Fall 2005 (View as a pdf with photos)
James D. Walters, Jr.
Piedmont Regional Urban Forester
WHY ARE THE TREES DYING?
After a wet spring and early summer, September has been rainless and trees seem to be dying everywhere. Oaks, hickories, pines, and dogwoods have been turning brown almost overnight. A complex of factors is involved, but basically, the trees have just run out of food. After four years of drought, the energy reserves of most trees are at a low level. With little water, trees are unable to carry out enough photosynthesis to meet their energy needs, and must use stored carbohydrates—and there’s just not much there to use. The stress of high temperatures and low soil moisture is more than some trees can bear, and they just shut down their processes and die.
For ornamental trees turning brown, watering may help. Remember, a large tree uses a tremendous amount of water on a hot day, so irrigate generously and keep a check on soil moisture within the critical root zone. Turfgrass is a serious competitor for soil moisture, so converting grass to mulch beneath trees will help to reduce moisture stress.
APPLES FOR URBAN AND WILDLIFE USE
Apples are one of the most beautiful flowering trees in the spring. While crabapples are probably a better choice for a street or park setting, apples can make a really nice yard tree with the bonus of the edible fruit in the later summer or fall. In the Piedmont of South Carolina, apples grow well but are affected by the cedar-apple rust disease and other fungi. A spray schedule can help insure quality fruit; the Clemson Extension Service can supply literature with recom-mended fungicides and cultural practices.
One approach to growing apples is to plant heirloom varieties. Some of these varieties are very susceptible to diseases, while others are quite tough. A good place to find information on old apple varieties is Big Horse Creek Farm in North Carolina. Their web site lists dozens of old varieties with their characteristics. They sell grafted trees on special order, at reasonable prices. Go to www.bighorsecreekfarm.com to check them out, and to find other links to apple culture.
CHESTNUT OAK, OR SWAMP CHESTNUT OAK?
South Carolina is blessed to have two species of chestnut oak. These beautiful trees have stout architecture, beautiful summer foliage, and large, sweet acorns relished by deer and many other species of wildlife. Both species are excellent choices for urban settings, wherever there is room for a large tree.
At first glance, the two species of chestnut oak are difficult to tell apart. The leaves and twigs are almost identical, but there are some clues that make it easy to identify the species. The chestnut oak (Quercus montana, formerly Q. prinus ) is a tree of the upper Piedmont and mountains. It is primarily found on upland sites, although it will do well on well-drained bottomlands. The swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii ) is typically found in creek bottoms in the lower Piedmont and coastal plain on sites that may be inundated on occasion. The ranges of the two overlap slightly in the mid-Piedmont.
The leaves and bark provide additional clues to identify the two species. On mature trees, the bark of the chestnut oak is dark and deeply furrowed. The swamp chestnut oak, on the other hand, has bark much like the white oak: light gray and scaly. The leaves of the two trees are difficult to distinguish at a glance, but the swamp chestnut oak tends to be fuzzy on the underside, and the petiole of the leaf is definitely downy. The chestnut oak is only slightly fuzzy under the leaf, and the petiole is smooth and a bit longer than the swamp species.
The acorns of the two oaks are similar, but the cups of the acorns differ. The chestnut oak acorn cups have tight scales; the swamp species has scales that are fused only at the base and are somewhat hairy.
What difference does this all make? Not much, really. Both species are utilized for the same products as white oak, and both provide valuable mast for wildlife. Both trees also make excellent urban trees on open sites without obstructions. The chestnut oak would probably be a better choice for dry, rocky sites and ridges. The swamp chestnut oak would likely be better for poorly drained sites or poorly aerated soils. Either would do well on rich, well-aerated soils.
CHAIN SAW SAFETY COURSE
The South Carolina Transportation Technology Transfer Service and Clemson University are offering three, one-day workshops on chain saw safety. The workshops will be held on Tuesday, November 8 at the Embassy Suites Convention Center in North Charleston; on Wednesday, November 9 at the Columbia Conference Center; and on Thursday, November 10 at the Embassy Suites on Verdae Blvd. (just off US 276) in Greenville.
The Course Instructor will be Tim Ard, President of Forest Applications Training, Inc. Tim is a nationally known chain saw instructor, who has worked in the outdoor power industry for over 26 years. The course will include demonstrations, and attendees are asked to bring a hard hat, vest, safety shoes, and hearing protection.
The registration fee for this workshop is $50.00, but all South Carolina city, county, or state employees receive a LTAP scholarship registration fee of $25.00. The fee includes course materials, break refreshments, and the noon luncheon. Register by the Internet at www.ces.clemson.edu/3ts.
AN EVENING WITH DR. MICHAEL DIRR
Dr. Michael Dirr, author of the widely used Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, will be at Lander University on November 16. Dr. Dirr will be touring the campus that afternoon as a consultant to make recommendations for the campus arboretum (a project begun a couple of years ago through an Urban and Community Forestry grant). At 7 pm, Dr. Dirr will present a talk on “The Legacy of Noble Trees.” This lecture will be open to the public, and will be followed by a reception.
Pre-registration is requested. Register by contacting Jimmy Walters by e-mail at jwcc4853@simplepc.net, or by cell phone at (864) 910-0139. The presentation will be in LC300, Carnell Learning Center, on the Lander campus. One hour of continuing education credit will be awarded for Registered Foresters and Certified Arborists.
SPARTANBURG TECH TREE CARE SEMINAR, NOVEMBER 15
This year’s tree care seminar at Spartanburg Technical College will focus on tree pests, to include common insect and disease pests of ornamental and shade trees as well as new, exotic pests like Sudden Oak Death and the Emerald Ash Borer. Presenters will include Dr. Kim Coder from the University of Georgia; Dr. Steve Jeffers from Clemson; Don Booth from Bartlett Tree Labs; and Andy Boone, Laurie Reid, and Jimmy Walters from the SC Forestry Commission. Registration forms will be mailed to Registered Foresters, Certified Arborists, SC Urban & Community Forestry Council members and green industry businesses soon.
Continuing education credits (5.0 hours) will be available for Registered Foresters, Certified Arborists, and Pesticide Applicators.
ANNUAL SCUCFC CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 14 IN COLUMBIA
The annual conference of the South Carolina Urban and Community Forestry Council will take place on Friday, October 14, at the University of South Carolina’s West Quad. The conference theme is “Building Green Communities,” and presentations will focus on environmentally responsible development. Topics will cover site planning for greenspace conservation, the role of urban forestry in stormwater management, permeable surfaces and rooting media, tree protection practices, and landscape strategies. Continuing education credits will be awarded for Registered Foresters (5.0 hours) and Certified Arborists (5.25 hours).
Registration for the conference is $ 65.00 for Council members before October 1. A registration form can be downloaded from the Council’s web site, www.scurbanforestry.org. Rooms are available at the Columbia Marriott, within walking distance of the campus, at the special rate of $109. Contact the Marriott at 1-803-771-7000 to make reservations.
The Southern Chapter, ISA will sponsor a Certified Arborist exam on Thursday before the Friday conference. For more information on the exam, contact the Southern Chapter office at 888-339-8733.
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