Granted, history books are filled with countless old photos of the damage caused by logging. Times have changed. Logging has changed and so have our forests. Today the emphasis is to preserve the forest productivity and health. Each cut is planned for a specific goal and varies from site to site.

The intensity of the logging ranges from a thinning cut to a final harvest. A thinning removes lower quality trees to favor growth of the remaining trees and create gaps in the forest canopy. Following a thinning operation, the residual trees respond with additional growth due to reduced competition for sunlight, water and nutrients. Other forest health problems such as insect attack are lessened because these trees are under less environmental stresses.

On the other end of the scale, the final harvest cut will remove all the trees, commonly known as a clear cut. Some tree species like aspen regenerate from suckers but require full sunlight for growth. Without logging to replicate a natural event such as fire or wind storms, the aspen would disappear from a forest, replaced by other more shade tolerant tree species.

Modern timber harvesting is highly mechanized and the equipment used is designed to reduce the negative aspect of harvesting. Branches and other woody debris left on the ground after the tree is cut serves as a cushion to reduce soil compaction by the equipment. Within several years, the crushed branches decompose back into the soil.

Within the last several years, there has been a handful of logging operations in and around the lake country. Most have involved the thinning of crowded pine plantations and a few others have been in oak woodlots. Those property owners have taken a step toward good land stewardship.

The next time you see logging equipment in the trees, don’t think of it as destruction. Instead, think of a remodeling project. The results are well worth the mess.

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The Asian Lady beetle or Lady bug is a predator of aphids and scale insects and considered to be beneficial. Beginning in the early 1900’s several attempts were made to introduce this insect as a biological control against aphids and they are now found throughout the Eastern United States. The Asian lady beetle is now much more common than our native Lady Beetle.

The other insect looking for a warm winter home is the Box Elder Bug. This bug is about ¾ of an inch long with red lines across a black body. The Box Elder Bug feeds on Box Elder and Silver Maple trees causing only minor tree damage.

As the weather cools, these two insects begin to congregate on warm sunny exterior walls and foundations looking for a place over winter. Generally these groups disperse by evening moving to protected outdoor areas such as under leaves or logs.

Both insects are capable of crawling though openings as small as 1/16 of an inch. Pest proof your home by blocking their entry points such as door sweeps, and thresholds, windows, and utility openings.

Once inside vacuuming will work, but discard the bag afterwards before they can crawl back out. Also, remember the Lady Bug can defend itself by bleeding though its joints, so be forewarned if handling these critters.

A UW Extension publication on the Asian Lady Beetle lists several synthetic pyrethroid compounds available as a spray to kill or repel the beetle before entering the house. Consider using a professional to make an application.

The Box Elder bug may be easier to control with a soap and water spray mix (3-4% by volume) which should be applied directly on the insect. Other professional compounds are also available.

Properly insulated and weather proofed homes keep these insects as well as other forms of nature outside and help reduce your heating bills.

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Generally the fungus enters the oak tree by two paths, open wounds (pruning cuts), or the root system. Sap feeding insects known as picnic beetles attracted to fresh wounds, pick up the fungal spores as they move from tree to tree. The second major cause is through the root systems of adjacent trees which have naturally grafted to one another. The combined systems create a conduit for the fungus to move from oak to oak.

Nearly all oak species are susceptible but the red and black oaks are most likely affected. The other common oak species, the white, bur and swamp white are much less susceptible to the disease but not completely immune.

Symptoms usually appear during the warmer summer months of June, July, and August. Leaves gradually turn a bronze color, then fall from the tree. A laboratory test for the presence of the fungus will confirm the disease. Note: Oak trees are subject to many different disease problems some of which may be confused with Oak Wilt, so be sure to have an arborist examine your tree before beginning treatment.

To avoid the disease, prune oaks only during the dormant season and pruning paint may be used on wounds caused by storms. This is one of the few cases where pruning paint is recommended.

If a tree is found with Oak Wilt it is best to remove the tree during the winter if damage to other oaks is possible during felling. If root grafts are likely, it is very important to severe the root grafts between healthy and infected oak trees before removal. A tractor mounted trenching tool similar to those used for underground cable installation is most commonly used to cut the roots to a depth of five feet.

