My Minnesota Woods - Discussion Board

Worried About A Big Old Oak

David Alkire — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:07:52 GMT

We are wondering what is going on at the base of the beautiful old oak next to our house--and worried about whether it is a safety issue. We have two kids sleeping in rooms on the side of the house near this tree.

We don't think that the canopy is as full as it was 3 years ago when we moved in, but we can't be sure of that. We feed the trees every year. Obviously the pipe doesn't help the poor tree--I don't know why someone would have thought that was a good idea.

Any ideas?

David

Black Walnut Tree

Kim Holladay — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:07:57 GMT

We have a 40-50 foot Black Walnut Tree that the wind has put at about a 60 degree angle. Can this tree be saved? The tree look very health. Thanks.

Value of black walnut planting

Nate — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:03:37 GMT

If I were to purchase a home where I had anywhere from 5 - 10 acres of land and bought black walnut saplings and allowed them to grow anywhere from 20- 30 years how much could those trees be worth in the end?

-Nate

Dead Spruce

Neal Kingsley — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:30:21 GMT

My neighbors had large (about 9 in dbh) spruce which mysteriously died over the winter. Last fall it looked fine with no sign of insect or disease damage. This spring instead of greening up it just turned brown and was dead. When they cut it down, I noticed that there was no pitch on the stump. The tree almost looked like it had been kiln dried. The tree was located on a lawn about 20 feet from a driveway and the street. However, there was no evidence of salt damage and, in fact, very little if any salt is used since this is a residential street, actually a cul de sac. Any idea what may have killed the tree? Neal Kingsley

Scotch pine

Donald Janes — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:28:35 GMT

How is it best to control the Scotch pine that keeps coming into my young red pine planting from my neighbor's grove of Scotch pine?

Selling Ash in Decline

Ron — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:19:26 GMT

Are any loggers in Central MN willing to thin dying ash alone from wooded acres? Last I heard, prices for most species were down from a number of years ago. If I wait much longer, the ash logs will be firewood.

Anthracnose

Angela — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:55:13 GMT

Has anyone been seeing Anthracnose this spring/summer? We've been seeing signs in Rice County and are interested knowing if anyone else is noticing an outbreak.

Protecting hardwood seedlings from rabbits

Tom Theis — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:44:31 GMT

Does anyone know of a way to prevent Rabbits from eating the small
hardwood seedlings over the winter.

I have tried some professional Deer/Rabbit repellent that was applied directly to the seedlings. Only approx. 25% of the hardwood seedlings survived. The area is big to even think about fencing around it. One winter around a smaller area I put a plastic/vinyl snow fence around them and the rabbits ate through the plastic and then ate the hardwood seedlings. I tried live traps to catch them and take them some where else. No luck/no catch at all. I have lost hundreds of seedlings for about 5 years is a row.

I need a good truthful, if possible a proven solution to get rid of rabbits.
Thanks
Tom

Sawfly damage on pines

Jeff Ledermann — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:19:48 GMT

Have you ever heard of enough damage by European Pine Sawfly, Neodiprion sertifer, that it actually results in enough damage to wipe out whole pine populations? The larvae have nearly killed a small red pine that I have in my yard over the last couple of years (despite my application of insecticidal soap - at least this year I got them before they did much damage). They've also moved to my Mugo Pine. That lead me to investigate my neighbors' trees and I've found them on every scotch, mugo and red pine I've looked at. I'm concerned for one of my neighbors who's property perimiter is filled with 20-year-old red pines (maybe 20 trees) and a couple are looking very bad. Probably of even more concern is the school forest at OH Anderson Elementary. I haven't had a chance to check the trees there, but it is at the end of my street and has probably 3-5 solid acres of red pines that are 40-50 years old. I certainly don't want any massive chemical spraying in my neighborhood, but I would hate to see all these trees die.

Any suggestions?

SFIA program changes

Leland — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:44:56 GMT

Were there any changes to the SFIA program that came out of the last legislative session other than raising the minimum payment?

ground cover and tree selection

Jeremy — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:32:27 GMT

I have 3.5 acres south of Stillwater in Washington county, about 2.5 acres are still wooded, primarily with older (50yo +) box elder and silver maple with some green ash. The soil is about 12-18" of black dirt on top of sand and drains well.

My biggest problem right now is burdock control, I've started mowing it down with my bobcat. I'm looking for advice on what types of ground cover I could start planting that will compete with the burdock?

I also need to start replacing the box elders, what types of shade trees would make a hardier replacements (oaks, hard maple, etc...)?

Thanks

MN shrub ID

John O'Reilly — Fri, 23 May 2008 23:12:30 GMT

There are no dumb questions, right?

Well, I do not have a good book for use in idenitfying brush in the woods.

Any suggestions?

John

Canker resistant butternut - pool order?

EJ — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:10:22 GMT

Hey. Badgersett Farms is selling canker-resistant butternut bare root stock. No guarantee of resistance, but it seems likely. Prices run from $7.50 to $12.50 for 4-0 stock.

Anyone in the Twin Cities area want to pool an order? If so, we can get the price down on the stock and also shipping.

I only want about 3 or 4, but if others want 10-12 we can get the price down to $7.50 each. Let me know ASAP if interested, we'd need to order yesterday. Either reply to this thread or email by clicking my name.
-eli

White spruce gall ID

Vince C. — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:49:45 GMT

This spruce tree problem was brought into the office this afternoon.  The problem was not seen last fall but the folks did say the tree looked droopy and they did fertilized the tree to try and help it. From the attached pictures can you id what the problem is and what to use to solve the problem?  

Vince

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Woodland weed identification help

Dennis M — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:42:18 GMT

I need help identifying these weeds. Can anyone tell me what they are?

These have been growing in a wooded area that I have cleared of the brush growing there. Had mature trees on the lot. Near the river however does not flood.

Thanks for taking a look at them. Dennis

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