spring 1998

peaking OutS

The Minnesota

Shade Tree

Advisory

Committee’s

mission is to

advance

Minnesota’s

commitment to the

health, care and

future of all

community forests.

In This Issue2 Community

Profiles: ThiefRiver Falls andRollingstone

4 Forest Health:Ash Yellows

5 The Right Way toPlant a Tree

7 AmendingPlanting Site Soil

9 MnSTAC Awards

10 Directory

11 Tree Potpourri(Events andOpportunities)

ADVOCATE • SPRING ’98

ith spring planting infull swing, one of themain concerns in many

communities is selecting the righttree for the right spot. Choosing species thatthrive in urban areas can present unique chal-lenges, but nature itself gives us clues forincreasing our successes.

Read on and learn more about choosingtrees for urban spaces from George H. Ware,Dendrologist Emeritus at the MortonArboretum in Lisle, IL. These insights are fromhis presentation at the Shade Tree ShortCourse in the Twin Cities in March.

Nature’s Niches: Clues for Selecting Tough Urban Trees

It has been said that more than 80 percentof urban tree problems begin in the soil. Themost common problems for trees planted inrestricted places can be traced to poor drainageand root drowning, summer dehydration ofroots, roots outgrowing the soil volume avail-able to them, increasing water and nutrientneeds and alkalinization or salinization of thesoil. Periodic selective pruning of the crownmay extend the life of the tree, but detrimentalsoil changes such as rising pH levels or increas-ing salinity may not be easily modified.

Judicious reduction of the crown has beenlikened to the grooming of a large bonsai plant.But the bonsai analogy breaks down with thevirtual impossibility of renewinginhospitable soil.

Seasonal evenness of mois-ture is an important considera-tion. Root damage may comefrom prolonged conditions ofeither excessive soil moisture or

of soil dehydration. The root-damaging episodemay be half forgotten by the time crowndieback appears.

Locally indigenous trees generally fare wellin urban parks, campuses, and other openareas. But what about the restricted or inhos-pitable planting places along streets . . . espe-cially in downtown areas? These microenviron-ments are much different than the general cli-matic and soil conditions of the local wood-lands. The phrase “tough trees for tough situa-tions” suggests that for adverse urban environ-ments, we might look to trees from nature’sown tough-tree testing “laboratories” for thebest possibilities.

Floodplains and swamps are tough-treetesting places. Prolonged flooding in spring andexcessively dry soils in summer permit survivalof only those trees evolutionarily adapted to awide range of soil-moisture conditions. Treesthat can tolerate the low oxygen levels of theswamp and floodplain soils can also toleratethe low oxygen levels of clayey and compactedsoils, or the rubble-laden fill material thatsometimes makes up urban soil. The most com-

W

Nature’s Niches

Spring ’98

VOL. 1, NO. 2 • SPRING 1998

1Visit us on the Web at http://willow.ncfes.umn.edu/mnstac/mnstac.htm

PEGG

Y SA

ND

Nature’s Niches continued on p. 3

SPRING ’98 • ADVOCATE

undreds of communitiesthroughout Minnesotaare creating forest pro-

grams that make a difference inthe environment today and createa rich legacy for the future. Someof these forestry efforts have beenin place for many years; othersare just getting started. ThiefRiver Falls in northwesternMinnesota exemplifies a highquality, mature urban forest pro-gram. Rollingstone, in the south-eastern part of the state, is anewcomer to community forestprojects.

Thief River FallsThe strong community forest

program in this Minnesota citytraces its beginnings largely to atree crisis: Dutch Elm Disease.When DED struck, the communi-ty needed help. City managementlearned they needed to have acertified tree inspector on staff inorder to get funding to fight thedisease from the MinnesotaDepartment of Agriculture’sShade Tree Program. There wasno inspector, but city employeesin small communities often shoul-der several responsibilities sim-ply out of economic necessity. Athis supervisor’s request in 1977,John Johnson began taking treeinspector workshops, launchedinto self study and made connec-tions with others in the industry.He joined the MinnesotaArboriculture Society, earned cer-tification as a tree inspector . . .and became Thief River Falls’City Forester and leading treeadvocate.

Over the past twenty-oneyears, Thief River Falls has grad-ually built a strong, healthy com-

munity forest program thatunites students, citizens, thebusiness community, city man-agement, park and street employ-ees in assuring quality results.What began as an effort to main-ly control a single disease hasexpanded to a full range of plant-ing, maintenance, landscapingand beautification projects in thiscommunity of 8100 people.

Johnson believes a key tosuccess even in a mature pro-gram is to stay visible and activein the community. When you’reout there producing quality pro-jects and keeping peopleinvolved, the results are quicklyseen. Arbor Day celebrations, pro-jects with students and citizens,local radio talk shows, presenta-tions to service clubs, tree inspec-tion activities and being able toanswer tree-related questions allserve to keep Thief River Fallscitizens informed and involved.

Today, there is a focus onmore tree planting, but the goalis better tree quality rather thansimple quantity. Proper speciesand site selection, planting, prun-ing, fertilizing and post-plantingcare are top priorities. Speciesselected in recent years include avariety of ashes, sugar maples,lindens, Schubert choke cherries(Canada red) and floweringcrabs. Moderate-to-fast growingstreet trees with low mainte-nance needs and ability to thrivein the region’s high-alkaline soilsare chosen. Red maple will notgrow well and relatively fewconifers dot the landscape.

