In This Issue2 Crookston’s

CommunityForest

3 What’s WrongWith My Ash?

5 WinterProtection

7 ‘Tis theSeason...

8 Letters

8-9 STAC AwardApplication

10 STAC News

11 Potpourri

VOL. 2, NO. 4 • AUTUMN 1999

1Visit us on the Web at http://www.cnr.umn.edu/FR/extension/MNSTAC/MNSTACindex.htm

MnSTAC . . .25 Years Young!

TREE

TRUS

T

Veteran STACers JimHermann, Minneapolis Parkand Recreation Board(MPRB) and Dave DeVoto,former Director of Forestryfor MPRB. Dave is officiallyretired, though you’d neverknow it.

The Mystery Question:Where was Dave on October2, 1974, and who was withhim? (Look for the answer inyour January Advocate!)◆ ◆ ◆

Autumn

’99◆

The Minnesota ShadeTree AdvisoryCommittee’s

mission is to advanceMinnesota’s

commitment to thehealth, care and

future of all community forests.

GARY

JOHN

SON

Twenty-five yearsyoung and going strong!ThatÕs MnSTAC today.Members and friendscame together at theMinnesota HumanitiesCenter in St. Paul onSept 30 to reminisce,reflect on what MnSTAC has meant tothem and recall both the successes and thecurrent needs of urban forests.

A quarter of a century ago, many indi-viduals who would later become the core ofMnSTAC were quietly advocating for treesin their own ways. But particularly whenDutch elm disease continued to ravage thestateÕs shade trees, they recognized theneed for better communication and supportamong community Òtree people.Ó Today thegroup includes citizens-at-large and publicofficials, people from state and federalagencies, private businesses, municipalgovernments and educational institutions. . . all advocating for the health and wel-fare of community forests!

Your winter Advocate will feature some of MnSTACÕs founding members andmilestones in the groupÕs history. In themeantime, hereÕs a glimpse of a few of thefamiliar faces who were at the SilverAnniversary reunion!

Bonnie Lawrence, communityforest volunteer, St. Paul andTerri Goodfellow-Heyer, MNHorticulture Society.Bonnie Lawrence is one of thecitizen activists in the group.She says she started outplanting trees for fun withleftover seedlings from KirkBrown (Tree Trust) in 1991.That sparked her love fortrees, her affiliation withMnSTAC and her leadershiprole in numerous St. Paul innercity planting projects.◆ ◆ ◆

Autumn ’99 • ADVOCATE2

estled along the banks of the RedLake River about 25 miles east ofEast Grand Forks and 90 miles south

of the Canadian border, Crookston is in theheart of the Red River Valley. This city of 8,175takes pride in the appearance of its communi-ty, values trees as essential to that appearanceand invests time and resources to building andmaintaining its trees.

The Crookston urban forest is a greatexample of what can happen when city leaders,state agencies, the business community andcitizens share common goals, then work togeth-er to make them happen.

The quality community forestry programin place today got much of its early momentum

from disaster. Dutch elm dis-ease hit the city hard, wipingout many of the mature streetand shade trees at a rate of upto 300 a year during the heightof infection. (Today, about 57trees a year are affected andthe cityÕs stringent inspectionprogram is directed to continu-ally reducing that number.)

Coming to Crookston asDirector of Parks and Recre-ation, Ray EcklundÕs back-ground was with theMinneapolis Park Board.Ingrained with the beauty oftrees and familiar withresources to enhance commu-nity forests, Ecklund foundhimself among others with

Òtree vision.Ó People wanted tree-lined boule-vards and wooded parks (there are about 17acres of park land). They wanted to create agood first impression for the city, spruce up theentire community and beautify the downtownarea. They wanted healthy riverbanks. (Steepriver banks, vulnerable flats and flood-protec-tion levees add to the challenge.)

Today, the whole down-town area is a historic dis-trict. New decorative lightsand paver sidewalks havebeen installed. Where therewere once only four trees,120 line the boulevards.

There is good diversitynow: hackberry, green and black ash, ironwood,

silver maple, bur oak, aspen and others havebeen added. Four or five acres of city-grownseedlings provide some of the nursery stock forplanting. The six people in the street depart-ment (and sometimes city staff in other publicworks roles) routinely prune in winter. Beingin storm country, they are called on to clean upand maintain trees year-round.

The University of Minnesota, Crookstonalso places high value on community forests.The campus maintains its own high qualityforest and grounds system, which is a wonder-ful enhancement to the city. University profes-sionals also collaborate with city personnel forcommunity-wide benefit. Ray Ecklund citesgreat support for community projects from theMinnesota Departments of Natural Resourcesand Agriculture as well.

Passing the heritage of tree appreciationto CrookstonÕs youth is important. Students inthe third and fourth grades are involved inextensive Arbor Day activities, where city andschool officials, business people and citizensactively participate with the young people intree-related projects and programs.

Since 1973, Ray has been City Administra-tor. Although his position takes him in manydirections, the Crookston community forestbenefits greatly from his parks backgroundand never-ending tree advocacy. He is stillinvolved in tree inspection and urban forestryplanning.

