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 URBAN  TREE  TALK
4th Quarter, 2013 - In This Issue:
2013 Urban & Community Forestry Grantee Showcase. Photo Credit: Alix Rogstad, AZSF
UPCOMING EVENTS

November:  Native American Heritage Month

 

November 2:  SRP Shade Tree Workshop, Mesa, AZ
 

November 6-7:  Partners in Community Forestry Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  

 

November 8: ACTC Tree Workers Workshop, Chandler, AZ

 

November 9: APS Shade Tree Workshop,Glendale, AZ

 

November 23APS Shade Tree Workshop, Buckeye, AZ 

November 29-December 7: Festival of TreesSedona, AZ

 

2013:  Arborist Training

TREE OF THE QUARTER
By: John C. Richardson
CHIHUAHUA PINE
Pinus leiophylla var. chihuahuana
National Champion Chihuahua Pine
Location: White Mountains

 Circumference: 122 Inches
Height: 90 Feet
Crown Spread: 34 Feet
The Chihuahua pine is an evergreen conifer, native to North America. Its natural range is as far South as Oaxaca, Mexico up to Southeast Arizona. Commonly mistaken as a Ponderosa pine, the Chihuahua pine has very dark bark, cones that are typically 1.5 - 2.5 inches long, and needles that are 2.5 - 4.5 inches long.

DID YOU KNOW? Chihuahua pine seedlings and saplings will sprout after disturbance, such as, wildfire.
TREE CARE TIP OF THE QUARTER
By: John C. Richardson
PROPERLY APPLYING MULCH 
Providing mulch around the base of your tree will not only enhance the appearance of the landscape around your home, but will improve soil conditions and maintain moisture.
 
As winter nears and temperatures drop, a layer of mulch serves as a blanket by keeping the soil around your tree warmer than areas with no above ground organic matter.

Properly applying much will also help with reducing the establishment of weeds and in turn limit the risk of weed whacker and lawn mower damage.

However, mulch MUST be applied properly. Apply no more than 2-4 inches of mulch out to the trees drip line and make sure the mulch is pulled back several inches away from the trunk. 

Mulch piled up against the tree trunk will cause problems with the stem tissue and can increase the introduction of insects and disease.

The diagram below displays the proper and improper ways to apply mulch:
Proper and improper ways to apply mulch. Artwork: John C. Richardson
For more information on proper mulching techniques, view the Trees are Good Guide on Proper Mulching
OUTREACH OF THE QUARTER
By: John C. Richardson

This past quarter featured two great Forest Health outreach opportunities. We are always interested in providing technical assistance and please let us know how we can help!

Forest and Woodland Insects and Diseases Presentation in Portal, AZ.

Bob Celaya hosted 30 community members in Portal, AZ with assistance from the Tucson District AFMO, Mayra Parrish. The presentation discussed Forest and Woodland Insects and Diseases. Attendees were also updated on the current status of Bark Beetles post Horseshoe Two Fire. 

 

Bob Celaya is the Forest Health Specialist at the Arizona State Forestry - State Forester's Office in Phoenix, AZ. He can be reached at 602-771-1415.

Mayra Parrish is the Assistant Fire Management Officer at the Arizona State Forestry - Tucson District Office. She can be reached at 520-404-6184.
Pinyon Needle Scale Presentation in Payson, AZ

John C. Richardson hosted 50 residents of the Alpine Heights HOA in Payson, AZ and presented on Pinyon Needle Scale. Residents were educated on the complex life cycle of this insect and provided with different options to treat infested trees. 

 

John C. Richardson is an ISA Certified Arborist and a Forest Health Specialist at the Arizona State Forestry - State Forester's Office in Phoenix, AZ. He can be reached at 602-771-1420.

WHAT CAN TREES DO FOR YOU?

How about reduce crime! Apartment buildings with high levels of trees and greenery can have over 50% fewer crimes!

 

Check out treesaregood.org to learn about more benefits that trees provide.

 

Calculate how much $ yours trees provide each year by trying out the "National Tree Benefit Calculator".
TREE QUOTE OF THE QUARTER

"Trees are your best antiques."

 

-Alexander Smith

FEEDBACK?
What do you think of our newsletter? How are we doing? We would love to hear what you think.
 
CONTACT US

State Foresters Office                    

1110 West Washington, Suite 100

Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2935

Phone: 602-771-1400

www.azsf.gov 

 

Flagstaff District  

3650 Lake Mary Rd.

Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Phone: 928-774-1425

 

Phoenix District

2901 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd.