Collaboration and coopera-tion are critical to tree programsuccess. Keeping close connec-tions with city administrationand working in tandem with

Thief River Falls and

Rollingstone

H

2

Community Forest rofilePPresident’s ornerCGod Dag!

That’s the cheery way Scandinavians greeteach other. Winters’s blahs have given way toleaves and flowers, making everyone morecheery. It makes it easier to enlist volunteers toplant trees. The technical information in thisissue will help you plant the right way. But cor-ral the enthusiasm of spring to get the job done!

The Advocate is an exciting new forum forMnSTAC. More importantly, it reaches out to thewider community to aid our efforts to preserveand renew Minnesota’s urban and communityforests. You are all important to us—and weneed your assistance. For starters, you can:➤ Get involved with your local tree board/committee➤ Contact your regional STAC; become activeor help to form one if none exists➤ Plant a family tree (birthday, weddinganniversary, you make up the occasion) andpledge to care for it.

MnSTAC has grown in numbers and activi-ties over the years, but we need greater diversityto reach and represent all “communities.”Working together, we really can make a differ-ence. Back in 1974, fifteen of us were meeting toadvise state agencies on Dutch elm disease andoak wilt. Don Willeke arrived to lead and galva-nize the group into MnSTAC. Warning ofimpending disaster and advocating state assis-tance for trees led to a “Minnesota miracle,” theShade Tree Bill. This allocation is the largestamount ever spent by a state for tree diseasemanagement, replanting and research.

Today, we still face serious issues:➤ insects like gypsy moth and Japanese beetle➤ development in wooded areas that leave construction damage, increased wind throw andoak wilt➤ floods and storms (wind, ice and tornados),destroying trees, leaving hazards and increas-ing insect/disease problems➤ improper pruning.

If you don’t have a family or personal reasonto plant a tree, at least plant one to replace atree lost in the March tornados. Your summerAdvocate will take an in-depth look at the effectof natural disasters on trees and what we can alldo to help. Meanwhile, keep this spring’s affectedresidents in your prayers.

Glen ShirleyMnSTAC President Shirley lives in a “rurban” area(southern Dakota County). He is Bloomington’s CityForester and an ISA Certified Arborist.

ADVOCATE • SPRING ’98 3

other citydepartmentsis crucial. The tree bud-get competes for the same dollarswith other city needs and mustbe consistently sold to cityadministration. As competitionfor local tax dollars increases,other funding sources are oftenneeded and Johnson may findhimself in the roles of marketeror grant writer. Master garden-ers, garden and nursery organi-zations and community servicegroups are strong allies in plan-ning and implementing ThiefRiver Falls’ urban forest pro-gram.

RollingstoneRollingstone, population 757,

is nestled in the beautiful rollingvalleys near Winona. The town issurrounded by forest, yet no con-centrated effort had been made tocreate a community forest withincity limits until a ReLeaf Grantin 1996 brought people togetherand generated new enthusiasm.

The initial project was tobeautify the grounds of the newelementary school. Created onwhat was formerly a ball field,the treeless schoolgrounds werestark and barren. With the helpof the grant, students, citizens ofthe community and city leaders(whose offices are also in the newschool building) came together toplant and provide regular on-going maintenance to over 50trees. Plantings were especiallyvalued because Rollingstone

Community School isan environmental mag-

net school, with pondsand nature trails nearby.

Both beauty and wildlife habi-tat were taken into account asplantings were planned. Nativespecies have been the plantingsof choice.

The city has gone on todevelop a real community effortfor beautification, including cre-ating a theme, “Nature’sShowcase.” An active Park/TreeBoard plans and implementsopportunities to enhance thecommunity forest. Volunteersreplace trees damaged by snow-mobiles and disease and helppark and recreation staff providecare and maintenance to citytrees. State Highway 248 stretch-es across the south edge of thecity, and a county highway runsthrough the downtown area. Thecity is working with both thecounty and the MinnesotaDepartment of Transportation toplant trees and beautify theareas along these roads. Plans fordowntown area improvementinclude removing wires and polesand adding trees and attractiveplantings along the sidewalksand boulevards.

City efforts have been recog-nized with a 1996 Arbor MonthSite Award and a 1996 MnSTACOutstanding Arbor Day Award.City Clerk Sharon Behrens com-ments that citizens are proud ofbeing named a Tree City USA bythe National Arbor DayFoundation in 1996 and 1997.Enthusiasm is high for continu-ing to build a top quality commu-nity forest.

monly planted street trees of manyMidwestern towns are floodplain trees: silvermaple and green ash. A third floodplainspecies, the American elm, was once the mostcommonly planted street tree in much of theeastern and midwestern USA. Swamp whiteoak, river birch and Drummond red maple areother hardy floodplain species.

Savannas are also tough-tree testingareas. They usually have low rainfall and onlya few kinds of trees. Bur oak, hackberry, hon-eylocust and Kentucky coffeetree are examples.

Even in humid forested regions there arescattered areas where shallow soil formed onlimestone or chalk lies under savanna-likegroupings of hawthorns, viburnums, dogwoods,junipers and oaks. Trees naturally at home onshallow clay over limestone may cope well withthe difficult substrata of urban planting places.