Crookston clearly supports a strong com-munity forest, looks with pride at what hasbeen created so far, planting over 200 newtrees each year on public land. In a unique col-laborative relationship, citizens who want trees on their boulevard can call the city andget on a list to receive trees. The city does theplanting, but the citizen takes care of the tree.The result is much more personal investmentand better care for boulevard trees.

Next time youÕre in northwesternMinnesota, take time for a visit to CrookstonÕs

community forest. ItÕsworth the trip.

NC

rook

ston COMMUNITY FOREST PROFILE

Crookston’s downtown-areacommunity foresthas grown fromfour trees to 120.◆ ◆ ◆

Healthy riverbanks are one ofCrookston’s community forestrygoals.◆ ◆ ◆

RAY

ECKL

UND

RAY

ECKL

UND

ADVOCATE • Autumn ’99 3

sh decline is the progressive loss of thehealth and vitality of ash trees. It is

common and can originate from many causes.Among the symptoms are stagheading, diebackand eventual death. Ash can be confusing towork with because of the large range of possi-ble problems. Many of the causes by them-selves do not lead to decline, but accumulatedinsult to the tree can trigger decline.

Transplant Habitat Ash does best in its natural habitat. For

example, the green ash is native to bottom-lands and flood plains. When we plant it in thehot, hard clay soils found in most urban envi-ronments, it is far from home.

Ash Anthracnose The most common cause of ash decline is

ash anthracnose, a fungal disease very com-mon in wet weather, especially in the spring.Symptoms include small purple spots, largeirregularly-shaped brown blotches, deformedleaves (that are often misdiagnosed as herbi-cide injury) and defoliation. Defoliation greatlydistresses tree owners, but itÕs not a long-termproblem and will not kill the tree. The tree willgenerally refoliate; however, repeated defolia-tion causes stress. The recommendation is toprovide for good plant health through culturalpractices such as mulching and watering,which minimizes the impact of anthracnose tothe tree. Fungicides are generally unnecessaryand often cost-prohibitive.

Ash Plant Bug Similar to tarnished plant bug, this pest

feeds by piercing the leaf and sucking plantsap. The result of this feeding is a noticeablylight yellow stippling, concentrated in randomareas of the leaf, and leaf deformation. Thedamage is usually only aesthetic, but feedingby the ash plant bug can contribute to treestress.

Ash Rust This fungal disease is a curiosity in some

areas of Minnesota and seldom threatens treehealth. It is not common and requires an alter-nate host, marsh grasses (Spartina species) soit is only found near wetland areas. Ash twigsand petioles swell with gall-like formations,

leaves become dis-torted and brightorange pustulesmay be seen oninfected plantparts.

Ash Borer While not com-

mon, the ash borercan cause severedamage and tree death by tunneling in the sap-wood of the tree.

Verticillium Wilt of Ash This soilborne fungus persists in the soil

indefinitely. The fungus infects through theroots and moves into the xylem of the vascularsystem, impairing the movement of water up thetree. Symptoms include an irregular chloroticpattern on the leaves, often developing into amarginal scorch pattern. However, marginalscorching or brown blotches may be the firstsymptom noticed. Wilting of foliage isgenerally absent. Defoliation often occurssuddenly and individual leaflets compos-ing the compound leaf fall independentlyof each other, often leaving the petiole onthe tree.

Nectria and Cytospora Canker Canker is a term used to refer to a

dead area of the bark and sapwood whichis usually surrounded by living tissues.Nectria and Cytospora cankers are causedby fungi that can only attack trees low invitality. The world is full of canker fungiwaiting for an opportunity to infect trees.When a tree is stressed, it is low on ener-gy and cannot combat the invasion of afungus like a healthy tree would. Healthytrees react to invading pathogens bymobilizing numerous defenses (this takesenergy) and compartmentalizing thepathogen (think of this as jailing or con-taining the Òbad guysÓ). Trees donÕt heal(like people do); they seal over the invaded areaas they continue to grow.

Symptoms of Nectria, Cytospora or othercankers start with a distinct color change in thebark. The discolored area dries out and becomes

A?????? WWhhaatt’’ss WWrroonngg wwiitthh mmyy ??????AshFOREST HEALTH

Damage from anthracnose,the most common cause of

ash decline, can be mini-mized by cultural practicesthat promote plant health.

◆ ◆ ◆

Defoliation in a young tree due toverticillium wilt. ◆ ◆ ◆

What’s Wrong continued on p. 4

CINDY

ASH

CINDY

ASH

Autumn ’99 • ADVOCATE4

New research is looking forinsects that may act as vectors of ashyellows. Insects in the leaf hopperfamily and other phloem feeders withthe habit of sucking and spitting aresuspect, but not yet proven guilty.

In Iowa and Wisconsin, nine citieswere studied in 1994 with an averageof 12% of the ash street trees havingthe phytoplasma. Trees in Minnesotawere also sampled in Falcon Heightsand St. Paul, revealing 14% and 34%infected trees respectively.

Green ash trees can live a longtime with ash yellows, but diebackand death occur when ash yellows iscombined with other stresses.

All ash species are susceptible,with white ash being most susceptibleand green ash intermediate. In recentfield tests with selected commercialcultivars at Iowa State University,Autumn Purple proved to be the mosttolerant white ash when testedagainst several other cultivars. Ingreen ash, Bergeson was the most tol-erant; Summit the least.

