Iowa groves look sad

[ImJustKCClone]

Growing up we had an acreage with a grove and more than 100 trees in the yard, almost all being Oak, we would lose a few every year it seemed. At the time we were told it was Oak wilt. We also found a huge invasive vine that had taken over the grove and was choking off trees one by one. We tried to do something about the vine, but nothing really worked. It would shoot across the ground setting roots every place it touched the ground, at times it was several inches in diameter, bigger than a soup can and had bark of some sort.

Honestly I am really surprised there are still trees there, but there are, though I have no idea if that vine is still going or they are still struggling with whatever Oak disease was causing so many issues.

I think you're referring to "Damn Vine" as it's know around our place. It's a real bugger.

 

[cowboycurtis]

I had 2 Ash trees in my yard I had to cut down. One was absolutely gorgeous. That was a sad day

LOL! I have 38 ash trees. We’ve been treating them with better stuff than the tree guys can get. They have outlived everything in the neighborhood by 3 years but we’re losing the battle. All of them are coming down in August. It’s going to be like walking across the stage naked during graduation after all those trees come down. Completely exposed.

 

[JayV]

Somewhere is an Ash tree with the genetic mutation to be resist the borers. Hopefully we didn't cut it down already as we were preemptively thinning the heard to slow the spread.

 

[ricochet]

Somewhere is an Ash tree with the genetic mutation to be resist the borers. Hopefully we didn't cut it down already as we were preemptively thinning the heard to slow the spread.

Corn, as well as other fruits and vegetables, are constantly being genetically modified to produce certain traits. Does anybody do anything like that with trees? I assume it is at least theoretically possible. There probably isn't any money in it and maybe the slow growth is a problem too.

 

[farcyted]

We have an ash tree that’s in great shape. We treat it every other year, per our arborist, and it has no signs of damage. We’ll keep treating it as long as we can.

I treated 5 ash trees every other year in western iowa starting 5 years ago before I saw any decline. Saw a few in town that had that look, but not mine. This would have been the year for their 3rd treatment, but they showed last summer that they were too far gone. Now my guy is saying it should be every year. All I can think of is that my first treatment was too late in the summer.

 

[farcyted]

For the last couple weekends I had to take trips across the state of Iowa for various reasons.

It is really sad to see so many groves full of dead trees. Almost every stand of trees you see many dead trees.
The Emerald Ash Borer has decimated what is left of our states trees. Many of the trees planted to replace all the Elms after they all died were Ash trees, now all those are dead too. I remember specifically a time that Ash were recommended as replacements for Elms. There are complete groves or tree lines dead now. I would guess that most in Iowa are completely dead as of now, with those still hanging on, will be dead soon.

On top of that I seem many evergreen trees are dead or dying too, I dont know exactly what is causing that but it really is sad seeing so many dead.

I know this was coming for years, but this year is the first I really noticed just how many dead trees are showing up everywhere.

For those with Ash trees, what are you doing, are you still trying to fight and save your trees? What is the prognosis when treating, how successful is it? Are you going to just remove and replace? Then what about all these groves and tree lines full of dead trees? I guess those will eventually fall on their own and someday will be replaced by new growth of something else, but will be long after I am gone.

Most evergreens are not native to Iowa. Most are planted too close together in windbreaks. Looks good for the first 20 years, but then the reduced wind circulation and shade gets them. Conifers in Iowa are best as specimen trees or planted 40 or 50 foot apart.

 

[cyphoon]

From what I have seen or been told it seems to happen fast. One year they are good then the next they are dead.

I had about a dozen high value ash trees that I was going to treat on our acreage. Put it off for a couple years because I didn't see any warning signs. Then bam... they were all dead in 2023. Woodpecker damage was the first thing I noticed, but that was in the spring when they didn't leaf out.

I'm wondering what to do with all the ash saplings that were left in their wake. Do I let them be, or are they doomed? Not sure if this cursed beetle is just moving through or taking up permanent residence.

