Your Top Three Questions Answered!

We asked our Facebook followers, “If they could get one question, and only one question, about your land, answered by an expert, what would it be?” Here are the top three questions we heard. Any of them sound familiar?

1. How do I keep my woods healthy and bug-free?

The word healthy is often used to describe something free of sickness or injury, but when we use it describe our woods we have to remember that a healthy woods is not free of insects or diseases or dead trees, but it’s the ability for your woodland to withstand and recover from insect and disease outbreaks and extreme weather conditions that make it healthy or not.

Healthy woods come in many varieties and are constantly changing. The best way you can tell if your woodland is healthy is by getting out and knowing it better. Walking your woods frequently and during different seasons allows you to spot any early signs of trouble so you can seek immediate assistance. Taking a walk in your woods with your County Forester can help diagnose the current health of your woods and provide you the best ways to protect the health of your woodland.

2. What is oak wilt, and how do I treat it?

Oak wilt is caused by a fungus that deprives the tree of water. It is often carried by sap-feeding beetles that are attracted to open wounds on oak trees, but it can also travel through the roots and infect nearby trees making it difficult to control. Prevention is key to protecting your oaks from oak wilt because once it is present in your woods it can be very difficult to manage. If you are currently dealing with oak wilt, this publication, Oak Wilt Management Options, is a thorough explanation of the disease with management options. You can also request a FREE visit with your County Forester to discuss your options.

3. How do I keep up with invasives?

Invasives can be a constant battle and knowing where to start can be overwhelming. You’ll first want to identify which invasive species you have and then make a plan as to how you will remove and manage the spread of them. You should avoid introducing invasives to other parts of your woodland by making sure boots and equipment are clean and keeping your eye on these areas for any early signs of invasives. To learn more about common invasives species and their treatment options, visit our section on invasives. And as always, your County Forester is available to help you identify and make a plan to control your invasives, and they can even connect you to programs that can help cover the costs of removing invasives.

Didn’t find the answer to your question? Contact us and follow us on Facebook.