Wood from infected trees can be used as firewood with some precautions. Cutting and splitting will hasten the time needed to dry the wood to a point where the fungus can not survive. Cover with a tar and bury the ends to prevent contact with insects.

Chemical treatments have been developed which may be injected into the tree to arrest the symptoms if caught very early. However, trenching is still recommended.

Any tree species can be injured from a host of agents including insect, storms, and other fungi. Monitor the health of your trees or at least look at them occasionally to determine if something doesn’t look right. As with most things it is easier to treat a problem earlier than later.

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Originally from Europe , this highly invasive plant has spread into our woods and yards crowding out our native plants. As with other aggressive non-native plants, they gain control because they lack a controlling agent such as animal and insect feeding or disease.

The journal “Ecological Restoration” published by the University Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum reported that the testing of several insect species which will feed exclusively on Garlic Mustard is near completion.

Back in 1998 US researchers and scientists from the CABI-Bioscience Centre of Switzerland combined to find a biological control to be used against Garlic mustard. The researchers found 69 insect species from Europe which feed on the plant. The field was reduced to four, because the group is thought to feed exclusively on Garlic mustard. Further tests were done at CABI and at the University of Minnesota-St. Paul to check for possible collateral damage to North American plants species.

The most promising candidate is a species of weevil and testing was expected to be completed Fall 2005. Pending approval from the U.S. Department of agriculture, introductions may be as early as 2006. Studies are still being conducted on the other insects as well as long term study plots in several states including Wisconsin.

Introducing a biological control is often controversial. However, several types have been used in our area with great success. The Galerucella beetle has been used for Purple Loosestrife control and both a fungu (Entomophaga Maimaiga) and a virus (nuclearpolyhedrosis virus) are used again Gypsy Moths.

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ANSWER:    Many people "clean up" their woods of the dead trees, logs, and brush pile thinking they are improving their woods. It may be a great source of firewood, but it could come at the expense of wildlife. Nature loves a mess, especially the critters. I once heard a wildlife biologist say, "a dead tree is one hundred times more valuable to wildlife than a live one."

Over 70 species of Wisconsin birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles use dead and dying trees as habitat.

Whether it's a hollow oak in the woods or a log fallen into the water these trees provide habitat as dens, nests, protective cover, perches, food sources, or food storage.

Standing dead trees known as snags are divided into two types. Hard snags have hollow or rotting interiors creating excellent dens. These tend to be larger oaks and maples and have hollow trunks but resist decay. As such they stay in the landscape for a long period.

Soft snags are from fast growing trees such as aspen. These are less decay resistant and become feeding sites for insect eating birds.

Tall or solitary snags become perches for predatory birds looking for their next meal.

Once the snag falls, it continues to provide habitat. Salamanders use logs as a moist protective cover to move through the forest. Hollow logs continue to be used as dens by animals such as fox or opossum. On slopes, logs effectively prevent erosion catching the detritus as it moves down hills. Some forest plants depend on decayed logs as a nutrient rich, moist micro-site for seedlings to develop. Finally, the completely decayed log returns to the soil adding humus, improving the soil for the future.

Hollow or dead trees can be a hazard and safety is a priority. And some tree pathogens may threaten surrounding trees if not managed properly, but consider how valuable the snag or a log is to the critters that need them for food or shelter.

Think about the log the next time a turtle splashes into the water or the snag at the sound of a woodpecker. Remember, "a dead tree is one hundred times more valuable than a live one."

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ANSWER:    Wild Parsnip is one plant that should have a warning label, "handle with care." Contact with the juice of the plant can cause a burn and blisters to the skin if exposed to sunlight. Affected areas may remain discolored for months after the blisters have healed.

An introduced plant, it has spread to Wisconsin and across much of the US. It is most often found in open sunny areas such as roadsides, old fields, and meadows. Anyone who spends time hiking or working in the field should learn to identify wild parsnip.