Have spent the past decade or so planting a variety of trees to try and diversify the place: hackberries, red maples, white oaks, birches when we need something to spring up quick, white pine, norway spruce, and the glacially slow shagbark hickory. Probably 1000 trees in total.

I am finally at the point where I can actually stand in the shade of hickory trees I have planted. Granted, you couldn't stand in the shade with me because it isn't wide enough. But hey, the thing will be here 200 years after I am dead, as long as some fool doesn't cut it down.

H

 

[farcyted]

I have Lindenwood gradually dying on me, apparently there's a borer for that too smfh. There's another healthy one about 50' away, I assume it'll be next.

I've just decided to plant every fall and hope I can outpace the ones in trouble. the fruit trees have been doing great - the oaks I planted are less so. this winter was warm but somehow seemed to be really hard on em.

There is no such thing as lindenwood. Basswood or American linden is native and has no problems that I know off. I have several on my property that I planted 25 years ago. Littleleaf linden is a European tree i think. Non native, and if the Japanese beetles ever get going on them they will be toast in 5 years.

 

[cyphoon]

On top of that I seem many evergreen trees are dead or dying too, I dont know exactly what is causing that but it really is sad seeing so many dead.

Scotch pine and Austrian pine trees are doomed due to scotch pine wilt. They die just as they are reaching peak form. No practical treatment exists, last I checked. Best you can do is clear out the dead ones ASAP.

For those with Ash trees, what are you doing, are you still trying to fight and save your trees?

When our ash trees died suddenly, I warned a neighbor that had a magnificent ash tree in front of their old farm house to get it treated if they wanted to keep it. They had an arborist treat it with bore injections into the trunk. They have lost about half the crown, but it looks like it will make it. Needs a good pruning to get the dead outer limbs removed.

H

 

[farcyted]

Corn, as well as other fruits and vegetables, are constantly being genetically modified to produce certain traits. Does anybody do anything like that with trees? I assume it is at least theoretically possible. There probably isn't any money in it and maybe the slow growth is a problem too.

I assume some of the commercially available Elm trees that are dutch elm resistant are genetically modified, but could be wrong. Maybe its just breeding from a mutant with natural resistance.

 

[farcyted]

LOL! I have 38 ash trees. We’ve been treating them with better stuff than the tree guys can get. They have outlived everything in the neighborhood by 3 years but we’re losing the battle. All of them are coming down in August. It’s going to be like walking across the stage naked during graduation after all those trees come down. Completely exposed.

We took out 55 ash trees 2 years ago on our 18 hole golf course in Denison.

 

[farcyted]

I had about a dozen high value ash trees that I was going to treat on our acreage. Put it off for a couple years because I didn't see any warning signs. Then bam... they were all dead in 2023. Woodpecker damage was the first thing I noticed, but that was in the spring when they didn't leaf out.

I'm wondering what to do with all the ash saplings that were left in their wake. Do I let them be, or are they doomed? Not sure if this cursed beetle is just moving through or taking up permanent residence.

Have spent the past decade or so planting a variety of trees to try and diversify the place: hackberries, red maples, white oaks, birches when we need something to spring up quick, white pine, norway spruce, and the glacially slow shagbark hickory. Probably 1000 trees in total.

I am finally at the point where I can actually stand in the shade of hickory trees I have planted. Granted, you couldn't stand in the shade with me because it isn't wide enough. But hey, the thing will be here 200 years after I am dead, as long as some fool doesn't cut it down.

H

Good for you. Good job.

 

[gbjames5]

Scotch pine and Austrian pine trees are doomed due to scotch pine wilt. They die just as they are reaching peak form. No practical treatment exists, last I checked. Best you can do is clear out the dead ones ASAP.