Insufficient rainfall may limit the distribu-tion of trees with a large geographic range.These border trees have been stress-tested andselected by nature for millennia and providesources of genetic materials from which toughtrees may be selected. Some examples of foresttrees that have range edges west of theMississippi river are American linden, sugarmaple, black maple, red maple, red oak, whiteash and ironwood. A tree from a dry, droughtyborder section of its geographic range appearsto have better coping capacity for urban sitesthan does a tree from a more climaticallyfavorable part of the range. Trees from drierparts of their range have higher genetic root-crown ratios than trees from more favorablespots. The more extensive root systems provideextra resilience and margin for recovery whenadversity strikes, especially drought. A moreextensive root system, increasing the likelihoodof greater survivability, may mean slower topgrowth. But rapid top growth is usually a pri-ority in nursery production.

Another approach to choosing successfulurban trees for adverse environments is toseek out pioneer species. These are the treesthat colonize open fields or newly formed landsurfaces such as barren areas left after coal orgravel removal. These hardy trees have thecapacity to endure a lot of environmentaladversity, both above ground and in their rootsystems. Their success in nature’s laboratorydemonstrates their capacity to cope in human-made adverse situation. Midwestern examplesare species of sumacs, hawthorns, elms, dog-woods, willows and poplars.

Nature’s Niches, from p. 1

SPRING ’98 • ADVOCATE4

hite ash and green ashare among the most com-monly planted landscape

trees in Minnesota and much of themidwest. The ash is adaptable andgenerally hardy, but it is suscepti-ble to a common health problemknown as “ash decline.”

Ash decline can result from anumber of causes, including vari-ous diseases, insects and environ-mental stresses. One contributingcause, discovered in the 1980s, is adisease called ash yellows. Whilethis progressive and challengingdisease is still incurable, it neednot be fatal if the tree is well caredfor and protected against unduestresses.

Ash yellows is caused by a spe-cialized type of bacteria called aphytoplasma. It has no cell walls,lives in the phloem of a host andcannot be grown in a laboratory.The phytoplasms damage the treeby collecting in the phloem, inter-fering with the movement of plantsugars, reducing starch accumula-tion in the roots and altering plantnutrition and growth. Preciselyhow the disease is spread is notknown, but phloem-feeding insectsare the main suspects. Leafhoppersare common and suspected, but notconfirmed. Grafting, even amonglilacs and ash, can also spread theorganisms.

The disease occurs throughoutmost of the United States exceptthe far west and the south. It isalso prevalent in southern Canada.Mixed land use areas such as wood-lots, hedgerows, urban forests andwindbreaks are at greater risk forash yellows than are large forests.White ash is most susceptible;green ash is intermediate in sus-ceptibility, while velvet ash appearsto be tolerant. A nine-city study inIowa and Wisconsin in 1994

revealed common frequency rangesfrom 3–19%. In Falcon Heights,Minnesota, frequency was 14% andthe forest near the St. Paul Academywas 34%. In a Great Plains study, thefrequency rate for urban-rural treeswas 68% and for woodland trees 46%.

Ash yellows is typically a chronicdisease. It can grow undetected formany years until environmentalstresses such as drought, compactedor poor soil, cold injury or insect infes-tations bring on the decline of thetree.

Identifying Ash YellowsReduced growth rate, branch

dieback (scattered death of branchesand crown) and forked twigs (calleddeliquescent branching, which makesbranch ends look somewhat tufted)are all clues to ash yellows, but theycan also be symptoms of other condi-tions. The only reliable diagnosticsymptom in the field is witches’brooming. A witches’ broom is a clus-ter of short (usually less than a footlong), spindly, upright twigs originat-ing from a single point. They usuallyappear on trunks or branches. Each ofthe twigs sprouts at its nodes, giving

the broom a bushy appearance. Foliagetends to be small and ranges in colorfrom pale green to yellow. It may losethe characteristic compound leaf pat-tern, appearing as simple leaves.

Witches’ broom by itself isn’t areliable indicator of the disease, how-ever. Most infected trees producewitches’ broom under the right condi-tions, but at any given time, manyinfected trees do not show the symp-tom. A lab test is the only way to diag-nose with certainty. A fluorescentmicroscope examination called a DAPItest can determine the presence ofphytoplasms in small roots.

Management TipsThe pattern of distribution needs

research and could be important forfuture control of the disease. Researchof cultivars and root stocks has thepotential to clarify important informa-tion about resistance to ash yellowsorganisms. Carefully inspecting nurs-ery stock for witches’ brooms beforeusing it for grafting is prudent. Closefield inspections and early detectionfollowed by good care (watering,mulching, light fertilizing, etc.) helpsinfected trees maintain their vitality.Infected trees with significant diebackand progressive decline should beremoved.

While ash yellows does not meanautomatic death for a tree, it is a callfor observation and special care.

This article is based on information fromthe “Ash Yellow and Ash Decline” workshoppresented by Dr. Mark Gleason at theUniversity of Minnesota, St. Paul Campusin March, 1998. Dr. Gleason is an extensionplant pathologist at Iowa State University,Ames, Iowa.

Ash Yellows: Your Ash Tree Can Live With It

W

COUR

TESY

RAI

NBOW

TREE

CAR

E

The clearest sign of ash yellows is theappearance of witches’ brooms.

ADVOCATE • SPRING ’98

top of the soil. Tip: The uppermost root shouldbe just below the soil surface. See drawing forproper depth.

