Twenty years since conservationists practically shut down logging operations in the North West, the timber industry and environmentalists have begun to share ideas on ecological forestry.  Typically, environmentalists and loggers do not get along or share similar ideals, but in this particular instance in Oregon, the two different groups began to agree on something.  What brought these two completely different groups together as one you might ask?  The answer is the common goal of protecting the forests in the area through the use of forestry thinning to prevent wildfires in overgrown areas of forests.  Foresters and conservationists alike believe in ecological forestry and the benefits it has for the area.  This decision to work together has helped changed the economic outlook in John Day, OR as its local sawmills are able to stay open and provide jobs for the surrounding community.

What is Ecological Forestry?

Ecological Forestry is commonly known as the process of practicing good forestry.  This embodies three different ideas including: ecological considerations, economic considerations, and social considerations.  Ecological considerations consist of soil, water, vegetation, wildlife, ecosystem dynamics, forest health, and restoration.  Economic considerations consist of increasing net worth, ecological integrity and legacy for future generations as well as a valuation of ecosystem services.  The social aspect involves considerations for landowners, industry and society.  Sometimes the term has more to do with intent and perspective than particular practices.

John Day, OR

The situation in this small town in Oregon was reaching a standstill in years past between environmentalists and the timber industry.  Due to the high number of lawsuits aimed at slowing logging the area, the local saw mill was about to shut down due to lack of available forest products.  Mills in other timber country areas have also been shutting down due to high pressure debates on how to effectively log national forests without killing protected species like the spotted owls and salmon.  A key shift happened in these debates when environmentalists realized the effect large wildfires have on the forests, and how beneficial forest thinning can be to the environment.  After this ideal was in conservationist minds, the area was able to pass forest thinning and restorative projects, which in turn helped save the local saw mill along with adding jobs to the area.

The Future

The ties made in John Day are groundbreaking for the forestry world.  Using the situation in John Day as an example, the forest service is hoping that more communities can join together to further relations between the timber industry and conservationists.  It is extremely beneficial for both sides to start working together for the same goal of ecologically sound forestry. Even with these monumental steps that have been made, there is a lot of progress to be made in the coming future.  Remember to call the Tree and Landscape Company for all of your preventative fire wise tree removal needs.  Our company specializes in helping residences, businesses and large ranch properties thin timber in order to prepare for wildfires.

Written by Robert Mrdutt

1. American Chestnut Blight

The chestnut disease was brought into America in 1904 by an exported tree sent to New York City.  This fungus is widespread and there is no indication that a cure will be found.  The American chestnut used to be a major source of lumber but the fungus has wiped out this tree as a commercial species.

2. Amillaria Root Rot

Armillaria root disease is found throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. In the continental United States, the disease has been reported in nearly every State. Hosts include hundreds of species of trees, shrubs, vines, and forbs growing in forests, along roadsides, and in cultivated areas.  The fungi cause mortality, wood decay and growth reduction in healthy and non healthy hosts.

3. Anthracnose and Leaf Spot Diseases

Anthracnose disease causes irregular dead areas on leaf margins, between and across and/or along veins, often moving onto the shoots and small twigs; sometimes whole leaves are engulfed.  The leaf spot disease causes dead spots on areas of healthy tissue. Consecutive years of defoliation can decrease the tree’s vigor, weakening the tree and thereby predisposing the plant to opportunistic pests that may further harm or damage the tree.

4. Annosus Root Rot

Annosum root rot is an important conifer disease.  The disease can cause root rot, butt rot, reduced growth, and mortality in host trees.  The disease is most commonly associated with thinned pine stands located on sandy, well-drained soils.  A tree can become infected and show no about ground symptoms until half of the root system or collar is affected.  Declining trees show sparse, chlorotic crowns with short needles.

5. Aspen Canker

Aspen canker is one of the more common tree diseases of our area.  It is a disease of the bark in which a fungus remains active over time in a lesion and then causes progressive expansion of the lesion.  Canker impacts deformation of stem growth, and mortality, leading to loss of wood value.

6. Bacterial Wet wood

Bacterial wet wood is a common disease that affects the central core or bark of forest trees.  Slime is produced from the fermentation pressure and is toxic to growing areas of the tree and is also the food of choice for several insects.  Symptoms include a yellow brown discoloration generally confined to the central core of the tree. Unfortunately effective control measures do not exist and prevention of tree stress is the best approach.