Ash yellows is incurable, but notfatal in an otherwise healthy tree.

Ash Bacterial Decline This newly recognized disease was

discovered by Tom Harrington, IowaState University Forest Pathologist,while studying the phloem of ash treesshowing signs of decline. Ash bacterialdecline is common in urban ash inIowa. Symptoms include very thin,unthrifty crown tufting of foliage, pro-lific seed production and severe defoli-ation. In a study where young, pottedash trees were inoculated with thenew bacteria, growth stopped immedi-ately. More research is needed on thisdisease.

Abiotic Stresses Phenoxy-herbicide damage

(broadleaf or dandelion weed killers)causes extreme thinning and tight

twisting of leaves. Long Ôrat tailsÕ mayform at the tips of some affected leaves.This damage is generally not a long termthreat to the health of established trees.

Salt damage is a problem alongheavily-traveled highways where de-icingsalts are regularly applied in the winter,or near sidewalks and driveways wheresalt is used. Along highways, airbornesalt deposits cause the apical (terminal)bud to abort; the axillary (side) buds pro-duce a spray of twiggy shoots which canresemble brooms caused by other diseasessuch as ash yellows. The damage causedby salts can reduce plant health andresult in distorted growth patterns.

Other urban factors contributing toash decline include drought, soil com-paction, anaerobic soils, restrictedroot spaces, mechanical damage, sec-ondary diseases and insects.

Winter Injury We tend to overlook winter injury as

a cause of ash decline, but it can be sig-nificant. A stressed tree can not properlyprepare itself for winter and is prone toinjury from severe temperatures andwind. Winter injury is one of several Òsus-pectsÓ when an owner claims the tree wasperfectly healthy in late November andthen half- dead in March.

Information for this article was largely takenfrom a presentation by Dr. Mark Gleason atthe Minnesota Shade Tree Short Course,March 1999. Dr. Gleason is a Extension PlantPathologist at Iowa State University, Ames,Iowa. He holds doctorates in plant pathologyand environmental sciences, and is responsiblefor disease management on all horticulturalcommodities. His e-mail address is mgleason@iastate.edu

sunken on young stems or thin-barkedareas, followed by the development offungal fruiting bodies (reproductivestructures that produce spores). Thesize (diameter) of the cankered areadepends on the health of the tree.Really stressed trees have biggercankers.

Ash Yellows Ash yellows is a special type of

bacteriaÑa bacteria without walls,called a phytoplasma (formerly knownas an MLO; mycoplasma-like organ-ism). It colonizes the phloem (food-con-ducting tissues) of the tree and inter-feres with the movement of plant hor-mones. It uses the plant sugars pre-sent in the phloem for itself, denyingthe plant. The term ÒyellowsÓ refers toa typical, unnatural light yellow-greencolor caused by this disease. Chlorosisappears in mid to late summer.

Ash yellows is spread by graftingand there is a risk of it being trans-mitted in the nursery. It can survivein the tree without symptoms. Theonly distinctive field symptom is awitchesÕ broomÑa chlorotic, bushy,short-branching bush of growth wherewe donÕt expect foliage to be, typicallyon the lower trunk of the tree.Branches in witchesÕ brooms forkrepeatedly, have short internodes andoften have simple (not compound)leaves. Unfortunately, not all infectedtrees have witchesÕ brooms, making afield diagnosis difficult.

Witches’ broom, shown at left, isthe only distinctive field symptom ofash yellows.◆ ◆ ◆

Damage from chemical drift canlook dramatic.◆ ◆ ◆

What’s Wrong, from p. 3

CINDY

ASH

CINDY

ASH

ADVOCATE • Autumn ’99

Winter Protection

5

hilly autumn temperatures remind usthat our trees will soon be called upon

to withstand the rigors of another frigidMinnesota winter. What can we do to help themthrough the cold months ahead? Other thanmulching and watering well before the groundfreezes if itÕs a dry autumn, there isnÕt much todo for older, large trees.

If a tree is young, freshly transplanted orhas thin bark (linden, maple, crabapple, moun-tain ash, etc.), additional support is wise. Treewraps, mulch and proper moisture can helptrees weather harsh winter months.

Tree wrapWraps are generally used on deciduous

trees. Properly applied, tree wraps can offer pro-tection against sunscald, frost cracking, animalsand contact damage. Wrapping materials vary,but popular with many tree professionals todaybecause of the convenience and ease of use isplastic tube-type wrap. It looks like a piece ofwhite corrugated drainage pipe with a slit onone side. One popular brand comes in precut 30-inch lengths and is sized according to diameter(2 in. up to 4 in.). The tubes slide easily onto thetrunks.

Timing and size are important in the properapplication of the wrap. It should go on after thefirst hard frost, generally in early November. Itis important to wrap the tree loosely, choosingwrap that is larger than the trunk so there isdead air space between the wrap and the tree.This allows air circulation. Masking tape is thenplaced around the wrap in two or three spots.The goal is to secure it against casual grabs orcontact jolts.

Once the weather warms in spring, it is crit-ically important to remove the wrap. Keeping iton longer creates a warm, wet area around thetrunk. Insects and pathogens quickly move in.

