Tapping into Stronger, More Diverse Trees

As I drove to work this morning, the light in the eastern sky shown a little brighter than last week, a good sign that spring will be here soon.  Although it is still very cold, it won’t be long before it is time once again to walk in the snowy woods and tap the maple trees to collect sap for nature’s sweetest bounty. 

I’ve been making maple syrup for many years now, and it is one of my favorite activities of the year.  Of course, it wouldn’t be possible without the trees, and with all the foreign pests we’ve seen in recent years, we all need to be aware of the threats and do what we can to protect our natural resources.

The biggest pest in recent years has been the emerald ash borer.  It is now well established across most of the state and has decimated nearly all the ash trees wherever it has arrived.  I’ve seen so many properties where the only trees they had growing were green ash, and they’ve had to cut down all of them, leaving a barren landscape with no wind protection, wildlife habitat, or shade. 

If this happened to you, it may seem obvious now, but replacing your ash trees with multiple species of trees is a key strategy to managing for pests in the future.  We don’t know what the next bug or disease will be next, but if we plant a variety of tree types, hopefully it won’t leave us with nothing when it does happen. 

Here are a few suggestions for replacing your ash trees.  Red Oak: contrary to popular belief, this tree is a fast grower and provides beauty and wildlife habitat.  Sugar maple is another beauty that can provide many benefits, including maple syrup, wildlife habitat, and shade.   Basswood provides pollinator habitat and is a great shade tree.  Bitternut Hickory, Mountain Ash, Quaking Aspen, and Kentucky Coffeetree are good choices as well. 

Remember to mix it up and plant several of these to add species diversity and promote wildlife habitat.  If you need to install a new windbreak or replace an existing one, Rice SWCD may be able to help.  Reach out to us at 507-332-5408 for technical assistance in planning your next project.  We still have a few more weeks of winter, so get outside, go snowshoeing or skiing through the woods, and take in the beauty of winter before the sap starts dripping and the tulips pop out of the ground.

Steve Pahs is the District Manager with the Rice Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact Steve with your questions about conservation practices and programs at 507-332-5408.