When our ash trees died suddenly, I warned a neighbor that had a magnificent ash tree in front of their old farm house to get it treated if they wanted to keep it. They had an arborist treat it with bore injections into the trunk. They have lost about half the crown, but it looks like it will make it. Needs a good pruning to get the dead outer limbs removed.

H

We've been treating a large ash tree that would totally change the look of our property if we lost it. They gave us the option of every two or three years and I went with two. Our guy also said that in five, maybe ten, years it would not be necessary to treat any more as the ash bores will have moved on due to lack of food. Hope he's right.

 

[mkadl]

I know where there is and elm tree. Couldnt someone get the DNA from it and make elm trees again? Or does the Dutch elm disease just hang around?

LOL, you might be my neighbor, although I doubt it.

He is on Year 3 of planting. First 2 years, arborvitaes, all died, this year Lilac... I think, which... look like will die.

In 3 years I have seen him water them 1 time I believe. Which was a quick spray with a hose. He put a gallon bucket of water on each of them when he planted them this year.

I want to say something to him so bad. Those trees need probably 5 gallons each every other day for at least the first year.

Best thing you can do is drill a few holes in a 5 gallon bucket and place one bucket at each tree, then every 2 or 3 days fill those buckets, so they slowly drain and water the tree so it can slowly soak it up.

Been looking at those wilted lilacs all summer wondering if he will take the hint, but I suspect he will be replanting again next spring.

I believe cedars are the only native evergreen in Iowa??? That may be the challenge, growing non native trees take extra care?

 

[ianoconnor]

Somewhere is an Ash tree with the genetic mutation to be resist the borers. Hopefully we didn't cut it down already as we were preemptively thinning the heard to slow the spread.

We have one in our neighborhood forested area that may be resistant. It looks great and has never been treated.

 

[Al_4_State]

Most of the ash around here have been cut down in the past 36 months. There were a lot of ghost groves. A lot.

The oaks seem to stand out more. They’re really a survivor species

 

[GraniteStateClone]

We have one in our neighborhood forested area that may be resistant. It looks great and has never been treated.

Resistance is apparently starting...

‘New hope’: ash trees rapidly evolving resistance to dieback, study reveals

Subtle DNA changes in trees demonstrate Charles Darwin’s natural selection – although human help may be needed

www.theguardian.com

 

[ackatch]

LOL, you might be my neighbor, although I doubt it.

He is on Year 3 of planting. First 2 years, arborvitaes, all died, this year Lilac... I think, which... look like will die.

In 3 years I have seen him water them 1 time I believe. Which was a quick spray with a hose. He put a gallon bucket of water on each of them when he planted them this year.

I want to say something to him so bad. Those trees need probably 5 gallons each every other day for at least the first year.

Best thing you can do is drill a few holes in a 5 gallon bucket and place one bucket at each tree, then every 2 or 3 days fill those buckets, so they slowly drain and water the tree so it can slowly soak it up.

Been looking at those wilted lilacs all summer wondering if he will take the hint, but I suspect he will be replanting again next spring.

Ha, not me. I gave up on them this year and planted some blue spruce. I watered the hell out of them but we had a baby in November and it slipped my mind in December when it was dry and warm, so it was my fault, still sucky though.

 

[Al_4_State]

Resistance is apparently starting...

‘New hope’: ash trees rapidly evolving resistance to dieback, study reveals

Subtle DNA changes in trees demonstrate Charles Darwin’s natural selection – although human help may be needed

www.theguardian.com

That would be great. I notice a lot fewer dead trees this year (because so many got cleared the last couple) and maybe this is playing into it.

 

[Turn2]

Hidden in Plain Sight: A Summary of 6 Years of Monitoring and Tissue Analysis - Prairie Rivers Network

Herbicide drift — the movement of toxic chemicals through the air to a non-target site — is damaging wild and cultivated plants and trees throughout Illinois, threatening human health, and impairing our ability to adapt to a changing climate. The sources of drift are primarily from Illinois’...

prairierivers.org