Progressive garden stores and nurseries selltube-type wrap or more traditional tan or whiterolls of kraft-paper. Starting at the base of the

Winter Protection

Wrap with CareThe merits of ÒwrappingÓ the

stems of young and thin-barked treesin the autumn for winter protectionhave long been debated and are like-ly to continue. The little fieldresearch that has been conducted ontree wrap ranges from inconclusiveto discounting its benefits. However,anecdotal evidence of the benefits ofstem protection abound and manygardeners and growers swear by it.

You can avoid any potentialproblems that stem protectors maypose by following Tim PowerÕs sug-gestions closely. Apply the stem pro-tection in late autumn, and remove itafter snow-melt in the spring. Uselight-colored, loose stem protectorswhen possible. If you use the paperwrap, attach it to the stem withmasking tape (not duct tape, staplesor wires). By following these simplerules, you wonÕt be doing harm totrees.

Tree wrap problems: nectria rot hasdamaged this tree that was leftwrapped too long.◆ ◆ ◆

C

Winter Protection continued on p. 6

GARY

JOHN

SON

Species selectionFor best wintering successes, choose tree

species that are native to the area or have aproven track record of being able to adapt toMinnesota winters.

Thanks to Tim Power, owner and operator of LawÕsNursery, Hastings for providing the information forthis article.

tree, this paper is wrapped upwards gener-ally to the first branch, then fastened withmasking tape. Again, prompt removal in thespring is critical. These tight wraps do notallow for dead-air space around the tree, sowarmth and moisture trapped against thetrunk are even more likely.

MulchingMulch protects roots, moderates tem-

peratures and helps hold moisture near theroots. It also thwarts weeds and, dependingon mulch material, may enrich the soil.

A good mulch circle is as large as possi-ble, one to four inches thick, starting aboutsix inches away from the base of the tree.The reason for the depth range has to dowith the coarseness of the mulch material.Fine materials like pea gravel or fine woodchips smother weeds and hold moisturewith shallower depth than coarser materials

like bark mulchor very coarsechips. ÒMany ofthe trees IÕveseen injured bywinter weatherwould have ben-efited greatlyfrom properapplication of agood organicmulch beforewinter,Ó com-ments TimPower, LawÕsNursery. (See

Advocate, Vol. 2, No. 2, Spring, 1999 page 9for more information about mulching.)

WateringProper moisture is the most essential

element for healthy trees. The key is to keeptree roots moist, but not saturated. To checkthe moisture level of a tree, dig carefullybetween roots at the time the tree goes dor-mant and before frost sets in. Soils make ahuge difference in how well moisture isretained near the roots. Gravity pulls themoisture down, but cohesion and adhesionbetween water and soil help keep it in place.

Autumn ’99 • ADVOCATE6

Prevent animal damage witha staked cylinder of mesh.

Wire mesh;2–3” between

wire and trunk

At least 24” height fordeciduous trees, 12”for conifers

Drive stake to 12” minimum

Support stake

Anti-desiccantsAnti-desiccants are sometimes

used to reduce winter exposure dam-age to evergreen trees and shrubs.These products, which are sprayed onthe foliage, provide an additional waxycoating over the foliage that helpsreduce moisture loss in the leaves andsubsequent ÒbrowningÓ of the foliageduring the winter. However, they needto be applied every 2-4 weeks duringthe winter, and can only be appliedwhen temperatures are well abovefreezing. This in itself does not makeits use very practical for Minnesota.

Also, some people believe thatapplying these anti-desiccants todeciduous plants located near high-ways will prevent them from sufferingfrom salt spray damage. False. In hisextensive research on deicing saltdamage to trees and shrubs inMinnesota years ago, Dr. Ed Sucoffdiscounted this myth.

Winter dam-age, like thefrost cankershown here, isparticularlysevere in non-hardy speciessuch as thisAutumn Purplewhite ash. ◆ ◆ ◆

Winter Protection, from p. 5

GARY

JOHN

SON

Fall Fertilizing: Do I or Don’t I?

Anything that encourages lushgrowth late in the summer, such as theapplication of high nitrogen, quick-release fertilizers at high rates, shouldbe avoided. The onset of cold winter tem-peratures can be very unpredictable andthis lush growth may not have had thetime to Òharden offÓ fully enough to with-stand freezing temperatures. This canresult in significant die back of the ten-der growth, negating any positive effectsthat the fertilization may have provided.

Late summer and autumn fertiliza-tion, when necessary, can be accom-plished without encouraging lush, late-season growth, however. Simply followthese simple, bio-ÒlogicalÓ steps:

◆ Reduce your rates of nitrogen perunit. Instead of applying four pounds ofnitrogen/unit, cut it in half.

◆ Use a slow-releasing source of nitro-gen, such as one of the many organicforms of nitrogen (e.g., decomposedmanures) or a synthetic, slow-releaseform.

◆ Never exceed the recommended rateof nitrogen per year. For instance, ifthree pounds of nitrogen per unit is therecommended application for a year andyou apply fertilizer at three differenttime periods, the total amount of nitro-gen should not exceed three pounds.

And remember, if water is not at asufficient level, no amendment is aseffective as it should be and sometimescan be harmful.