The plant begins as a rosette of leaves early in the spring. This stage can last for several years before a thick, tall stalk toped with an umbel of yellow flowers appear. The stalk is often four feet tall and flowering can begin in late spring to early summer.

Wild Parsnip can spread rapidly once established, so early detection and removal is important. Due to the likelihood of serious skin problems when contact is make with the plant’s juices, it is recommended to wear pants, long sleeves and gloves. Unlike poison ivy, no one is immune from its effects.

Control methods include cutting the root below ground with a shovel and mowing just after peak flowering or chemical control.

For more information, photos and links to other related sites, contact the WI DNR web page by visiting: www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/invasive/factsheets/parsnip.htm.

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ANSWER:    Anyone dumping stone, rock, gravel, sand, whatever into our lakes requires a permit.

Depending on the extent of the project, one or several permits may be required from various agencies. The first place to check whether a permit is needed is with a WI-DNR, Water Management Specialist.

The permit system assures standards are met and prevents anyone from improving their shore at the cost of water quality, fish/wildlife habitat, and lake aesthetics. According to the DNR, Waterfront property owners have a right to protect their shores for the purpose of erosion control, not the purpose of developing the site. This right is subject to the public trust.

Currently the WI-DNR is in the process of revising Erosion Control Standards for Inland Lakes and Flowages (NR328) and Wisconsin’s Shoreland Management Program (NR115).

NR328 will go to the WI Natural Resources Board this winter for approval. NR 328 will prevent erosion control practices, which would degrade shoreline habitat if other methods of erosion control would be effective. Other changes include a standardized method to assess erosion potential using a formula to determine storm wave height. The higher the wave, the greater the potential for erosion and the need for stronger erosion prevention methods. However, if the erosion is caused by boat wake or ice movement, more site specific information will be required on the application. More details are available at the WI-DNR web site: www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/fhp/fish/nr328/index.htm.

The other regulation to be revised is Wisconsin’s Shoreland Development Standards (NR115). This regulation contains standards for building setbacks, development density and nonconforming structures in unincorporated areas. Villages and cities will not be affected. Note that many of the items contained in NR 115 may be found in other state or local regulations. The WI-DNR has just begun to revise this regulation and public input will be solicited.

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ANSWER:    Fertilizers are used to create and maintain a green healthy lawn but may have an effect far beyond your yard. Poor gardening practices harm not only our lakes and streams, but your lawn as well. By following several practices your lawn can co-exist with a lake.

In our area the recommended applications of lawn fertilizer is during late May, late June, and early October. August applications are sometimes used. Low maintenance lawns need only a fall application. Poorly timed applications may reduce the growth of grass roots, cause disease and are a needless expense. Too much fertilizer can burn a lawn as well, so have your soil tested and apply only what is needed.

Choose a fertilizer that is low in phosphorous (K), represented by the middle number printed on each bag. Example: A standard bag may have a N-P-K ratio of 20-10-10, a fertilizer which contains no phosphorous would have a ratio of 20-0-10.

Typically there is ample phosphorous in our soils and little need to add more. It is phosphorous which contributes to excessive lake weeds and algae growth. One pound of phosphorous can yield 500 pounds of aquatic weeds and algal growth.

If you're trying to maintain a lawn that is too shaded or on a steep bank, consider replacing it with alternatives such as perennials, ground covers, shrubs, or native herbaceous plants. Choose plants that thrive under difficult conditions. Trying to maintain turf grass under shade is a losing battle. Give in, and use plants that thrive where sod grass won't.

Remember, it all goes down hill. Any paved or hard surface such as a roof will increase the run-off potential. the soils can't absorb all the additional water, which then drains to a lower area or the lake. Run-off carries with it fertilizers, pesticides, pet waste, sediment, lawn clippings, engine oil, anti-freeze etc. This cocktail of contaminants can cause excessive weed and algae growth, cloudy water, and add toxins to the water.

To filter these contaminants from reaching the lake consider a buffer strip along the shore. Replace the lawn with a strip of native sedges, perennials, broadleaf ground cover plants, shrubs, sub-canopy and canopy trees. Native plantings require little maintenance and no fertilizer. As an added benefit, geese are attracted to manicured lawns but avoid other types of plants.