➤ Backfill around the roots with the soilthat was removed. Lightly pack or water thesoil during this process to eliminate air pock-ets. Backfill to the height of the root ball, nohigher.

➤ MULCH with four to six inches of coarsewood chips or shredded bark. Pull the mulchback from the trunk to prevent direct contactwith the root collar and trunk.

➤ Water is very important to a newly plant-ed tree. A slow, soil-saturating trickle a coupletimes a week is a good rule of thumb for anew tree, but varies depending on soil typeand plant size. This should provide the new

The Right Wayto Plant a Tree

by Gary Johnson and Cindy Ash

The Right Way to Plant a Tree

5

COUR

TESY

MIN

NESO

TA TR

EE TR

UST

rees can be purchased in many sizes, asbare root, containerized or balled and

burlapped specimens. Basic planting isthe same but handling and special con-siderations apply, depending on the sizeand type.

Tips for All Trees➤ Select the right plant for the site. Basethis on the soil type, soil pH, surface and sub-soil drainage, and exposure to sun, wind andde-icing salts.

➤ Prepare the site by removing the sod.Loosen the soil by tilling or spading an areathree to five times wider in diameter thanthe width of the root system, and only to thedepth of the root system.

➤ Dig a hole in the center of this circlethat is one foot larger in diameter than theroot ball and is exactly as deep.

➤ Maintain undisturbed (not loosened) soilbeneath the root ball to prevent the tree fromsettling.

➤ Carefully place the tree in the centerof the hole and double-check that the root col-lar (lowest part of the trunk, immediatelyabove the uppermost root) is just above the

T

Rootcollar

Ground line

T-bud swell

Make sure the rootcollar is just abovethe top of the soil.

Backfill half way with the soil that was removed, and water.

The new way to plant a tree: prepare a wide-diameter site and dig aproperly sized hole in the center.

The old way

SPRING ’98 • ADVOCATE

roots with sufficient moisture without drown-ing them. They need oxygen, too! Adjust thewatering schedule accordingly for rain or verydry conditions.

Don’t Forget To:

➤ Inspect containerized and container-growntrees prior to planting to see if the roots arepot bound-circling around themselves. (Avoid

purchase of pot bound plants ifpossible). If pot bound, removethe pot and make a vertical sliceup each quarter of the root ballto a depth of about one inch. Cutan X across the bottom of thesoil ball to a depth of about oneinch. Gently loosen some of theroots, then plant.

➤ Inspect bare root trees forbroken roots and all trees for broken branchesprior to planting. Remove any of these with asharp hand pruner. Also, remove crossing orrubbing branches.

➤ Keep all types of root systems moist priorto planting. Moist straw or sawdust works wellfor bare root trees.

➤ Soak bare root trees in water one hourprior to planting.

➤ Sweat bare root trees in a shaded placesuch as a garage and keep them moist untilthe buds open. Sweating is a process that cre-ates favorable conditions necessary for budbreak and development on certain tree species,such as oaks and hackberries.

➤ Remove all containers prior to planting,including biodegradable, papier-mache pots. If the roots and soil are loose in the con-tainer, then place the container in theplanting hole and carefully cut away thecontainer as you backfill with soil.

➤ Be sure all roots extend away from thetrunk to prevent future problems with encir-cling and stem girdling roots.

➤ Remove the upper two rungs on wire bas-kets before completely backfilling. Do notremove any of the wire basket before the treeis safely in the planting hole and is partiallybackfilled!

➤ Remove the nails holding the burlaptogether; then cut away the burlap after theplant has been partially backfilled. Never

allow any burlap to remain above the soil surface.

➤ Cut and remove all twine and rope fromaround the soil ball after planting.

➤ Prevent animal damage to young trees byplacing a cylinder of 1/4 inch mesh hardware clotharound the trunk, leaving two to three inchesbetween the wire and the trunk.

Tips For Special Situations:

➤ For heavy and/or poorly drained soils, plantslightly higher than normal and mound the soil upto cover the roots.

➤ Do not add peat to poorly drained, clayey soils,as it can act as a sump and draw water into theroot zone.

➤ Do not add rocks or gravel to the bottom of aplanting hole to improve drainage-unless connect-ed to drain tile.

➤ When using tree spades, water the trees thor-oughly before moving them. Rough up the sides ofthe planting holes with a shovel or rake, thenplace the trees slightly higher than the originalgrade to allow for settling.

➤ If using a weed control barrier, use a porouslandscape fabric. Do not use plastic around trees.

6

Score theroot ball.

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

For poorly drained soils,plant slightly higher andmound the backfilled soilto cover the roots.


ld habits are comfortable and often dif-ficult to change, especially when opin-

ions, “facts” and “research” seem to contradicteach other. The value of amending backfill soilwith peatmoss, manure, hydrogels, microbialinoculants or fertilizer has been a point of con-troversy with tree planters recently, and oldhabits and opinions have often distortedresearch-based information.

Amending soils implies that something isadded or deleted, but most amending practicessimply add materials to the soil. In the spirit of simplicity, let’s refer to any changes to aplanting site as acts of amending. There is nowa lot of research-based information on amendingat planting time, and most of it is remarkablyconsistent when put into perspective. The mostimportant perspective to apply to this researchis that not every woody plant has beenresearched, nor every soil type, transplantingmethod, region of the U.S. or size of plant mater-ial.