To learn more about nitrogen, fertil-ization and timing, contact theUniversity of GeorgiaÕs Forest Resourceson-line publications web site athttp://www.forestry.uga.edu/efr. Then,click on Tree Health Care, and finallyclick on any of the nitrogen/fertilizationtopics under the Tree Nutrition Series.All of these publications were authoredby Kim Coder, a frequent and popularspeaker at our Minnesota Shade TreeShort Course. These publications aregeneric and are just as applicable toMinnesota as they are to Georgia.

ADVOCATE • Autumn ’99 7

ÒWell, for starters theyarenÕt a burden. They belongin the environment, provideerosion control and compostmaterial. They stabilize riverbanks. Some of them evenend up in tidewaters andoceans for fish habitat. Anacre of them producesenough to meet the daily oxy-gen needs of 18 people.....Ó

ItÕs easy to catch Carl VogtÕs enthusiasm whenhe starts talking about Christmas trees. A grower,member of the Minnesota Christmas Tree Asso-ciation and extension forester at the University ofMinnesota, St. Paul Campus, Vogt goes on to saythat itÕs common for people to think they are givingthe environment a break when they purchase per-manent holiday trees and orna-ments. They donÕt stop to realizethat Christmas trees are grownspecifically for that purpose onenvironmentally sound treefarms. He works hard to educatethe public: Christmas trees are acrop, a renewable resource, thatbenefits the environment as theygrow and when they are recycledafter the holidays.

How many Christmas treescurrently grow in the state? Noone knows for sure. There areabout 100 Christmas TreeAssociation member growers, butnon-member landowners are hardto track. Vogt estimates thatabout seven million Christmastrees are currently growing in Minnesota. About 2.5million are sold each year as trees, wreaths andgreen holiday decorations and at least another 1.75million are planted to keep a steady supply for theyears ahead. For each tree marketed, at least two

It Really DOES Last Forever!Artificial tree owners insist

that theirs is a better choicebecause the tree is being usedevery year. But...is it an environ-mentally sound choice?

Artificial trees are made fromnon-renewable resources, such aspetroleum-based plastics, steel andaluminum. Also, the average useof an artificial tree is six years.Then it is tossed in alandfill, where itremains in a composedstate for centuries!

The annual harvestbegins early on themany tree farms thatsupply the country’sseasonal appetite forholiday trees.◆ ◆ ◆

‘Tis the Season . . . for Christmas Trees!

Christmas Trees continued on p. 12

U OF

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LETTERS TO THE ADVOCATEWe welcome reader comments and ideas, andshare these observations from Tom Horwath.

Weed Barriers: Friend or Foe?On a calm, clear summer evening one half

of a large double-stemmed oak tree on theboulevard failed at ground level and fell intothe street. This portion was quickly removedby our city tree crew. I was asked to evaluatethe remaining portion for safety purposes.

The remaining portion leaned toward twohouses. The lean appeared naturalÐnot wors-ened by the failure of its other half.

I immediately noticed the condition of theouter sapwood of the remaining stump. It was-nÕt solid, healthy wood, but appeared to be in astate of decay. Next I noted that the entiretree was rock mulched around the trunk,extending out about three feet. Beneath therock was a layer of impermeable plastic weedbarrier.

I have been observing weed barriers formany years now, casually noting the condi-tions of the trees and the soils beneath theseweed barriers. Almost invariably IÕve notedvery wet soilsÑeven under air- and water-per-meable barriers. IÕve also observed very shal-low tree roots, suggesting low soil oxygen lev-els, and creating unstable conditions for trees.

I marked this oak for removal by our citytree crew. When I came in to work the follow-ing day I was told that the tree fell over theprevious evening Ð just hours after I hadmarked it.

Although possible, oak trees donÕt oftenfail at ground level. I strongly suspect thistree failed as a consequence of the plasticweed control placed around the trunk. Ibelieve the soil conditions were abnormallyaltered in such a way as to infect the rootcrown area with a fungus that weakened thetree and caused both stems to collapse on clearand calm days. In short, I believe the ÒkillerÓof this tree was the plastic weed control.

Whenever I observe weed control Ð plasticor fabric Ð around trees, I warn the residentsthat it is not recommended around trees. Afterthis oak incident, IÕm wondering if I shouldraise my voice even louder when speakingagainst this landscape device. Are we killingthe trees by trying to keep them weed free?

Tom Horwath is City Forester for Edina. Commentsor questions can be directed to him at 612/826-0308.

Autumn ’99 • ADVOCATE8

Get Recognition forYour Project!

Many of us are involved in community tree plantingprojects and a tremendous amount of work goes into orga-nizing and implementing these projects. MnSTAC wouldlike to recognize those efforts, projects and partnershipsbut we need your help! Please make a list and nominateworthy candidates! MnSTAC Award Categories include:

Outstanding Volunteer Project AwardÑAwarded toan individual volunteer or group that has organized andimplemented the most innovative and successful projectinvolving volunteers.

Outstanding Youth Project AwardÑAwarded to anindividual youth, school or youth group that has orga-nized and implemented the most notable youth project.

Outstanding Partnership AwardÑAwarded to organi-zations and/or individuals who have jointly implementeda project that demonstrates a high level of cooperativespirit and effort.