7. Beech Bark Disease

Beech bark disease is caused when a beech scale insect creates a wound in the bark.  Next, two different fungi invade the wound and cause a canker to form.  Then new cankers will start to form and begin to kill the tree.  The first outbreak in North America was documented in 1920 in Massachusetts but now the disease has spread as far west as Michigan and as far south as North Carolina.

8. Brown Spot in Longleaf Pine

Brown spot has become a serious problem in Christmas tree farms across the North Mid United States.  It causes delays in growth and mortality in the longleaf pine.  The disease reduces total annual growth of southern pines by more than 16 million cubic feet.  The symptoms include two kinds of needle spots, one yellow and one a brownish amber-yellow.

9. Canker Rot

Cankers are localized damage to the stem or branches.  Cankers are found centered on a wound and are the entrance location for fungi.  These fungi get inside and cause expansion and/or girdling of the tree.  The disease is difficult to manage on a tree stem, but can be pruned out if on the branches.

10. Commandra Blister Rust

Comandra blister rust is a disease of hard pines that is caused by a fungus growing in the inner bark and is located throughout all of North America besides the south and southeast.  The disease infects hard pines but needs an alternate host to spread from one tree to another.  It is known to cause growth reduction, stem deformity and mortality in effected trees.

Here at TLC we are ready to tackle all your tree care needs.  We have management services tailored exactly to your looking for.  Give us a call and our certified arborists will head on over to figure out a tree care plan that works for you.

Written by Robert Mrdutt

Common Mullein

Common Mullein

Common Mullein is a noxious weed that is normally found in open areas of disturbed dirt.  Common mullein is identified by tall yellow flower spikes and soft looking furry leaves. These spikes can grow up to 10 ft tall.  Its seeds can survive almost any condition and last around 100 years.  The rosettes are small, furry looking and are one of the easier weeds to spot at such a young age.

Spotted Knapweed

Spotted Knapweed

Spotted Knapweed is the most common type of knapweed in Teton County along with Russian knapweed and meadow knapweed.  It has a high seed production, making it hard to eradicate and is also less likely to be chosen by herbivores as a food option.  One easy way to identify this weed is to look down the stalk of the plant at the leaves.  Knapweed leaves form an x when looking down the stalk.

 Canada Thistle

Canada Thistle

Canada thistle is the most common type of thistle in Teton County and is difficult to control due to its extensive root system that allows it to recover from eradication attempts.  The plant begins to flower in late spring/early summer and can contain 1,000-1,500 seeds per flowering.  Canada thistle is frequently found in areas of disturbed earth and reduces the amount of forage consumption in pastures. It’s most common in crops, pastures, rangeland, roadsides, and ditch banks.

 Musk Thistle

Musk Thistle

Musk thistle is another extremely common noxious weed in Teton County.  Musk thistle occurs first in disturbed areas in temperate regions and is not known to have a specific climate requirement.  Musk thistle is most often described as occurring on disturbed sites and waste areas, and along roadsides.  It will also occur on rangelands, pastures, open woodlands, and fertile lowlands.  However, musk thistle does not grow well in excessively wet, dry or shady conditions.

 Oxeye Daisy

Oxeye Daisy

The Oxeye Daisy is a beautiful flower but an incredibly invasive noxious weed.  It is a short-lived perennial that crowds out other crops in pastures and rangelands.  Sheep, goats and horses eat the daisy, but cows and pigs do not like it.  It is common in areas of disturbed earth and is resistant to many herbicides.

 Dalmatian Toadflax

Dalmatian Toadflax

Dalmatian toadflax is another common noxious weed in Teton County.  Dalmatian toadflax prefers sunny areas with well-drained often coarse-textured soils.  These areas can include roadsides, pastures, residential areas, cemeteries, gravel pits, and waste areas.  It is a short-lived perennial that grows up to 4 feet tall.  Both leaves and stems are a waxy, bluish-green.  Flowering occurs from early summer to early fall.

The noxious weeds described here are some of the most common you will see in our area.  Sometimes they are big enough and can be spotted driving by, and sometimes you need to slow down and take a closer look to find them.  Feel free to call the Tree and Landscape Company for your noxious weed control needs!!!  We specialize in completing all paperwork required for Teton County’s Cost Share Program and do all the leg work so you get reimbursed ASAP. Our noxious weed experts will be able to identify the proper way to get your property weed free in no time!!!

Written by Robert Mrdutt

What is Xeriscaping?

Xeriscaping is the process of creating a landscape or garden that is designed to use the least amount of water possible.  This landscaping method is on the forefront of environmentally sustainable landscape design.  It is a great landscaping option that can help reduce the amount of water wasted, aid in energy conservation and reduce amount of fertilizers and pesticides used.