Phoenix, AZ 85027

Phone: 623-445-0274

 

Tucson District

3237 E. 45th St.

Tucson, AZ 85713

Phone: 520-628-5480


MANAGER'S MUSINGS
Photo Credit: Bob Celaya
Happy Autumn!

We passed the autumnal equinox in late September, which means the days will begin to get shorter and the temperatures will slowly cool. Living in Arizona, this also means that we will soon be seeing an influx of winter visitors to our state. I encourage you to take every opportunity to show them the unique and beautiful trees found here.

 

In celebration of TREES, we proudly unveiled the new Arizona's Magnificent Trees program at the Arizona Community Tree Council's (ACTC) 20th Anniversary Conference held in Prescott on Friday, 13 September. Along with program partners - ACTC and the Arizona Native Plant Society - we honor trees in a very big way! Over the coming months, we encourage you to submit nominations for your favorite trees in each of the recognition categories: Champion, Heritage and Witness. Please visit our website to explore the program, obtain nomination forms, and to see pictures of the currently recognized trees.

 

Last but not least, our program has seen a few changes over the summer. First, Kyle McCatty accepted an excellent opportunity with the Colorado Forest Service in July. Although we miss his enthusiasm for the Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) and Forest Health programs, we wish him success in his new adventures. Second, we welcomed a new member to our team in September: Wolfgang Grunberg. Wolfgang will take on the responsibilities associated with our Integrated Urban Forest Resource Inventory (Urban FRI) project, which will initially work with pilot communities across the state to implement and capture urban forest inventories.

 

As always, you may contact us at any time if you have questions regarding our on-going programs or projects.

 

Please enjoy reading through our latest newsletter; share it with your friends, colleagues, and neighbors; and - above all else - enjoy the coming leaf changes and harvest activities that come with this season.

 

--Alix

ARIZONA'S MAGNIFICENT TREES - THE NEW TREE RECOGNITION PROGRAM
By: John C. Richardson
AZ Mag Tree Logo
The newly branded logo of Arizona's Magnificent Trees. Thanks to NSB/Keane for the Magnificent branding!

From a mesquite that was used to shackle lawbreakers in the 1890's to a recently discovered Chihuahua pine that is now recognized as the largest in the country, Arizona surely does have MAGNIFICENT trees!

 

A wonderful partnership with the Arizona Community Tree Council, and The Native Plant Society has revamped three tree recognition programs and formed Arizona's Magnificent Trees. This program aims to increase community awareness and get the people of Arizona more involved with trees.

The Champion Tree Program - Provides recognition to trees that are determined to be the largest of their species in the state and in many cases across the nation. Their height, circumference and spread each contribute to their magnificence as they represent the great state of Arizona and the communities in which they reside in a BIG way!
The Heritage Tree Program - Provides recognition to trees that hold proven cultural or historical significance. Trees in this category may have been planted in memory of a person or event; be a gift to the community from a sister community around the world; or be cherished community tree where significant events occur.
The Witness Tree Program - Provides recognition to trees that have been verified to be as old as the State of Arizona, February 14, 1912. Trees in this category help create a "sense of place" for local residents and they are a connection from the present to the past.

Get involved! We are actively looking for trees that fit the criteria of our programs and would love to recognize more MAGNIFICENT trees!

 

Explore your backyard, neighborhood, and local forests and submit a nomination form of your favorite. 

John C. Richardson is the State Coordinator of Arizona's Magnificent Trees. He is currently a Forest Program Specialist at the Arizona State Forestry - State Forester's Office in Phoenix, AZ. He can be reached at 602-771-1420.
UTILIZING UNMERCHANTABLE TREES IN NORTHERN ARIZONA 
By: Patrick Rappold
This is the second in a series of urban tree utilization articles.
Stickered lumber air-drying at AP Sawmill in Flagstaff. Photo Credit: Patrick Rappold
Based out of Flagstaff, AP Sawmill serves a niche market for character marked ponderosa pine lumber. AP Sawmill owner Silas Page utilizes ponderosa pine trees that are not marketable to industrial sawmills. A majority of the trees Silas processes, originate from beetle killed and fire damaged forests. Lumber sawn from these salvage logs are often blue stained and contain unique marks created by insects that infected the tree. After proper air drying the lumber is stable and suitable for indoor use. The ability of AP Sawmill to process logs not desired for industrial sawmills, enables resource managers to find a home for logs that would otherwise not be used. 
 
