2014 Arbor Month celebration encourages nature play

A decline in nature play has prompted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to put this year’s Arbor Month (May) focus on encouraging kids to climb trees and play with nature in their back yards and within the community.

The 2014 state Arbor Month celebration on Sat., May 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at Oak Hill Park in St. Louis Park, will give families a chance to play with nature, while watching some of the best tree climbers in the state compete at the Minnesota Tree Climbing Championship.

Schedule of events
-- 9 a.m. -- Ceremony with state dignitaries.
-- 9:30 a.m. -- Ceremonial tree planting.
--10 a.m. -- Musical performance by Kidtime with Rachel.
--10 a.m.–noon -- Nature play activities, exhibits and presentations.
-- 8 a.m.–5 p.m. -- Minnesota State Tree Climbing Championships.

According to the Children & Nature Network and the Commission on Education and Communication, 88 percent of children reported using a computer almost every day, while only 11 percent of children reported visiting a local park or natural area almost every day. In some cases, the use of electronic media has disconnected children and their parents from nature.

Nature play is easy, affordable and safe. Frequent, unstructured play in diverse natural settings promotes overall physical and emotional health, cognitive development, creativity, physical ability and coordination, the Green Hearts Institute for Nature in Childhood reports. It also reduces stress and forms the foundation for responsible environmental behavior.

For more information, visit www.mndnr.gov/arbormonth.

DNR urges homeowners to resist pruning evergreens with red needles

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds homeowners to wait to prune evergreen tree branches that have brown or red needles.

“This year evergreen trees in Minnesota had a long, hard winter with plenty of opportunity for injury,” said Val Cervenka, DNR forest health program coordinator. “Chances are your trees are alive and healthy even though they have damaged needles.”

Cervenka recommends waiting till late spring after the tree has put on new growth to decide if pruning is needed.

Moisture loss from drying winter winds, intense winter sunshine and low humidity causes damage to evergreen needles. Therefore, the south and southwest sides of evergreens show more winter damage than other parts of the tree. Trees that are protected by snow, shade or less wind show little to no signs of damage.

Evergreen needles are also damaged when deicing salts are splashed on the tree. Brown and red needles are especially noticeable on pines and spruces planted along highways.

To help prevent winter injury, keep evergreens properly watered throughout the growing season until the ground freezes. Choose tree species that are adapted to local growing and winter conditions. Avoid planting white and red pines, balsam fir and white spruce within 150 feet of a roadway to prevent salt damage.

Consider planting yews and arborvitae on the north and northeast sides of buildings, out of exposure to sun and wind. Wrapping evergreen trees in burlap or other materials in late fall can also help prevent moisture loss from the needles.

For more information on tree care and forest health, visit www.mndnr.gov/treecare/forest_health.

2014 Arbor Month Celebration encourages nature play

A decline in nature play has prompted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to put this year’s Arbor Month (May) focus on encouraging kids to climb trees and play with nature in their back yards and within the community.

The 2014 State Arbor Month Celebration will be 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 17, at Oak Hill Park in St. Louis Park. The event will give families a chance to play with nature, while watching some of the best tree climbers in the state compete at the Minnesota Tree Climbing Championship.

According to the Children & Nature Network and the Commission on Education and Communication, 88 percent of children reported using a computer almost every day, while only 11 percent of children reported visiting a local park or natural area almost every day. In some cases, the use of electronic media has disconnected children and their parents from nature.

Nature play is easy, affordable and safe. Frequent, unstructured play in diverse natural settings promotes overall physical and emotional health, cognitive development, creativity, physical ability and coordination, the Green Hearts Institute for Nature in Childhood reports. It also reduces stress and forms the foundation for responsible environmental behavior.

“Outdoor playtime can easily be doubled with a little planning and a commitment by parents to encourage their kids to climb trees, dig holes in dirt and sand, play in the leaves, plant a garden, build forts, run through tall grass and play with water,” said Jennifer Teegarden, DNR forestry outreach specialist.

State Arbor Month Celebration – May 17
9 a.m. --- State Arbor Month ceremony with state dignitaries.
9:30 a.m. -- Ceremonial tree planting.
10 a.m. -- Musical performance by Kidtime with Rachel.
10 a.m.–noon -- Nature play activities, exhibits and presentations.
8 a.m.–5 p.m. -- Minnesota State Tree Climbing Championships.

For more information, visit www.mndnr.gov/arbormonth. 

NDSU Horticulture Research Field Day Set for Aug. 20

If you are interested in learning more about woody landscape plants, tree diseases and small-fruit research, plan to attend the North Dakota State University Horticulture Research Field Day.