Water is the most critical “amendment.”Supplying adequate water to transplanted treesand shrubs is the definitive factor for plant sur-vival and long-term health. It greatly overridesthe negative effects of soil compaction, nutrientdeficiencies and turf competition, and amplifiesthe benefits of organic and microbial amend-ments, deep cultivation and surface mulching.Poorly-drained soil, soil that percolates slowlyand/or remains water-logged for long periods oftime, is the most common cause of plant mortali-ty. Amendments that enhance optimal soil waterretention, which varies for different species andsoil types, are beneficial; amendments thataggravate soggy soil conditions should be avoid-ed. Pretty logical.

Surface mulching with organic materials isthe most effective use of time and materials in

Amending Planting Site SoilIt Makes You Feel Good,But What About the Trees?

by Gary Johnson

Dispel A ythM

O

Know Your Soils

➤ Test the soil for pH andnutrients. Contact your localExtension office.

➤ Test the soil for drainage.Dig a hole 24” deep, and fill itwith water. All water shoulddrain within 24 hours.

➤ Test the soil for com-paction. You should be able toeasily dig down two spadedepths (about 18”). If the soilis too hard to dig, either don’tplant there, or loosen the soilin an area with a diameter often feet.

Stake if necessary, forno more than one year.

➤ Staking: Generally not necessarybut if the tree is unstable should beapplied to allow for some movementand then REMOVED within oneyear. Connect the tree to the stakeswith wide (two inches or wider), flexi-ble materials, such as strips ofburlap, canvas or old bicycle innertubes. Avoid ropes, strings or wires ingarden hose sections.

Gary R. Johnson is an associate professorof Urban and Community Forestry at theUniversity of Minnesota, Department ofForest Resources. Cindy Ash is Director ofScientific Services at the AmericanPhytopathological Society.

Specification graphics modified or takenfrom “Inspection and ContractAdministration Guidelines for Mn/DOTLandscape Projects, 1997 Edition,” exceptas noted. Amending Soil continued on p. 8


Tree City USA is an annual program thatrecognizes communities for their urban forestryprograms and activities. It is sponsored by theNational Arbor Day Foundation in cooperationwith state foresters and the USDA ForestService.

The annual statewide Tree City USARecognition Luncheon took place March 26 atMajestic Oaks in Ham Lake, MN. Two regionalrecognition events also took place at the NECommunity Forestry Workshop in Cloquet onFebruary 4th and at the NW CommunityForestry Workshop in Crookston on March 10th.

Tree City USA ‘Facts’:■ Minnesota had 132 Tree City USA communi-ties recognized in 1997. Minnesota is in the ‘top-3’ nationally of states awarding Tree City USA.Ohio and Illinois have more Tree City communi-ties, but the two states have almost twice asmany communities and double the population ofMinnesota. ■ The Minnesota cities of Frazee and Pillagerare first-time Tree City USA communities thisyear. Fergus Falls is the state’s oldest Tree City,having certified for 20 years.Although the numbers of new Tree City USAcommunities haven’t increased as rapidly as inthe past, there are still many Minnesota com-munities that have the potential to become aTree City USA. All that is needed is encourage-ment or interest in starting or expanding cur-rent city tree programs.■ Ten Minnesota communities received 1997Growth Awards for new or significantlyimproved tree activities: Austin, Blaine, EagleLake, Eden Prairie, Ham Lake, Luverne, MapleGrove, Minneapolis, Ramsey and White BearLake.■ Northern States Power received a Tree LineUSA award for a second year. Tree Line USA isa relatively new NADF program that encouragesutilities to follow proper practices that safeguardtrees.

For more information on Tree City USA orother NADF programs contact your city forester,city hall or the closest DNR Area Forestry office.

regard to transplant survival and long-termhealth. Two to six inches of mulch for as muchof the surface area around a plant as you cantolerate normally results in noticeably improvedsurvival rates, transplant shock recovery andsubsequent growth. Combined with adequateirrigation on a regular basis, these two “amend-ments” are the most effective measures to take.

Loosening the soil prior to planting effec-tively eliminates the negative effects that com-pacted soil has on new trees that are recovering

from transplant shock. Loosen down tothe depth of the tree’s root system, andhorizontally to a distance of at least threetimes the width of the roots. By looseningthe compacted soil, cracks and fissureswill provide avenues of growth andexpansion for the newly-developing rootsas well as quicker re-establishment of thecharacteristic root:shoot ratio of a tree orshrub.

Amending the backfill soil withorganic materials often results in fastertransplant recovery and greater shootgrowth, if soil moisture is maintainednear an optimal level. If the newly-plant-ed trees and shrubs are not given supple-mental water, or if the soil becomeswater-logged, amendments have no effectat best, and negative effects at worst.

If planting site soils are nutrientdeficient, adding slow-release fertilizer atlow to moderate rates benefits many

plants by improving long-term health andgrowth. Adding microbial inoculants and organicmatter to sterile or near sterile soils, and espe-cially if those inoculants are combined withslow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer additions,often results in higher transplant survival ratesand faster root regeneration. However, simplyadding fertilizer to the backfill soil has littleeffect on plant survival and long-term health ifthe original soil was not severely deficient tostart with. And adding massive amounts ofnitrogen to any backfill soil often has negativeeffects on survival and long-term health.