Outstanding Arbor Day Award/Arbor MonthCelebrationÑAwarded to the community and/or schoolthat has organized the celebration that best commemo-rates and furthers the Arbor Day ideal.

Outstanding Community Forestry MaintenanceAwardÑAwarded to the individual or organization thathas implemented the most exemplary comprehensivemaintenance program for the trees under their jurisdic-tion.

Distinguished Service AwardÑAwarded to theMnSTAC member who has contributed most significantlyto urban and community forestry on behalf of MnSTAC.

Tree Care Advisor of the Year AwardÑAwarded to anindividual Tree Care Advisor who has contributed mostsignificantly to urban and community forestry throughcommunity service work.

Special Merit AwardÑAwarded to an individual ororganization for unique, exemplary achievements in com-munity forestry serving as an innovative model for otherprograms.

Achievement CertificatesÑAchievement, Sponsorship,Stewardship and Media Certificates are awarded tothose groups that have contributed significantly to com-munity forestry in line with the categories list above.

Application forms are available from Gail Steinmanat 612/920-9326. Applications are due February 25,2000.

LETTERS TO THE ADVOCATE

ADVOCATE • Autumn ’99 9

MINNESOTA SHADE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ◆ 1999 AWARD NOMINATION FORM

1. Name of Project or Program

Project Location (City &/or County)

2. Nominee (Name of the individual and/or primary organization as it should appear on the award. For partnerships with multiple organizations, list other organizations in the Project Summary.)

Individual

Primary Organization

Contact Person/Title

Mailing Address

City Zip code

Phone (______)______–____________ Fax (______)______–____________ E-mail ___________________________________________________

3. Nominator

Mailing Address

City Zip code

Phone (______)______–____________ Fax (______)______–____________ E-mail ___________________________________________________

4. Award Category (Check all applicable award categories.)

❑ Outstanding Volunteer Project

❑ Outstanding Youth Project

❑ Outstanding Partnership

❑ Outstanding Arbor Day/Arbor Month Celebration

❑ Outstanding Community Forestry Maintenance

❑ Distinguished Service Award

❑ Tree Care Advisor of the Year

❑ Special Merit Award

❑ Achievement Certificate

❑ Sponsorship Certificate

❑ Stewardship Certificate

❑ Media Certificate

5. Brief Project Description (Briefly describe the project in the space provided here.)

6. Project Summary (Enclose a one-page Project Summary. This summary is required as part of the nomination and should include brief statements on the project’s background, intended purpose, plan of action,implementation activities, budget and funding sources, positive results, and its impact on the community forest.)

7. Supporting Documentation (Enclose supporting information in 8-1/2” x 11” loose-leaf, clear plastic pages. This might include proclamations or resolutions supporting the project, press clippings or other printedmaterials, photographs and/or slides, posters or any other materials that document facts or statistics in the Project Summary.)

All entries must be received by 4:30 pm on Friday, February 25, 2000.Send completed entry to: MnSTAC Awards c/o Tree Trust, 6300 Walker St., St. Louis Park, MN 55416Questions? Contact Gail Steinman at 612/920-9326; e-mail treetrust@willow.nc.

Autumn ’99 • ADVOCATE10

About MnSTACThe Minnesota Shade

Tree Advisory Committee(MnSTAC) was establishedin 1974 by a group of con-cerned citizens to addressthe health and well being ofcommunity forests.MnSTAC provides a forumwhere people forge a collec-tive vision for the future ofMinnesotaÕs communityforests and:◆ advocates for public andprivate community forestryinterests◆ unites for the exchangeand dissemination of ideasand information◆ serves as the StateUrban Forest Council toadvise the State Foresteron the implementation ofstate and federally-fundedprograms.

MnSTAC is recognizedthroughout Minnesota andthe country for its exper-tise, advice, coordinationand support for communitytrees. It is an organizationof diverse individuals whorepresent a broad spectrumof tree-related interests. Itfosters and supports localcommunity tree programsacross the state so healthycommunity forests are fullyintegrated into communitydevelopment, infrastruc-ture, education and man-agement.

The MnSTAC resourceslisted here encourage yourcalls, questions and sharingof ideas.

MNSTAC BOARD OF DIRECTORSPresident: Glen Shirley, City ofBloomington—612/948-8760 (Fax: 612/948-8770)

Vice President: Kirk Brown, Twin CitiesTree Trust—612/920-9326Katie Himanga, Heartwood Forestry —651/345-4976

(Board, continued)Ken Holman, DNR Forestry—651/772-7565Gary Johnson, U of M Forest Resources—612/625-3765Mike Max, EnvironMentor Systems, Inc.—612/753-5505Dwight Robinson, MN Dept. of Agriculture—651/296-8578Bob Slater, MN Dept. of Transportation —651/779-5104Mark Stennes, Top Notch Treecare—612/922-3239

MNSTAC COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

Arbor Month PartnershipChair: Don Mueller, DNR Forestry—651/772-6148

Constitution and Election Chair: Ken Simons, Ramsey County Parks—651/748-2500

Education and Research Chair: Gary Johnson, U of M ForestResources—612/625-3765

Forest Health Chair: Steve Kunde, Kunde Company—651/484-0114

Legislative Advisor: Mark Schnobrich, City of Hutchinson—320/234-4459

Outreach Co-Chairs:Peter Bedker, Treescapes—612/682-9562Mike Max, EnvironMentor Systems, Inc.—612/753-5505