The tour begins at 5 p.m. at the NDSU Horticulture Research Farm and Dale E. Herman Research Arboretum near Absaraka. Beverages and cookies will be provided.

The tour will include NDSU tree and shrub selections, ongoing research, common and exotic species, and the dwarf conifer collection. Research trials on Juneberries and grapes will be featured. Information on hybrid poplar diseases, emerald ash borer and pine/spruce diseases also will be presented.

The 80-acre farm includes the 35-acre Dale E. Herman Research Arboretum, which has the largest collection of woody plants in the northern Plains, plus additional plot research areas.

Todd West, NDSU associate professor in woody plant selection and introduction research; Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, NDSU professor in high-value crop research; and Jared LeBoldus, NDSU assistant professor in tree pathology research, will do presentations on their research activities.

Joseph Zeleznik, NDSU Extension Service forester, and Aaron Bergdahl, North Dakota Forest Service forest health specialist, will provide updates on issues relating to North Dakota's woody plants.

Directions to the NDSU Horticulture Research Farm:

>From the east/west: Take Interstate 94 and turn north at Wheatland exit 324. Follow the pavement to the north. The road curves to the west shortly after passing through Wheatland. Turn north (right) on Cass County Road 5 (paved road). At the Absaraka corner, the road changes to gravel at a slight curve. Go north about three-fourths of a mile (sign posted). Turn east (right) on a field road and proceed one-half mile to the Horticulture Research Farm, which is bordered by trees.

>From the north: Take Interstate 29 south to Argusville exit 79. Go west approximately 20 miles on Cass County Road 4 (paved). Turn south on County Road 5 (gravel, sign posted) for approximately four miles. Turn east (left) prior to the Absaraka corner (sign posted) and proceed one-half mile to the Horticulture Research Farm, which is bordered by trees.

Minnesotans encouraged to observe Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week

St. Paul, Minn. – Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed this week Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week. The designation is part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the destructive nature of emerald ash borer (EAB) and to share with Minnesotans the “three Ps of EAB” – prepare, protect, and plant.

During EAB Awareness Week, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is urging residents and cities to prepare for EAB by knowing the signs and symptoms, and being ready to act if their trees become infested. Management options for EAB-infested trees include removal, treatment, or taking no action. If a property owner choses to take no action for an EAB-infested tree, it should be noted that local governments often require removal of trees deemed hazardous.

MDA is also advising residents to protect areas not yet infested with emerald ash borer by not moving firewood as EAB can be transported from one location to another via firewood. Residents are also asked to be aware of the restrictions associated with the EAB quarantines now in place for Hennepin, Ramsey and Winona Counties. Precautionary insecticide treatments are an option to protect at-risk ash trees, but MDA recommends that consumers only treat trees within 15 miles of a known infestation.

Finally, MDA is advising residents to react to EAB and other invasive tree pests by planting a variety of native trees.

EAB has been found in four counties in Minnesota: Hennepin, Houston, Ramsey and Winona counties. Winona County is partnering with MDA to host EAB tours at Great River Bluff State Park. The tours will take place on Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. and again at 12:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, May 21 at 10:00 a.m.

MDA will place signs around ash trees on the Capitol grounds to help raise awareness and help others identify which trees are ash trees and therefore susceptible to EAB.

“With nearly one billion ash trees in Minnesota, EAB is a major threat to our tourism and lumber industries, our natural landscapes and our recreational areas,” says MDA Plant Protection Division Director Geir Friisoe. “It’s important for property owners to know what management options are available, and be prepared to act when EAB attacks their trees.”  

For more details on EAB, visit MDA’s website at www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/eab.aspx. Or contact us at arrest.the.pest@state.mn.us.

MDA advises consumers to be aware when buying landscaping plants

St. Paul, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding consumers to check viability and cold hardiness before purchasing trees, shrubs and other plants for landscaping. Last summer, Minnesota state statute made it even easier for consumers to determine if a tree, shrub or other plant will successfully grow in Minnesota.

MDA defined "nonhardy" as a plant that cannot be expected to survive or reliably produce flowers and fruit in average minimum winter temperatures at the growing site. By law, all nursery stock not cold hardy for Minnesota must be labeled "nonhardy."

Already this spring, MDA nursery inspectors have found dead and damaged packaged plants, and some stores selling plants in poor condition. They have also found stores carrying plants that are mislabeled for Minnesota’s cold hardiness zones. Minnesota is generally zone 3 in the northern half of the state and zone 4 in the south.

Plants not meant for Minnesota’s climate are unlikely to thrive here, unless extra protection is provided. Fruit trees that are not hardy may survive but will not produce fruit as flower buds are killed by cold temperature.