So, to summarize: loosen compacted soils toa distance at least three times the width of theplant’s root spread, amend with organic materi-als if the soil is deficient in organic material,add nutrients and microbial inoculants if thesoil is severely deficient and/or “sterile,” sur-face mulch and keep soil moisture at an opti-mal level. If you don’t water the plants, the restof your efforts are wasted or possibly evenharmful.

Amending Soil, from p. 7

Amendments that

enhance optimal

soil water reten-

tion , , , are bene-

ficial; amend-

ments that aggra-

vate soggy soil

conditions should

be avoided. Pretty

logical.


MnSTAC 1997 AwardsThe 1997 Minnesota Shade Tree

Advisory Committee Awards programwas held in conjunction with theTree City USA awards on March 26,1998 at Ham Lake, MN. The awardsare an opportunity to recognize andacknowledge the efforts of individu-als, organizations, corporations andgovernmental units as part of the col-lective vision for the future ofMinnesota’s community forests. Thisyear’s winners are:

■ Outstanding Volunteer Project Highway 11 LandscapingPartnership, Warroad

For: Organizing and implementingthe most innovative and successful pro-ject actively involving volunteers.

A partnership between the Boyand Girl Scouts, Lions Club, Eagles,area garden clubs, citizens and the MNDepartment of Transportation resultedin a reforesting and beautification pro-ject on the main road through the city.

■ Outstanding Youth Project Growing Together into the Future(G.I.F.T.), Austin

For: Organizing and implementingthe most notable youth project.

G.I.F.T. is a student-directed pro-ject at Austin High School with thevision of creating a park-like setting atthe school.

■ Outstanding Partnership United Power Association andAnoka Electric Cooperative,Northern Metro

For: Jointly implementing a pro-ject that demonstrates a high level ofcooperative spirit and effort.

United Power Association, AnokaElectric Cooperative and Tree Trusthave been involved in many urbanforestry projects since 1992. The part-ners have provided over $400,000 tothese endeavors and have provideddirect education and project support toover 45,000 students, teachers, volun-teers, builders and developers, realtorsand professional arborists and spon-sored over 80 community plantings.

■ Outstanding Arbor Day/ArborMonth CelebrationLongfellow Community and theMinneapolis Park and RecreationBoard

For: Organizing the celebrationsthat best commemorate and further theArbor Day ideal.

A collaboration between the school,community and the Minneapolis Parkand Recreation Board resulted in theofficial Minneapolis Arbor Day site atLongfellow Community School. The cel-ebration, “Growing Community,” was afestival of planting, parades and cere-mony.

■ Distinguished Service AwardKermit Nelson, Hawley

For: MnSTAC member contributingmost significantly to urban and commu-nity forestry on behalf of MnSTAC.

In his 20 years as Street and ParkForeman, Kermit Nelson has estab-lished a tremendous legacy for the cityof Hawley. Among his many projects is aDutch elm disease control program,reforestation with the planting of nearly1,200 trees and a tree maintenance pro-gram with an emphasis on trainingyoung trees. The community will contin-ue to be recognized as an oasis in theprairie for years to come, in part due tothe efforts of Kermit Nelson.

■ Tree Care Advisor of the YearLorrie Stromme

For: Tree Care Advisor contributingmost significantly to urban and commu-nity forestry through community servicework.

Lorrie Stromme’s projects includeworking with the City Tree project inrallying community volunteers to main-tain trees on vacant, tax-fortifiedbrownfields; Windom Park Arbor Day;Central Avenue Streetscape; NSPTriangle and working with the city ofMinneapolis on a city tree ordinance.

■ Special Merit AwardUrban and Community ForestryNatural Disaster Mitigation Efforts;Terri Smith, Hazard MitigationPlanner

For: Unique exemplary achieve-ments in community forestry serving asan innovative model for other programs.

Terri Smith helped establish a pow-erful coalition among the Mn DNR, the

USDA Forest Service, the FederalEmergency Management, the MN Dept.of Emergency Management and otheragencies to more effectively plan andrespond to natural disaster mitigationopportunities. Her efforts and the rela-tionships she has established serve as amodel to be used throughout the US.

Certificates of Recognition■ Achievement CertificateAvon Elementary School, Avon

For: The implementation of projectsthat significantly contribute to the com-munity forest.

High school student Kurt Larson,working toward his Eagle Scout award,developed and implemented a communi-ty landscape project for the AvonElementary School. The initial projectlaid a foundation for future projects thatunite community youth with adult vol-unteers in creating and sustaining theforest in their community.

■ Sponsorship CertificateRyan Companies US, Inc.

For: The generous financial supportand sponsorship of volunteer projects.

Each year the Ryan Companies US,Inc. Eco Team seeks to work in partner-ship projects with local communities toenhance the environment. The 1997 pro-ject planted sixty trees in northeastMinneapolis and provided funding thatincludes future watering and treereplacements if needed.

■ Stewardship CertificateFor: Demonstrating responsible

urban forest management decisions andpractices.DNR Division of Forestry: ForestInsect and Disease Newsletter (Ed. Jana Albers)

Since 1981, this publication has pro-vided timely information on disease andinsect problems throughout the state.Anoka-Hennepin Independent SchoolDistrict #11 Maintenance Support

Throughout the planning and imple-mentation of each planting project, stu-dents, staff and volunteers are educatedabout community forests and the main-tenance they require. These mainte-nance activities support the importanceof long-term planning for a healthyurban forest.


