display, the Children's Festival in the Japanese Garden, and the Midwest Bonsai Society's Spring Show & Sale. Simultaneously, ATCE will host an Ask An Arborist booth in the Garden, where you can get the answers to your arboricultural conundrums.
If you or someone you know would like an arborist to speak, sing, or dance at your next gathering, don't hesitate to ask: call us at 847.729.1963 or send an email to welovetrees@autumntree.com.
RECIPE BOX: Garlic Roasted Potato Skins
Ingredients:
3 lb russet (baking) potatoes (6 to 8 medium), washed
1 small head garlic (2 inches in diameter)
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350ƒF. Prick each potato once or twice with a fork. Cut off and discard the top 1/4 of garlic head, then wrap the garlic tightly in foil. Bake garlic and potatoes on the same rack in lower 1/3 of oven until potatoes are tender (50 min. to 1 hr.). Remove potatoes from the oven and allow them to cool (15 min.). Continue to bake garlic until tender (15 min. more), then cool in foil.
Cut potatoes into wedges. Scoop out potato flesh to leave 1/4-inch-thick potato skins. Increase oven temperature to 425°F.
Squeeze garlic into a small bowl (discard garlic skins). Using a fork, mash garlic to a paste with butter, salt, and pepper. Spread garlic paste on potato skins, then roast skins in a large shallow baking pan until golden and crisp (20 to 25 minutes).
Serve potato skins with your favorite accompaniment: spinach dip, sour cream and chives, etc.
Makes 8 servings.
RESEARCH DEPARTMENT:
Gypsy Moth Silk?
Did you know that in 1869 the gypsy moth made its way to the United States (suburban Boston to be precise) from France in the hands of artist and entrepreneur, E. L. Trouvelot? His intention was to cross the moth with a silkworm in an effort to dominate the textile industry. Unfortunately, the moth escaped and has been on a Napoleonic conquest of the Eastern Deciduous Forest ever since.
Thanks a lot Monsieur Trouvelot!
(Source: USDA Forest Service, www.fs.fed.us)
| |
|
|
