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THINNING TREES IN WOODLOT LEADS TO DISPOSAL CHOICES
I hired an arborist to walk through my woodlot. I wanted him to diagnose the cause of early leaf drop on several large oak trees. I also wanted his advice on thinning the dense stand of young trees that has flourished on this former cow pasture ground.
He assured me that my bur oaks aren't suffering from oak wilt. By chiseling through the springwood into the summerwood beneath the bark of the old, dying bur oak, he revealed the telltale tunnels of two-lined chestnut borers. Then, kicking away loose bark at the base of this tree, he pointed to root rot. Which of these two problems caused the death of the tree, and which was a secondary invader, wasn't clear. Other environmental factors (e.g., drought, construction damage) could also have contributed to the tree's demise.
In general, the arborist said I have too many young trees growing too close together. They all compete for water, sunshine and other nutrients. He suggested that I make up my mind pretty soon about which trees to keep and which to cut down.
Cutting healthy trees has always made me think of the phrase "tough love." It tears my heart out to cut down a healthy 10-year old bur oak or red oak but when these trees are growing five feet from even healthier 15-year old bur oaks or red oaks, the younger trees hold back the growth of the larger trees.
My preferred-tree list (for trees growing on my property) reads in this order: bur oak, red oak, sugar maple, ash, basswood, elm. When I thin out trees, I remove the elms first because they tend to die of Dutch elm disease about the time the trunk diameter reaches 4 to 6 inches. Basswoods are nice trees but they have such a large branch and limb structure that they deserve more room than my lot provides. Green ash and maples can be nice shade trees but they aren't as desirable, in my estimation, as oaks. And if a red oak and a bur oak are standing side by side, I'll take the bur oak.
Your preferred-tree list may differ from mine. As you thin trees, remember to maintain diversity because a disease (e.g., oak wilt) can quickly wipe out an entire species. Diversity ensures you will still have healthy trees when disease attacks a single species.
The process of thinning out woodlots presents another problem -- what to do with the thinned-out plant material. Alternatives include brush piles, burning, hauling to a dumpsite, composting, chipping, or using as a building material.
Burning, the disposal option of my youth, isn't recommended for health and environmental reasons. Burning permits are still available from county and township offices, however.
Brush piles can be magnets for wildlife -- a desirable outcome for some woodlot owners and a situation to be avoided at all costs for others.
"Disposal is a challenge for the landowner," agrees Marcus Zbinden of the Carver County Environmental Services department. "The smoke from burned trees and brush can be very troublesome for people with asthma and other health conditions. We recommend delivering the material to one of the county recycling sites, where it is chipped into mulch."
Zbinden named the following disposal sites: NRG Processing Solutions, 14800 Highway 169, Chaska, phone 445-2139; Field of Dreams, Chaska, phone 448-4572; and Eklund Tree Service, Watertown, 955-1136. Many towns and cities also offer collection and disposal services.
Another recycling option is to use the cut branches and tree trunks for building purposes. I've written in past columns about arbors, trellises and other natural garden art I've constructed from prunings. The idea isn't for everyone but it could be the start of a new hobby for you.
Lately, I've been stockpiling poles and large branches for future use. I've thought about making a gazebo out of branches, as well as a long arbor.
Constructing sidewalls for a gazebo would be easy but the roof could be kind of tricky. Even if I succeed in connecting poles to form the roof structure, I haven't found the answer for making the roof weatherproof. The tropics are full of broad, sturdy leaves that can be thatched to keep out rain. Banana trees don't perform well in Minnesota, unfortunately.
When I visited China last fall, I walked through a long, curved arbor constructed of bamboo. I took a photograph of the arbor with the intention of building a similar structure on my property. Perhaps that is the best use for all the poles and branches I've been accumulating. I need to make up my mind pretty soon because the piles are beginning to look like the back lot of a sawmill.
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PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
$10 + $2 for shipping
by Cliff Johnson |
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