Planning Chair: Dave DeVoto, Stacy, MN—612/462-3347

Publicity and Awards Chair: Gail Steinman, Tree Trust—612/920-9326

Scholarship Chair: Ralph Sievert, Mpls. Park and Rec.Board—612/370-4900

Tree Emergency Response Chair: Katie Himanga, Heartwood Forestry—651/345-4976

Tree Preservation Task ForceChair: Paul Buck, City of Plymouth—612/509-5944

Wood Utilization Task ForceCo-Chairs: Mike Zins, U of M Arboretum—612/443-2460 Ext. 247Jim Hermann, Mpls. Park and Rec. Board—612/370-4900

Regional MnSTAC CommitteesThese regional MnSTAC committees are in place toadd more voices to the forum and encourage net-working more easily at the local level.

Southeast STACSoutheast STAC represents communities in theeleven counties of the Hiawatha Valley ResourceConservation and Development Area. Chair: Henry Sorensen

Asst. Pub. Service Director, City of Red Wing 651/385-3674Sec./Treas.: Katie Himanga

Heartwood Forestry, Lake City 651/345-4976

Headwaters-Agassiz STACHASTAC, the Headwaters-Agassiz Shade TreeAdvisory Committee, is northwestern MinnesotaÕsbranch of MnSTAC. The NW Regional DevelopmentCommission is the fiscal agent. Chair: John Johnson

City Forester, City of Thief River Falls 218/681-1835Sec./Treas.: Jeff Edmonds

DNR Forestry, Bemidji 218/755-2891

West Central STACWest Central STAC started in 1997 to help commu-nities in the northwest region share ideas, informa-tion and local success stories in managing commu-nity trees.Chair: Bob Fogel

Director of Parks, City of Moorhead 218/299-5340Sec./Treas.: Dave Johnson

DNR Forestry, Detroit Lakes 218/847-1596

NE MnSTACThe newest of the regional STACs, NortheastMinnesota STAC began in May 1999. TheyÕvelaunched an enthusiastic agenda for reaching thecitizens of the Arrowhead region on issues regard-ing community trees. The group meets monthly atthe Coleraine Public Library.Chair: Kelly Morris

City Forester, City of Grand Rapids 218/326-7600Secretary/Treasurer/Technical Advisor: Dan Jordan

IRRR–Mineland Reclamation 218/254-3369Coordinator: Kathleen Preece

Minnesota BetterFORESTS magazine 218/326-0403 e-mail kathleen@uslink.net.

STAC INFO & NEWS

ADVOCATE • Autumn ’99 11

Events andConferences Nov. 18ÑMnSTAC Monthly

Meeting, St. Paul. Contact651/772-6148.

Dec. 8-10ÑMinnesota Turfand Grounds Conference,Mpls. Contact 612/625-9234.

Dec. 16ÑMnSTAC MonthlyMeeting, St. Paul.

Jan 5-7ÑMNLA Conventionand Trade Show, Mpls.Contact MNLA 651/633-4987or www.mnlandscape.org

Feb 1-3ÑTrees and UtilitiesNational Conference,Nebraska City, NE. ContactNADF 402/474-5655.

Feb. 26ÑMinnesota GreeningConference, HennepinTechnical College, BrooklynPark. Contact MinnesotaHorticulture Society 651/643-3601.

Mar. 13-15ÑBuilding withTrees NationalConference, Nebraska City,NE. Contact NADF 402/474-5655.

OpportunitiesGlobal ReLeaf ForestEcosystem RestorationProgramÐAmerican Forests isaccepting proposals for treeplanting projects that may qualify for Global ReLeaf forestfunding. For information, contact American Forests atwww.amfor.org/grc/grdesc.html

New Publications After the Storm: What to do withStorm Damaged Yard Trees.Revised fact sheet. Contact MNDNR-Forestry Division 651/772-7925.

Caring for Your NativeWoodland. Meredith Cornett.Homeowner Fact Sheet Series.Contact MN DNR-ForestryDivision 651/772-7925.

Oak Wilt in Minnesota. DavidFrench and Jennifer Juzwik,College of Natural Resources, U of MN. Contact U of MNExtension Service DistributionCenter 612/625-8173.

Patterns of Tree Failure. EdHayes. Published in Tree CareIndustry, April 1999. ContactMN DNR-Forestry Division651/772-7925.

Planting and Caring forCommunity Trees: Together, WeCan Do It. MnSTAC Report tothe 1999 State Legislature.Contact MN DNR-ForestryDivision 651/772-7925.

Protecting Trees fromConstruction Damage: AHomeownerÕs Guide. Gary R.Johnson. 1999. Major revision ofthe original by Miller, Rathkeand Johnson. FO-6135 1999revision. U of MN ExtensionService Distribution Center612/625-8173. Refer to publica-tion number when ordering.

Things to Consider to Repair orReplace Storm-Damaged YardTrees. 1998. MN RecoveryForestry Task Force. ContactMN DNR-Forestry Division at651/772-7925.