About MnSTACThe Minnesota

Shade Tree AdvisoryCommittee (MnSTAC)was established in 1974by a group of concernedcitizens to address thehealth and well being ofcommunity forests.MnSTAC provides aforum where people forgea collective vision for thefuture of Minnesota’scommunity forests and:

• advocates for publicand private communityforestry interests

• unites for theexchange and dissemina-tion of ideas and infor-mation

• serves as the StateUrban Forest Council toadvise the State Foresteron the implementation ofstate and federally-fund-ed programs.

MnSTAC is recog-nized throughoutMinnesota and the coun-try for its expertise,advice, coordination andsupport for communitytrees. It is an organiza-tion of diverse individu-als who represent abroad spectrum of tree-related interests. It fos-ters and supports localcommunity tree programsacross the state sohealthy communityforests are fully integrat-ed into community devel-opment, infrastructure,education and manage-ment.

The MnSTACresources listed hereencourage your calls,questions and sharing ofideas.

MNSTAC BOARD OF DIRECTORSPresident: Glen Shirley, City of BloomingtonPhone: 612/948-8760Fax: 612/948-8770Vice President: Dorothy JohnsonPhone: 612/451-3457Katie Himanga, Heartwood ForestryPhone: 612/345-4976Ken Holman, DNR ForestryPhone: 612/772-7565Mike Max, EnvironMentor Systems, Inc.Phone: 612/753-5505Gary Johnson, U of M Forest ResourcesPhone: 612/625-3765Dwight Robinson, MN Dept. of AgriculturePhone: 612/296-8578Ralph Sievert, Mpls. Parks and Rec. BoardPhone: 612/370-4900

MNSTAC COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

Arbor Month PartnershipChair: Ken Holman, DNR ForestryPhone: 612/772-7565

Constitution and Election CommitteeChair: Ken Simons, Ramsey County ParksPhone: 612/748-2500

Education and Research CommitteeChair: Gary Johnson, U of M Forest ResourcesPhone: 612/625-3765

Forest Health CommitteeChair: Steve Kunde, Kunde CompanyPhone: 612/484-0114

Legislative CommitteeChair: Mark Schnobrich, City of HutchinsonPhone: 320/234-4459

Outreach CommitteeCo-Chairs:Peter Bedker, TreescapesPhone: 612/682-9562Mike Max, EnvironMentor Systems, Inc.Phone: 612/753-5505

Planning CommitteeChair: Janette Monear, Twin Cities Tree TrustPhone: 612/920-9326

Publicity and Awards CommitteeChair: Terri Goodfellow-Heyer, MN StateHorticultural SocietyPhone: 612/643-3601

Scholarship CommitteeChair: Ralph Sievert, Mpls. Park and Rec. BoardPhone: 612/370-4900

Tree Emergency Response Task ForceChair: Katie Himanga, Heartwood ForestryPhone: 612/345-4976

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

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

Regional Shade Tree Advisory Committees

To add more voices to the forum and encouragenetworking more easily at the local level, threeregional MnSTAC units are in place.

Southeast STACSoutheast STAC represents communities in

the eleven counties that are part of the HiawathaValley Resource Conservation and DevelopmentArea.

For information about Southeast STAC, contact:Chair: Henry SorensonAsst. Pub. Service Director, City of Red Wing 612/385-3674Sec./Treas.: Katie HimangaHeartwood Forestry, Lake City 612/345-4976

Headwaters-Agassiz STACHASTAC, the Headwaters-Agassiz Shade Tree

Advisory Committee, was formed about a year agoas a regional branch of MnSTAC. The NW RegionalDevelopment Commission is the fiscal agent.

Recent activities include co-hosting theNorthwest Minnesota Community ForestConference on March 10 at the University ofMinnesota, Crookston, with the luncheon and TreeCity USA awards. MnSTAC chair Glen Shirley andmany other Committee members were present forthe event.

HASTAC is planning to present pruning work-shops in the near future.

For information about HASTAC contact:Chair: John JohnsonCity Forester, City of Thief River Falls 218/681-1835Sec./Treas.: Jeff EdmondsDNR Forestry, Bemidji 218/755-2891

West Central STACWest Central STAC started in 1997 to help

communities in the northwest region share ideas,information and local success stories in managingcommunity trees. The group has since met to dis-cuss the committee’s purpose and to promote it tocommunities.

WESTAC recently worked with HASTAC andthe University of Minnesota, Crookston to recog-nize Tree City USA award winners at the annualNorthwest Minnesota Community Forest Workshopat Crookston.

For information about WESTAC, contact:Chair: Bob FogelDirector of Parks, City of Moorhead 218/299-5497Sec./Treas.: Dave JohnsonDNR Forestry, Detroit Lakes 218/847-1596

STAC

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Events and ConferencesMay 29—MSA Spring

Workshop: DiagnosingPlant Disorders, St. Paul,MN. Contact Tom Dunlap612/536-0550

May 30—MN Tree ClimbingChampionship and TradeShow, St. Paul, MN. ContactDave Sundmark 612/488-7291

June 15-19—Restoring theUrban Forest Ecosystem,Lago Mar Hotel, Ft.Lauderdale, FL. Contact Dr.Mary Duryea 352/846-0896

June 19-20—9th AnnualMinnesota EnvironmentalEducation Conference,Collegeville, MN. ContactJeff Ledermann, OEA612/215-0236

Aug. 2-5—ISA 1998 AnnualConference and TradeShow, Birmingham,England. Contact to beannounced.