With a biology degree from Northern Arizona University, Silas Page has a fundamental understanding of how important it is to utilize unmerchantable trees from forests in northern Arizona. Without an adequate market, standing beetle killed trees are prone to fire and can be a transmitter for destructive insects and pathogens.  
Inside roundwood lattice structure of the gazebo at the Willow Bend Environmental Education Center.
Photo Credit: Patrick Rappold
Silas Page also has a good understanding of how to market the products, that he saws. Across Arizona there are numerous home owners who seek lumber from local sustainable resources. Lumber sawn at AP Sawmill is not only decorative, but also serves as a conversation piece. Each piece of lumber holds a piece of history from the forested area from which it originated. Numerous households and restaurants in northern Arizona have procured lumber from AP Sawmill for use in flooring, mantles, and bar tops. A popular product marketed by AP Sawmill is "live edge" lumber, where only three sides of the board have been squared off. The "live edge" provides for a decorative accent to the lumber and provides a rustic atmosphere to a room. In addition to "live edge" lumber, Silas also saws standard 1" x 12 "ponderosa pine boards, in various lengths. When specified, Silas has the ability to create roundwood products, such as vigas and latillas. Visitors to Flagstaff's Willow Bend Environmental Education Center may notice products from AP Sawmill built into the Education Center's gazebo. 
 
Consumers wishing to learn more about the products offered by AP Sawmill can visit the business's website at www.apsawmill.com
 
Additional sources of locally processed lumber can be located by visiting Arizona State Forestry's website and downloading the Directory of Arizona's Forest Industries, 2011. Scheduled to be updated in 2014, the Directory of Arizona's Forest Industries, 2011 provides a concise listing of wood using industries in Arizona. For businesses wishing to be listed in the directory, please contact Patrick Rappold.
 

Patrick Rappold is the Utilization and Marketing Specialist at the Arizona State Forestry - Flagstaff District Office. He can be reached at 928-774-1425.

EMERALD ASH BORER DETECTED IN COLORADO
By: John C. Richardson
Adult Emerald Ash Borer.
Photo Credit: forestryimages.org

For the first time, the destructive Emerald Ash Borer has been detected in Boulder, Colorado. This detection was confirmed by the USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory and is now the western-most occurrence in the United States. 

 

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect with the ability to kill stressed and healthy ash trees within 2-3 years after they have become infested. The larval stage of this insect feeds in the phloem just below the bark. The phloem, which provides water and nutrient transport throughout the tree becomes damaged, resulting in tree health decline and eventually death. 

EAB Exit Hole. 
Photo Credit: forestryimages.org

The adult EAB is roughly 3/8- 5/8 inch long, has metallic green wing covers and can be easily misidentified with other beetles. After it emerges from the bark, it leaves behind easily distinguishable D-shaped exit holes.

 

The EAB is responsible for the death of millions of ash trees throughout 21 states since its initial discovery in 2002. Being aware of its infestation signs and reducing the transportation of firewood can help prevent the spread of this insect. 

EAB Galleries.
Photo Credit: Christopher Asaro, forestryimages.org

View the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Media Release on EAB for info on their recent detection and infestation signs.

 

For more information on the Emerald Ash Borer please visit emeraldashborer.info or the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

 

 

John C. Richardson is an ISA Certified Arborist and the Editor of Urban Tree Talk. He is currently a Forest Program Specialist at the Arizona State Forestry - State Forester's Office in Phoenix, AZ. He can be reached at 602-771-1420.

 

Know of any upcoming events? Have any suggestions for future
topics/newsletter articles? Know someone who would like to receive this newsletter?
 
Please email the Editor at

 

Urban & Community Forestry Staff
Alix Rogstad - Program Manager - 
602-771-1427 - [email protected]
John C. Richardson - Forest Program Specialist - 602-771-1420 - [email protected] 
 
 
The State of Arizona Urban and Community Forestry Program is made possible with assistance from the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program.

  

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this  

institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

 

 

Arizona State Forestry Mission - Manage and reduce wildfire risk to Arizona's people, communities, and wildland areas and provide forest resource stewardship through strategic implementation of forest health policies and cooperative forestry assistance programs.


Copyright � 2013. All Rights Reserved.