Xeriscaping is a term that was originally coined by a special sector in the Denver Water Department.  Xeriscaping is typically used in extremely dry and arid climates where water is limited.  Great care is taken to maximize the use of water, organic or inorganic, and to decrease the amount of lost water due to runoff and evaporation.  Here are the seven main principles of xeriscaping.

7 Fundamental Principles of Xeriscaping

1. Water Conservation- reduce amount of applied water and amount that evaporates
2. Soil Improvement- helps drain landscape quickly and stores water at same time
3. Create Limited Turf Areas- reduce size of turf, less turf equals less water
4. Use Appropriate Plants- select plants that are native to your region or are known to grow well with limited water
5. Mulch- use locally derived mulch to help retain moisture in landscape
6. Irrigate- use proper drip systems along with irrigation clocks to avoid overwatering
7. Maintain Your landscape- low maintenance makes home owners happy

Benefits

The benefits of xeriscaping are quite numerous and are not just limited to conserving water.   Xeriscaping not only uses less water but requires less maintenance too.  Pruning and slight weeding will still be required, but watering requirements are low and can be automated with a proper irrigation system.  Your landscape will automatically become more environmentally friendly, with no more gas-powered pieces of equipment required for maintenance.  Another benefit to xeriscaping is wildlife protection.  Xeriscaping uses native plants and grasses, which will not disrupt the local wildlife, use the best mulching blades to keep your grass trimmed.

 Disadvantages

Xeriscaping does have a few disadvantages.  The minimal turf and native plant design can be deemed aesthetically unpleasing in today’s landscape design.   Plant and cacti can also be harmful to children and pets.  Another disadvantage is that the initial installation and design cost could be more than an average landscape.  The last major disadvantage to xeriscaping is that your outdoor activities will be limited due to unusable terrain.

Xeriscape Tips

• Pick native plants and shrubs
• Determine annual precipitation range for area
• Water during the coolest time of the day
• Minimize number of young plants that require more H20
• Use windbreaks to avoid the wind drying plants out

Hopefully we helped give you a small introduction into xeriscaping and perked your interest in saving some water in your landscape.  Feel free to give xeriscaping a try in your landscape and if your in over your head, give the landscape design experts a call at TLC today to help design and install your new xeriscaped landscaped!!!!

Written by Robert Mrdutt

Everyone tends to become a little tired of winter about this time of year and with all the snow piling up in the yard and streets, it makes sense.  Snow drifts can be an unsightly part to a winter yard but can also be used to make a great addition to brighten the hearts of family and those passing by.  Snow sculptures and snow carving can make a winter yard or city park into a magical place.  My first snow sculpture was a 4 ft tall snowman my sister and I constructed outside our living room window.

Where to Start

Snow sculptures sound like a huge ordeal to undertake, but in reality it is not to hard to make a beautiful looking snow sculpture in your yard.  The easiest technique to choose when building one is the carve-away method.  The first step is to make a pile of snow considerably larger than your design.  Snow drifts and old snowmen make a great start.  If you know you are going to make a snow sculpture at some point in the winter, try and pile all your shoveled snow into one place.  Make sure the snow pile has time to set up and freeze so that the snow will be hard enough to carve into.  Always take a look at the design and know what you are building so that you do not remove too much snow.  A basic outline is the first step in building the perfect snow sculpture.

Tools

Here is a list of tools we recommend using for building a snow carving/sculpture.

• Flat Shovel
• Spade Shovel
• Small Chainsaw
• Chalk Line
• Hatchet
• Metal Spatula

The Next Step

Once the rough outline of the sculpture is complete, start using tools to add detail to your project.  If at anytime the snow becomes to powdery, use a spray bottle or a garden house to help the snow firm up.  Make sure to get as artistically detailed as you can, then give the whole sculpture a light spraying with water, and bam!!, you have yourself a snow sculpture for your front yard.

Other Sculptures Made From Nature

Nature is a great medium to make some really cool pieces of art.  One of my favorite artists that use nature as a medium is Andy Goldsworthy.  Here is a link for a trailer for his movie Rivers and Tides.

Hopefully we have inspired some of you to go out and build your own snow sculpture.  It won’t be the easiest thing but keep trying and you will constructing works of art in no time at all!!!

Currently in one of our neighboring states there is a massive invasive tree pest epidemic taking place.  The target, our ash trees, the culprit, the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle.  The invasive beetle is originally native to Asia and parts of Eastern Russia and primarily targets ash trees.  The Emerald Ash Borer was first discovered in America in June of 2002 in Michigan and has destroyed millions of ash trees throughout the Midwest.  The total amount of trees destroyed by the beetle is believed to be approximately 200 million.   The Emerald Ash Beetle is alleged to have been brought to America unintentionally in ash wood which was used to stabilize crates during shipping.