Tree City USA (Video, 7 min., 45sec.) Contact National ArborDay Foundation 402/474-5655.

Tree PotpourriInternet◆ International Society of

Arboriculture:www.ag.uiuc.edu/~isa

◆ Minnesota Department ofNatural Resources:www.dnr.state.mn.us

◆ National Arbor DayFoundation:www.arborday.org

◆ National Urban andCommunity Forest AdvisoryCouncil:www.treelink.org/connect/orgs/nucfac/index.htm

◆ The Simple Act of Planting aTree: www.treelink.org/sim-pleact/index.htm

◆ Tree Trust:http://willow.ncfes.umn.edu/treetrust/ttrust2.htm

◆ National Tree Trust:http://www.nationaltreetrust.org

◆ University of MinnesotaForest Resources Extension: http://www.cnr.umn.edu/FR/extension/pages

There is a semi-myth in Minnesota thatplanting trees and shrubs in the autumn is adangerous and foolish practice. Part of the rea-son that this myth exists is the fact that peoplehave confused the terms ÒplantingÓ and Òtrans-planting.Ó

Planting is literally the installation of treesand shrubs in the landscape soil and can success-fully be done anytime the soil is workable. So,planting in the spring, summer, and autumn canbe and is done very successfully. Planting in thesummer usually requires more irrigation thannormal, and planting in the autumn will be moresuccessful if the plants are comfortably mulched.

Transplanting involves the lifting (digging)of trees or shrubs from one site (usually a nurs-ery) and planting them in a new site.

Transplanting in the autumn is not as successfulas spring or summer transplanting, but thereare exceptions. Some species (hawthorn) survivebest when transplanted in the spring. Otherspecies (fir, oak) are not as sensitive. Bare-roottransplanting is more successfully done in thespring. Balled-and-burlapped trees or machine-spaded trees may be successfully transplantedspring, summer or fall - depending on thespecies.

So, if you have B & B plants that wereheeled-in, donÕt hesitate to plant them in theautumn. Just make sure they are well-wateredand mulched before the cold temperaturesdescend upon them.

URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY CALENDAR

Autumn: A Fine Time to Plant!

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Minnesota Shade TreeAdvocate

A quarterly newsletterpublished by theMinnesota Shade TreeAdvisory Committee.

Managing Editorial Group:MnSTAC EducationCommittee; Gary R.Johnson, Chair

Editor-in-Chief: Jan Hoppe

Design: Jim Kiehne

Material in this newsletteris not copyrighted.Reproduction for educa-tional purposes is encour-aged. Subscriptions arefree. Articles, news items,photos and videos are wel-come.

This publication was pro-duced with the support ofthe U.S.D.A. ForestService, NortheasternArea; State and PrivateForestry.

Address inquiries to:

Jan HoppeMinnesota Shade Tree

Advocate115 Green Hall1530 Cleveland Ave. N.St. Paul, MN 55108

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are left in the ground, adding oxygen andhabitat values to the environment.

Christmas trees are fully grown for mar-ket in 5-20 years. The supply is high at themoment for the needs of the market, whichmeans some of the stands will become toolarge to sell as holiday trees. The ownerthen needs to decide: What are my options?Do I clearcut to get the trees off the land,then replant? Do I let them grow into aclosely spaced conifer forest? Of courseneighbors hope the trees will stay rightwhere they are, and are often jolted if agrower decides to cut and replant.

About half of the people buyingChristmas trees choose artificial trees; theother half buy the real thing. Customer pref-erences change from time to time. Currently,short needle trees are preferred but in ayear or two long needles may be back instyle. Species preference over time includesscotch pine, balsam fir, white spruce, whitepine and more recently Fraser fir. Some cus-tomers are interested in living trees and buysmall potted trees to be replanted or plantlawn trees that can be decorated for the holi-days.

Many are surprised by the painstakingwork involved in growing Christmas trees.Everyone wants the perfect tree, but treesdonÕt grow that way without help! Regularpruning, watering if needed, weed and dis-ease control are all part of the process.Pruning/shearing is intensive work with ahand shears. A grower might be able toprune 300 - 500 trees on a good day. A few

Real Christmas Trees are a FireHazard: Truth or Myth?

Some people fear real Christmastrees because they believe they pose afire hazard. The truth is that firesinvolving Christmas trees includeabout an equal percentage of real andartificial trees. Real Christmas treesare involved in less than one-tenth ofone percent of home fires. Researchshows that newspapers, boxes, cur-tains and cleaning supplies pose amuch higher fire threat thanChristmas trees. Keys to a safe treeare freshness, plenty of water, care-fully inspected lights and electricalconnections and turning lights offwhen leaving home or going to bed.

exceptional shearers have pruned 1,000trees in a day.

Real Christmas trees are available inevery community in Minnesota. To find anearby farm or lot that carries MinnesotaGrown Christmas trees, call the MNDepartment of Agriculture at 651/297-8695 or 1-800/657-3878 for a free copy ofthe Minnesota Grown Fresh Produce andMore Directory. Christmas tree informa-tion is also available at the MDA websiteat www. mda.state.mn.us and atwww.christree.org

Christmas Trees, from p. 7