Vincent Controne Extension Forester There is an epidemic spread ing throughout the state and country that is slowly killing trees and shrubs in our land scapes. No, it isn’t another dis ease or insect we accidentally imported from another country, such as the Asian Longhorned Beetle that is killing trees in New York City and Chicago or Dutch Elm Disease, which changed our landscapes in the 1960 s and ’7os. And unlike some of these imported pests, this epi demic can be prevented very easily. This epidemic is caused by misapplication of mulch around our trees and shrubs. We are over-mulching our trees and shrubs to death. Mulching is a terrific way to add organic matter and nutrients, conserve soil moisture, and prevent lawn mowers from injuring trees and shrubs, but it is just being put on way too thick and piled too high on trunks and stems. When mulches are put on too thick and piled against the stems of trees and shrubs, they begin to suffocate roots and create a moist environment in which opportunistic decay fungi such as Phytophora, Armillaria, and Leptographium attack the trunk and roots, causing root rots, a decline in plant health, crown dieback, and tree failures. Besides causing the roots and stems to rot, over-mulching pre vents the movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out of stems; leads to rodent chewing and stem girdling, nutrient defi ciencies, and the production of toxic organic acids; and often We can help. We have information and experience with new and existing SAKATA varieties that are changing the market and may return you more profit. We can help! Call us today. We are committed to your success SAKATA SEED AMERICA, INC. Siegers EED CO. Order online! www.siegers.com Heai Epidemic Effects Landscape Trees causes roots to grow up into thick mulch, only to dry out in hot summers, or form girdling roots that encircle the trunk. It seems to be fashionable these days for landscapers and homeowners to create these mountainous mulch “vol- EBENSBURG (Cambria Co.) The hot topic of genetic im provement programs is no new thing to the maple syrup indus try. “In the 1940 s and 19505, sugar maple researchers at the U.S. Forest Service Philadelphia Research Center began to un derstand that sugar content was a genetic factor and began test ing many species of sugar maples across the country to learn more about breeding a ‘sweet tree’,” said Colin Camp bell, director of the Cornell- Uihlein Sugar Maple Research/ Extension Field Station near Lake Placid, N.Y. Then, in the 19605, under the direction of Dr. William Ga briel, “sweet tree” research con tinued with the testing of more than 21,000 trees in the north east U.S. for sugar content. “Fifty-three trees were se lected as suitable parents and these were cloned as rooted cut tings and placed in an isolated orchard,” said Campbell. In the last 10 years, additional parents have been located, cloned, and planted in the Cornell-Uihlein Sugar Maple Field Station’s clonal orchards. As part of Campbell’s re- * - H 'n / Blake Myers Central & Eastern PA (877) 879-1407 canoes” at the base of trees. Un fortunately this continues because there is a lack of knowl edge about how trees really grow and the harm caused by this practice. A quick walk in the woods 6 Sweet Trees’ From Genetic Improvement search and extension program, the field station near Lake Placid provides local maple pro ducers the opportunity to receive up to 20 genetically im proved sugar maple trees annu ally. This year, with the help of Penn State Cooperative Exten sion, three local growers were able to receive “sweet trees.” The growers were Eric Arnold from Rockwood, Romauld Caroff from Windber, and Ger- UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) A program of fered by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will help meet the needs of the turfgrass and agricultural equipment in dustry for highly qualified ser vice technicians. The Turfgrass and Agricul tural Equipment (TAE) Service Technician Certificate program will train technicians to meet the needs of this service area. Developed with input from industry representatives serving on an advisory council, this two year certificate program is of fered at the University Park (419) 445-1700 Penn State Offers Program For Turfgrass, Ag Equipment Techs Phil Short Western PA Call to receive our FREE 2003 Forage Harvester & Combine Catalog OOhO KC Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 6, 2003-D5 will illustrate how trees have a natural flare where their trunks meet the soil (visible even on young tiees). It is important that we not cover that flare with soil or mulch. Spread the mulch out m a layer that is no thicker than 3-4 inches, and don’t pile it up gory Gerhard from Rockwood. In order to participate in the program, each grower had to get on a waiting list, agree to allow access to the trees for testing, document the growth of each tree annually, and pay the field station $5 per tree to cover costs. The trees arrive in cardboarc boxes as bare-root seedlings less than two feet high. Because of the improved genetic potential ot the trees, the campus through a two-year se quence of four eight-week ses sions. “Offering the TAB program in four eight-week sessions each year allows individuals to work in the turfgrass and agricultural equipment industry when not at school,” said James Hilton, as sociate professor of agricultural engineering and program direc tor. “Sessions will be offered back-to-back with the fall ses sion running from mid-October 2003 through late December 2003, and the spring session run ning from mid-January 2004 through early March 2004.” The first-year curriculum in cludes mathematics tor turf grass and agricultural service technicians, hydraulic applica tions, engine technology, electri cal systems, computer basics and applications, safe equip ment transport and shop prac tice, communications and public relations, power transmission KOCiMA COMPANY To order toll free; 1-800-522-8874 ♦ www.kooima.com • Rock Valley, IA MAXIMIZE PRODUCTION! Cultivate your Row Crops With l&J Implements. Versatile Forecart with plow, harrow, The horse drawn riding cultivator is potato plow & scraper attachments ideal for efficient weed control Add our roller & prepare beds easily' Steers with feet . ~ Horse drawn cultivators, I to 4 rows Numerous options available Call Us About All Of Our Farming Implements. 1& "W l&J Manufacturing CC3tP 5302 Amish Road • Gap, PA 17527 • 717/442-9451 on the trunks ot trees and stems of shrubs. Mulching vour trees and shrubs can improve soils and grow healthy plants, but too much of a good thing can be harmful. survival rate is about 90 percent or higher. The new trees, planted this year, should be ready to tap for sap and syrup production in about 25 years. To learn more about the Sugar Maple Tree Improvement Program, go to the Website. http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/ tree_impr/indcx.asp, or you can call Penn State Cooperative Ex tension in Cambria County at (814)472-7986 applications, turlgrass and agri cultural equipment, and busi ness concepts. Subjects covered during the second year include electronic applications, electro-hydraulics and hydrostatics, agronomy or turfgrass principles, machinery management for turfgrass, writ ten communications and agri culture business applications, inventory management, agricul tural equipment operation, shop management, turfgrass and ag ricultural equipment operation, irrigation systems and water management, power units, trac tion and weight transfer and di agnostics, repair and maintenance. For more information, con tact James W. Hilton by mail at The Pennsylvania State Univer sity, 232 Agricultural Engineer ing Building, University Park, PA 16802, (814) 863-1817, or e mail at jwh2@psu.edu Maintain crops with our 3 or 5 tine cultivators Cultivators from I-6 rows for small or large tractors Fjord Horses For Sale! Stud Services Available Call About Our Early Order Discount!
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