Finally, the clean look of a green weed free suburban yard on the water's edge may not affect the health of the lake as an individual but the accumulated impact caused by many property owners does.

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ANSWER:   Introduced from Europe in the 1800's as a horticultural landscape plant, purple loosestrife has rapidly spread from the garden into our shorelines and marshes. Loosestrife is a tall growing plant with an attractive bloom of purple flowers from July to September. It is a highly aggressive plant capable of taking over wetlands. A single stalk can produce from 100,000 to 300,000 seeds with a survival rate of 60-70% . Most seeds fall near the plant but can easily travel long distances via water movement, boats or other human activities.

Wetlands and riparian zones are extremely important ecological areas. Loosestrife can degrade a wetland by displacing native wetland vegetation which support birds and mammals. By law, purple loosestrife is a nuisance species in Wisconsin. It is illegal to sell, distribute, or cultivate the plant or seeds, including any if its cultivars.

Control of this plant is easiest with a small colony of isolated plants. There are three main types of control: mechanical, chemical, and biological.

CHEMICAL CONTROL
Glyphosate herbicides, common commercial name Round-Up/Rodeo can be applied in July or August. Foliage application can be treated with a 1% active ingredient (a.i.) but use the higher concentration of 3-10% a.i. for a cut stem application. Remove and dispose of any cut stalks. Always read and follow the label when using herbicides.

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Recently there has been promising results using several species of insects which feed exclusively on the purple loosestrife. The WI-DNR in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has introduced these insects from Europe. A specie of root damaging weevil and two species of leaf feeding beetles feed on the loosestrife enough to cause stress and loss of vigor. These biological control methods will not totally remove purple loosestrife but can substantially reduce the population.

The Village of Chenequa has been controlling purple loosestrife in the wetlands between Pine and Mud Lake with chemical application for the last several years. The village has hired a firm specializing in aquatic plant at management. So far the results are encouraging. Many wetland plant species that had been crowded out by the loosestrife have reappeared. If lake property owners on the surrounding lakes voluntarily remove the small colonies of purple loosestrife near the, shores, we may be able to effectively control its spread.

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ANSWER:   Although burning, pulling and girdling have been used with limited success, the best method is a chemical control. Cutting alone will not kill buckthorn. Without an herbicide application, the plant will sucker out from the stump.

First, be sure the shrub you're about to cut is buckthorn. There are several native species that have dark berries similar to buckthorn. Cut the brush leaving a short stump high enough to locate in brush and grass for spraying.

The Wisconsin DNR has recommended using 20-25% active ingredient (a.i) glyphosata, commercial name -- Roundup. This product can be used on cut stumps during the active growing season with a low pressure hand sprayer. Be sure to ask for the brush killing strength of Roundup and not the less concentrated formula used on grass and weeds.

Another recommended chemical is triclopyr. A ready to use product called "Pathfinder II" has been used by the village forestry department. Again, it is sprayed on the cut stump and can be used during most of the year except during cold winter weather. This product is available through Pro Source One at 1-608-249-8500.

Be sure to read the directions and precautions provided by the manufacturer.

The WI-DNR has an excellent website detailing this and other invasive plants. Please visit their site, at www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/invasive/info/naturalareas.htm.

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If you have a question that you would like answered in the Ask Jeff column, please email him at jkante@chenequa.org or write to the Tall Pines Conservancy, P.O. Box 65, Nashotah, WI 53058.

Jeff graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 1979 with a BS in Forestry. He began employment with the village in March 1980 as Assistant Forester. Currently, he is Superintendent of Highway and Forestry (H/F) Department and Chief of the Chenequa Fire Department, where he is responsible for management of greenbelts along village roads (i.e., design, planting, trimming, and removals). He also enforces ordinances on removal of shoreline vegetation, and oversees the Deer Management Program and the Aquatic Weed Control of Pine Lake. In addition, Jeff consults with private landowners on insect, disease, removal of invasive plants, and other forest health issues. During winter months he plows and sands the village drives.

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