Highland Tree Board

April 26th 9:30 am at Lincoln Center for a tree planting in celebration of Arbor Day! Details to follow.

Celebrate with us.

Kick off Arbor Day month by saying Yes to planting trees and to all the good they do for our planet and our health.

Now more than ever, we need to plant trees in areas where they're needed most. That's in vulnerable forests that house the world's most diverse and important ecosystems. In communities where respiratory conditions, urban heat island, and food scarcity are taking their toll on residents.

Our partners celebrate Arbor Day by supporting planting projects, engaging employees through planting events, and spreading the word through social media.

How do you plan to celebrate Arbor Day season? It can be as simple as spreading the word on your social media channels using post ideas and imagery found in our resources page.

We're here to help you make the most of your Yes as you meet your sustainability goals.

Let's say Yes together and protect our world today, tomorrow, for generations.

Your friends at the Arbor Day Foundation.

https://www.arborday.org/partnerships

How many species of cicadas are there in Indiana?
There are more than you’d think! There are three main species of 17-year cicada in Indiana and about 16 species of annual and 13-year cicadas

CICADAS: When & Where

• 17-year cicada emergence will occur in all Indiana counties late May through June, but will be heaviest in south-central Indiana.

The immature cicadas will emerge from the ground, molt one last time to gain wings, and “sing” loudly to find mates and lay eggs in trees and woody shrubs.

The good news is periodical cicadas do not bite or sting people, or pets.
The bad news is females lay eggs in 200+ woody tree species and can cause severe to damage young trees.

More information to follow.

For the first time in 221 years, two different broods of cicadas — the 17-year Brood XIII and the 13-year Brood XIX — will appear in parts of Indiana and other states

They are about 1-1/2 to 2 inches long and have black bodies, reddish legs, wing margins, and eyes.

There won't be any overlap between Brood XIX and Brood XIII in Indiana. They're expected to emerge in opposite corners of the state. That might be good news, however, for people who aren't fans of nature's noisiest insect.

More information to follow.

Much of the water that falls in Highland is considered runoff – from driveways, streets and parking lots. Along its path, droplets pick up oil, grease and sediments that harm not only the path of the water, but its ultimate destination.

PLANT A TREE!
In addition to providing an abundance of oxygen, trees are valued for holding soil in place and holding hundreds of gallons of surplus water in their maturing root system. They also take up fertilizer and other chemicals in their roots before they seep into waterways. At the same time, they can provide shade that reduces energy costs.

The Town of Highland is a "Tree City USA"

Why may you ask, do the Tree Board and other members of the community work together to reach and maintain this designation?

Trees are the backbone of our communities. They provide cooling shade, cleaner air, protection from flooding, inviting space for outdoor activity, and many other core benefits. They also oftentimes define the very essence of our neighborhoods.

That’s why it is no surprise that more than 3,500 cities and towns throughout America are recognized as Tree City USA communities.

City by city, town by town, Tree City USA continues to expand across the country. As this beloved and time-tested tree recognition program grows, so do the tree canopies all around us. Through the support of generous Arbor Day Foundation members and supporters, communities have the framework and support they need to ensure their urban forests can flourish.

From Iowa State:
The winter months can be a stressful time for trees and shrubs in the home landscape. However, through mindful management, the effects of this stress can be managed to ensure that landscape plants thrive year-round.

Animals, wet snow, drying winds, sunscald, and deicing salts can damage trees and shrubs in the home landscape. Fortunately, steps can be taken to minimize damage to trees and shrubs in winter. For more information on preventing winter injury, visit the Home and Horticulture Pest News website listed below.
https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/protecting-trees-and-shrubs-winter

People often buy fresh Christmas trees long before December 25. Whether you plan to have your tree up for six weeks or one week, choose it carefully and care for it properly to keep it fresh in your home. A tree that is not cared for can dry out and become a fire hazard.

For direction on the best steps to take to have a safe Christmas; click this link to our friends at the Morton Arboretum.

https://mortonarb.org/blog/keep-your-holiday-tree-fresh-and-festive/ #!

Have yourself a Merry and a safe Christmas, from the Highland Tree Board.

Stem Girdling Roots- Why are they a problem?
SAFETY
Trees weakened by SGRs may present significant issues of safety. They often have smaller root systems or root systems that are poorly anchored in the soil, leaving them susceptible to wind-throw (uprooting during storms).
If these trees are close to homes, sidewalks or utilities, they become a hidden and unacceptably high safety risk.
The compression of the sapwood tissue often causes branch die back in the tree’s canopy. Depending on the size of the dead branches and their height in the tree, they too can cause injury or property damage when they fall.

The ninth most common tree in the Town of Highland at the time of the tree inventory was the Green-Ash.

The green ash tree (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is a medium-sized, fast-growing deciduous tree with large, glossy, dark green leaves and an irregular pyramidal crown. A green ash tree has gray-brown furrowed bark with diamond patterns, small clusters of spring flowers (panicles), and long winged fruit called samaras, similar to the seeds of maples. Green ash is a native North American deciduous tree and one of the most common ash trees. The landscape tree grows quickly in most well-drained soils and can withstand periods of drought and flooding.

Unfortunately, due to its susceptibility to the foreign insect the emerald ash borer (EAB), green ash is not recommended for planting anywhere in this region and usually requires regular injections for protection from the borer or removal and/or replacement.

DOES YOUR TREE(S) HAVE SGRs? No, not the new virus we humans have to worry about, but rather Stem Girdling Roots!

A stem girdling root is a type of dysfunctional root that is growing against a tree’s stem (the trunk), squeezing or compressing the sapwood. This happens as the root and stem grow radially (enlarge in diameter) and eventually this compression may severely re**rd or stop the flow of water, nutrients and sap (photosynthates, a.k.a., “food”), both to and from the roots.

Watch for more information in our next post.