Spring cleaning for your forest.
Ahh spring, time for warmer days and longer evenings. Working for Montana State University Extension I have the joy of visiting with landowners all around the region. During these visit we discuss natural resource topics including the health of their forests. Around Big Sky we have a two broad forests. Coniferous and deciduous forest. Coniferous forest are our pines, spruces, and junipers. Our deciduous forest our aspen, willows, cottonwoods. Coniferous forest are the dominant forest type in our region as demonstrated in that most often when I visit a property with a landowner their forest is predominantly conifers. Occasionally, we visit an aspen stand or a stream lined by willows.
Our native trees are tough. They are resilient to our long winters and short summers. However, as tough as they might be it is not uncommon to find individuals suffering from disease, insects, or other stress. Spring is a great time to evaluate the health of your trees and set them on healthier path for the coming summer. Over the years of vising with landowners in the region I have gathered a few tips and tricks that can help you prepare your forest for the coming summer.
The dominant native conifers in our region are Douglas-fir, Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine. When looking for alignments affecting these species look for signs of:
- Mountain pine beetle in Lodgepole, Limber, and Whitebark pine. Look for approximately quarter size bundles of pitch on the truck that looks like popcorn
- Scale in your spruce or pines. Look for brown or fuzzy white dots on the needles that can be scrapped off with your figure nails
- Winter stress in your spruce or pines. Look for browning of needles on the south or west side of the tree
Our native deciduous trees also can be host to an alignments. Look for signs of
- Damaged bark from wildlife feed or rubbing on trees
- Young trees that have been hedged by foraging deer, elk, and moose
- Winter stress which is especially important on newly planted trees and shrubs. You might find die back of branches, discolored or cracking bark, or sloughing of surface bark to reveal dead tissue within the damaged area.
What do you do if you find any of these disease, insects, or stress in your trees? Unfortunately there is not a simple answer; for, it depends on the tree species being impacted and the cause. However, there are some broad recommendations you can take.
- Plant new trees at the proper depth. Plant so that the root ball raises 1 – 2” above the ground level. Planting too deep or too shallow stress the trees and leaves it more susceptible to future problems.
- Water newly planted trees for at least 3 years or until well established. Watering is not limited just to the summer months. During warm, snow free periods of winter you should water your tree with 2 – 3 inches of water every couple weeks.
- Treat, prune, or remove trees with diseases or insects before they spread to the rest of your property or the neighborhood.
- Fence individual or stands of young deciduous trees. High fencing or multi-layer fence can keep hungry wildlife from browsing on your establishing trees. Fence until the trees are at least 6 feet tall.
- Thin stand of conifers to reduce the competition between individual trees for available water, nutrients, and sunlight.
Thinning has the added benefit that if done property will not only leave you a healthier forest but will reduce the risk of wildfire your forest. If this is a goal, consider following FireWise recommendations to create defensible/survivable space around your property. FireWise recommendations include creating a zone of little vegetation nearest the residence and reducing forest fuels as you work your way out from the residence.
Finally, this spring visit with you neighbors, local landscapers, or give me a ring to learn more about the health of the forest around you and what you can do to keep your trees health and growing all year round.
Brad Bauer, MSU Extension – Gallatin County Natural Resource Extension Agent, 406-388-3213, brad.bauer@montana.edu
Montana State University Extension – Gallatin County office is a partnership of Gallatin County and MSU. The Gallatin County office serves our community and is a source of information that is free, unbiased, and informational. Brad Bauer focuses on natural resources management, education, and outreach.