Colorado

Right now Colorado is experiencing a significant problem with these pests.  According to the state of Colorado’s Department of Agriculture, this is the western-most discovery of the beetle in North America.  The epidemic in Colorado has gotten out of control and the state has issued emergency quarantines with fines up to $1000 for removing firewood from a quarantined area, to combat the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer.

Emerald Ash Borer Effects

The Emerald Ash Borer can have significant effects on trees up to and including death.  It only takes these little pests about a year or so to fully damage and kill the tree.  The beetles damage and kill trees by disrupting the flow of nutrients as they head up the tree.  In an infestation, bore holes and serpentine feeding galleries of the larvae basically disrupt the flow of nutrients as they rise up the trunk from the roots to the crown via the phloem (the tree’s vascular structures) just under the bark.  Interestingly enough, the larvae are the most damaging part life stage of beetle; given the fact the larvae do the vascular boring.  Without nutrients, the tree begins to decline and die back.

Prevention

Prevention is the name of the game when controlling the Emerald Ash Borer beetle.  It is possible to prevent the invasive pest through the use of systemic insecticides.  Direct insecticide to the base of the tree, as well as deep root insecticide applications are proven to work effectively.  In areas where the beetle are prevalent and do not have any natural enemies, prevention is one of the only options available.

Take A Look at Your Trees!

Make sure to take a look at your Ash trees in the following months to validate the bug has not reached our area.  If you or someone you know sees or even hears of the Emerald Ash Borer beetle in the area, contact the Wyoming Department of Agriculture to report the incident and make sure our beautiful area does not become infested!!!!!!!!!

Before You Go

Decision making skills is a large part of riding the backcountry.  Before venturing into the backcountry, make sure to check the avalanche forecast in your area and weather conditions for the day.  If you are planning on skiing the backcountry for a season, attend an avalanche safety course or clinic to increase your knowledge.  Always ski with a friend when venturing into the backcountry and make sure to not lose that person; problems are much easier solved with two brains instead of one.  Make sure that you have the proper equipment as well as your fellow members of your backcountry party.  Below is a basic list of equipment you will need along with some additional gear:

Required Gear

• Backpack- a smaller pack can do the trick for access from the resort, but for day touring or snowmobile touring, a larger pack that can fit extra items is preferred
• Avalanche Probe- a metal rod used to poke through avalanche debris for buried skiers
• Avalanche Shovel- collapsible shovel used to dig out avalanche victims
• Avalanche Transceiver- an electronic device worn on the side of the body to aid, has ability to send and receive radio signals
• High Energy Food
• Water

Additional Gear

• Snow Saw
• Airbag Pack
• Clinometers
• Avalung
• Extra Layers

Reading Your Terrain

Recognizing what types of terrain and pathways avalanches take is extremely important and can save your life.  An open pathway down a backcountry run looks like it could be a great run, but could turn out to be an avalanche pathway.  Make sure to look for anchors on the slope you would like to ski.  Anchors are trees, or rocks and other natural aspects of the hill that will catch, stop or slow the slide.  Slope steepness is also an important factor to look at.  Most all avalanches start on hillsides with a slope between 35-40 degrees, but can be started in areas that are as steep as 25 degrees.

Have Fun

The backcountry is an amazing place and with the right level of preparedness can be enjoyed over and over again.  Being over prepared and over knowledgeable will help make sure that every time you venture into the backcountry, you come home safe and sound after enjoying some of the best snow and turns around.  We hope that this article helped increase your avalanche knowledge and sparked the interest to learn more about skiing/riding the backcountry.

Written By Robert Mrdutt

My favorite time of year is winter, but there is one thing that winter brings that makes me dream of summer.  That one thing is driving your car in the winter.  If there was another way to get around in the winter without driving your car, I would be in.  Most folks in our area have the advantage of using the bus system, but without that option, driving your car in the winter is one of the only ways to get around.  Here are some winter car tips that we think will help make driving around in your car a little more enjoyable.

Wipers for Winter

Visibility is one of the most important parts of driving in the winter.  Ice and snow can build up on the windshield and seriously impede vision, but with winter blades, your visibility problems will be significantly reduced.  Try and choose an option that does not have any type of external spring that can potentially freeze up.