MSA Certified Arborist ExamsJune 12— Douglas County

Extension Office,Alexandria, MN.

Sept. 11—Anoka CountyExtension Office, AnokaMN.

For both, contact GaryJohnson 612/625-3765

OpportunitiesThrough June, 1999—

MnReleaf Forest Healthgrants available; DNRRegional Office or 612/772-7925

Internet—Homepages etc.

• Minnesota Department ofNatural Resourceshttp://www.dnr.state.mn.us

• MnSTAC Homepagehttp://willow.ncfes.umn.edu/mnstac/mnstac.htm

• National Arbor DayFoundationhttp://www.arborday.org

• QuantiTree 2.0 computersoftware informationhttp://www.quantitree.com

• U of MN EnvironmentalEvents Calendarhttp://www.umn.edu/cura/env496.htm

• Urban Forestry: ABibliography, 1996 versionhttp://minerva.forestry.umn.edu/urb/

Special NotesFunding for Oak WiltSuppression: SouthernMinnesota

For the first time ever,financial assistance will beavailable to suppress oakwilt, a vascular wilt diseasethat kills large numbers ofoaks annually in Minnesota,according to Department ofNatural Resources officials.Any landowner may apply totake part in the program, setto begin this spring and sum-mer. Suppression projectswill be approved for accept-able practices such as vibra-tory plowing. Chemical meth-ods of trenching may beapproved in inaccessibleareas.

To take part and to learnmore, landowners shouldcontact their local area DNR

Tree otpourriforestry offices in Caledonia,Faribault, Lake City,Rochester, Lewiston,Mankato or New Ulm.

Need a Prescription?• What’s this bug on my oak?• Why is anthracnose so badthis year? • Should I try tocontrol spruce budworm defo-liation?

If you get questions likethis or are just interested inshade tree and forest health,you might you want to readthe DNR’s Forest Insect andDisease Newsletter.

The newsletter coversoddball pests as well as thecommon diseases and insectsmost tree advocates are like-ly to encounter. Along with arange of pest information,weather events are discussedlight of their effects on treehealth. Five issues are produced from May toOctober.The subscription isfree and it’s also on-line at:

Dear Tree Advocate,We want to hear from you! What are your thoughts about thenew Advocate newsletter?

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❑ I want more information about joining the Minnesota ShadeTree Advisory Committee (MnSTAC).

❑ I do not wish to receive the Minnesota Shade Tree Advocate.Please remove me from your mailing list.

Mail to: Jan HoppeMinnesota Shade Tree Advocate115 Green Hall, 1530 Cleveland Ave. N.St. Paul, MN 55108

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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

Printed on recycledpaper using soy-basedinks.

Minnesota ReLeaf Grant Program1997-99 Grant Program

Over 80 local units of government,schools and non-profits across Minnesotawill complete 88 tree planting and dozens offorest health projects in this biennium.Students, city staff and volunteers will plantover 10,000 trees to restore habitats, saveenergy, benefit wildlife, reduce erosion andprovide educational opportunities. An esti-mated 150 oak wilt infection areas will betreated, primarily in southeastern and cen-tral Minnesota communities that were noteligible to participate in past oak wilt sup-pression programs. Other immediate treehealth problems and catastrophic damagedue to natural disasters will also be treated.

All the projects are part of theMinnesota Department of Natural Resources’Minnesota ReLeaf Tree Planting andPreservation Grant Program. Funding wasapproved by the Minnesota Legislature asrecommended by the Legislative Commissionon Minnesota Resources (LCMR). The grantswere awarded by Mn ReLeaf SteeringCommittees in each DNR region. Tree-planti-ng grants ranging from $323 to $10,000 eachwere awarded. Competition for funds waskeen; requests were well beyond the moneyavailable. The quality and diversity of theprojects, collaborative partnerships and com-mitment to ongoing maintenance are thehighest in the six years of the program.

Mn ReLeaf educational materials havebeen distributed for the many volunteer andhomeowner training workshops that are nowintegral to local programs. Coordination

among state agencies, the University ofMinnesota and non-profits such as theHorticultural Society and Tree Trust provideconsistently good, research-based informa-tion and quality workshops statewide.Participation in these events is increasing,resulting in better-trained staff and volun-teers at the neighborhood level.

1999-2001 Grant ProgramThe LCMR is being asked to recommend

$700,000 in funding by the Legislature forthe Mn ReLeaf Matching Grant Program. Iffunded, matching grants will be provided toplant trees, restore woodland habitats, pro-tect against oak wilt and construction dam-age and develop GIS-based community forestassessments.

In this biennium, an estimated 15,000native trees will be planted in about 80 com-munities and some 400 oak wilt infectioncenters will be treated. About ten GIS-basedcommunity forest assessments and manage-ment plans will be completed to help commu-nities integrate management of naturalresources into their infrastructure, zoningand comprehensive planning processes.

MnSTAC’s Recommended ActionSupport $700,000 in funding for the

Minnesota ReLeaf Matching GrantProgram during the 1999-2001 bienni-

spring 1998

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