“Consumers are protected from mislabeled or unhealthy plants by Minnesota laws we enforce,” said Geir Friisoe, MDA’s Plant Protection Division Director. “Proper care of plants displayed for sale is critical to survival. No green thumb can save a plant that has been significantly damaged in its early life stages.”

To ensure consumers are purchasing viable and hardy nursery plants, the MDA offers the following advice:

· Plan ahead and make sure the plants you select are hardy for the area where they will be planted.

· Plants in plastic bags should be kept dormant. Once growth begins these plants should be planted or potted immediately. Check for soft or mushy roots which could indicate rot.

· Dormant plants can be planted as soon as the ground has thawed. However, newly planted stock can be damaged by freezing and frost. It may be better to wait until potted plants are available instead of buying packaged plants when it may be too early to plant.

Consumers can find a Minnesota plant hardiness list and a map of Minnesota hardiness zones at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/licensing/licensetypes/nurseryprogram.aspx.

DNR urges homeowners to resist pruning or removing conifers with red needles until late spring

Conifers growing in Minnesota have had a long, hard winter with plenty of opportunities for winter injury, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). By now, many people have noticed conifers full of brown and red needles, especially along highways. People might have seen the conifers in their yards, or along buildings and driveways, are turning red or brown.

In spite of their appearance, people should not prune or remove the discolored trees. Chances are good that the trees are alive and healthy beneath their mask of red needles. Buds were well protected during the winter and will grow once spring arrives, said Jana Albers, DNR forest health specialist.

The most evident damage, caused by de-icing salts, occurred on white pines growing along highways. This salty water settles on the pines and is absorbed into individual needles, killing them back starting at the tips. Other damage to conifers can be caused by winter drying, or needle dehydration.

”Throughout the winter, each passing car sends up clouds of salty water,” Albers said. “Winter injury is also caused by strong, dry winds, many days of bright sunshine.” and low relative humidity that dries the needles

Some trees or groups of trees seem to get winter injury every year. It is likely the trees are stressed due to poor site conditions.

Native tree populations are adapted to their location. Moving seeds or seedlings 100 miles north or south of their site of origin can result in damage due to winter injury.

Prevention techniques:

• When selecting trees to plant, choose species that are adapted to local growing conditions.
• Avoid planting white and red pines, balsam fir and white spruce within 150 feet of a highway to prevent salt damage.
• Avoid planting yew and arbor vitae on south or southwest sides of buildings or in sunny and windy locations.
• Erect temporary barriers around conifers susceptible to winter burn. They can be made of plywood, burlap, tar paper or plastics.
• Just after the snow melts and prior to bud break, rinse de-icing salts off both conifers and hardwoods.
• Reduce or eliminate the use of de-icing salts.
• Replace trees that have severe winter injury year after year. They are not in the right location and will only decline due to needle and twig loss over a period of many years.
• Keep conifers properly watered throughout the growing season and fall. Decrease the watering slightly in September to encourage hardening off. Water thoroughly in October until freeze-up.

For more information on tree care and forest health, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/treecare/forest_health

MDA confirms two new emerald ash borer infestations in southeastern Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) today confirmed new emerald ash borer (EAB) infestations in Winona County and Houston County. In each case, the infestation was discovered after field staff found a single adult beetle on a purple monitoring trap.

The Winona County infestation is in Great River Bluffs State Park, 17 miles southeast of the city of Winona. It is the first EAB infestation found in Winona County. The Houston County detection is in Veterans Park in La Crescent, and is the second detection in Houston County. The two new infestations are about 8 miles apart.

These discoveries are the latest in a series of EAB infestations discovered in Minnesota since May 2009, joining sites in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Falcon Heights, Shoreview, and extreme southeastern Houston County.

MDA scientists do not know how EAB arrived at the new sites, but they will survey the areas and work with federal, state and local partners to determine the scope of the infestations. Meanwhile, MDA has added Winona County to the list of Minnesota counties under EAB quarantine. This quarantine, which already covers Hennepin, Ramsey and Houston counties, bars people from moving out of the affected county any items potentially infested with EAB. Items subject to the quarantine include firewood, live ash trees, ash limbs and branches, and untreated ash lumber. A full description can be found online at www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/eab/eabquarantine.aspx.
EAB is one of America’s most destructive tree pests. Its larvae kill ash trees by tunneling into the wood and feeding on the tree’s nutrients. Since its accidental introduction into North America, EAB has killed tens of millions of ash trees in 15 states. The metallic-green adult beetles are a half-inch long, and are active from May to September. Infestation signs include one-eighth inch, D-shaped exit holes in ash tree bark and winding tunnels under the bark. The biggest risk of spreading EAB comes from people unknowingly moving firewood or other ash products harboring larvae. There are three easy steps Minnesotans can take to keep EAB from spreading:
1. Don’t transport firewood. Buy firewood locally from approved vendors, and burn it where you buy it;
2. Be aware of the quarantine restrictions. If you live in a quarantined county, be aware of the restrictions on movement of products such as ash trees, wood chips, and firewood. Details can be found online at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/eab/quarantinefaq.aspx; and,
3. Watch your ash trees for infestation. If you think your ash tree is infested, go to www.mda.state.mn.us and use the “Do I Have Emerald Ash Borer?” checklist or call MDA’s Arrest the Pest Hotline (888-545-6684) to report concerns.