Keep Your Gas Tank Half Full

During the winter time fuel lines are more susceptible to freezing.  With your gas tank half full, your fuel lines are less likely to freeze.  If the gas tank is low, condensation can build up inside the tank and get into the fuel.

Keep a Survival Kit

One of the easiest things to do in order to be prepared for a winter car emergency is to keep a small survival kit in the car.  I grew up with scouting and one of the best mottos I learned there was to be prepared.  The kit should be prepared for about two people to survive for 48 hrs.  Food, water, a whistle, gloves and a change of warm clothes should defiantly be included along with fire starting materials and some sort of cutting device.  Throw it under a seat to keep it out of the way of your passengers and now you’re prepared for the worst.  Flashlights also go a long way when your stuck in the dark.

Clean Off Headlights and Taillights

I usually forget this easy step but cleaning off your headlights and taillights will ensure that you will be able to see and be seen better.  Ice can build up in these areas and will make it harder to see and have other vehicles see you.  Another great idea is to brush off your license plate so that law enforcement can see it.

Examine Tires

Tires are an extremely important part of winter driving.  Make sure to take a look at your tire tread and ware patterns before the first snow.  All terrain tires are a good option, but if you are driving in snow for a majority of the winter, think about giving winter tires a try.  You will notice the difference!!!!

Traveling

Traveling in the winter can be problematic.  Always let someone know when you are leaving and when you should be arriving in.  Keep a cell phone with you in case of emergencies.  Plan on leaving with a full tank and fill up all the way whenever you stop.  Also, try and plan your drives for the daytime in order to reduce risk.

Drive Safe!!!!!

Hopefully these winter car tips help make driving during the wintertime more enjoyable for you.  Keep in mind that TLC offers a full service snow removal team, so if you need any help removing snow throughout this winter season, give us a call!!!!!!

What a Great Idea

Here at TLC we have recently come across one of the coolest marketing intiatives ever done by a company.  I have never truly been a big fan of Canadian beer but something that New Molson Canadian Beer is doing might change that.  The scientists up there have come up with something pretty incredible; beer coasters that you can plant into trees.  With each purchase of specially marked New Molson Beer can packs, New Molson is giving away a set of plantable beer coasters.  With a little bit of TLC, ie proper planting and water, these beer coasters will grow into Black Spruce Trees.  It is estimated in 2012 that this program was responsible for planting close to 1 million new trees.  Some companies do environmental promotions but no one has ever done anything like this to help preserve the environment.  The initiative is part of New Molson Canada’s “Red Leaf Project.”

 Red Leaf Project

New Molson Canada’s Red Leaf Project is an environmental initiative like no other.  Consumers volunteer for community service related projects in their surrounding area and then New Molson hooks the participants up with free concert tickets to the wildest music festivals Canada has to offer for their efforts.  So far New Molson has planted 112,000 trees, removed 2200 bags of litter, and removed 6700 bags of invasive species throughout Canadian provinces.  Locations where the project has taken place are Renfrew Ravine, Miller Creek Ravine Park, Wascana Trail and Queens Park just to name a few.  One of the main stipulations is that you have to be of legal drinking age in Canada (19!!!!!) in order to participate.  Participation has been extremely high in the Red Leaf Program and shows how much Canada’s population cares about their homeland.

It is always great to see a business contribute back to their community but it is also nice when you can enjoy the process.  For a Christmas gift for our clients, TLC donated 1000 trees to be planted through the Nature Conservancy on the Atlantic Coast of Brazil as our environmental effort.    New Molson Canadian Beer has done a great job with their campaign and is leading the charge when it comes to environmental marketing programs.  Hopefully a company in the United States will come up with something like New Molson so we all can participate.   Thanks New Molson for helping out the all of us!!!!!!!!

Here at TLC, we are huge advocates of properly designed snow fencing, especially living snow fences, because it makes snow shoveling that much easier!!! Typical constructed snow fences are made of wood, plastic, or metal materials which can be a real eye-sore to the surrounding landscape. Why set up an unsightly and unnatural structure when a living snow fence can bring natural beauty and value to your landscape.

Benefits of Planting a Living Snow Fence

• Low cost of installation
• Sustainable for the environment, sequesters carbon
• Provides food and cover for wildlife
• Helps reduce spring flooding
• Reduces soil erosion and removal costs
• Reduces roadway/driveway maintenance costs (less snow plowing and shoveling, salt and sand)
• Longer life span compared to a constructed snow fence
• Low maintenance once planted
• Adds value to the property
• Aesthetically pleasing over a constructed snow fence

Let’s Get Technical: How Snow Fences Work