Emerald Ash Borer training at UMC

The Emerald Ash Borer training is scheduled in Crookston from 6 - 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 25 and from 8:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 in Kiehle 116. If you are an involved citizen, A believer in volunteerism, Someone who likes to speak to your neighbors, and A lover of trees. Then this is for you!

Be a part of Minnesota’s one-of-a-kind program to prepare communities for the Emerald Ash Borer. You may not be able to stop the borer, but you can help prevent catastrophic losses to your leafy communities.

The University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has funded a program that helps communities get the best information for identifying and combating the nasty borer as well as replanting the streets and parks with a more diverse palette of trees. However, we can’t do it without you!

We are looking for a few good volunteers that will become EAB-Community Outreach Volunteers. You will be the source of information for your community, the information that will help your town or county make the best decisions about managing the pest, recovering from the damage it causes, and planting a more diverse and healthy community forest for the future.

You will receive training on the use of a standardized Power Point program on emerald ash borer identification, management and recovery. This training is 100% funded by the agency partners…we ask nothing more than your willingness to volunteer and help your community by providing the best, unbiased, research-based information.

The details:
1. Training will consist of 8.5 hours of class activities and exercises.

2. Small classes: 6-12 people.

3. You will be provided with a compact disk of the standardized Power Point program on emerald ash borer identification, management and recovery for your use.

4. You will receive ongoing support from the community preparedness team at the University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Resources and Extension.

5. Training will be conducted in March and April in a community near you.

6. Your role will be to voluntarily present the information to any group in your community that is looking for the best, University research-based information: county fairs, school programs, Arbor Day programs, city councils. Yours will be the voice of accurate information.

For more information: please contact Deborah Zak, Campus Regional Director, University of Minnesota Extension, Extension Regional Office, Crookston. Call 1-888-241-0781 or e-mail, dzak@umn.edu.

MDA implements exterior quarantine to protect state’s walnut trees from deadly disease

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson this week moved to protect the state’s 6 million eastern black walnut trees and the state’s walnut timber producers by issuing a temporary exterior quarantine restricting the import of walnut trees and certain related products into Minnesota from areas known to be infested with Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD).

TCD is caused by a fungus carried by a tree pest called the walnut twig beetle. The beetle attacks the walnut tree, introducing the fungus while it tunnels under the bark. This results in small cankers, or dead areas, under the bark. As more beetles attack the tree, these cankers grow together and cut off the tree’s circulation. This ultimately kills the tree. To date, TCD has been found in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Utah. The MDA quarantine restricts movement of products potentially harboring TCD from those states and from other potentially infested areas into Minnesota.

The list of walnut products covered by the quarantine includes live walnut trees, walnut logs, walnut lumber, walnut firewood, walnut nursery stock, wood chips and mulch made from walnut wood, walnut branches and roots, and packaging materials made from walnut wood. The quarantine does not apply to walnut nuts, nutmeat, walnut hulls, finished products made from walnut wood without bark, or processed lumber that is 100 percent bark-free, and kiln-dried with square edges.

“By taking this action, we will help protect a valuable part of our economy and our environment from needless damage,” Commissioner Frederickson said. “This targeted quarantine will help prevent the loss of millions of trees and avoid damage to a valuable segment of our state’s forestry industry.”

The black walnut tree is an important tree for Minnesota’s environment and economy. The tree is a natural part of the southeastern Minnesota landscape, and it is highly valued for its wood. Every year, Minnesota harvests up to 2 million board feet of black walnut for use in products such as furniture and musical instruments.

MDA has the statutory authority to issue quarantines excluding harmful plant pests. The TCD quarantine was implemented with input from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service. MDA will seek public comment prior to replacing this temporary quarantine with a formal quarantine. That formal quarantine may contain additional or different conditions based on information offered by the public. More information about TCD and the quarantine can be found on MDA’s website at www.mda.state.mn.us.