[Vision2020] Today's Daily News: Moscow trees in trouble; Water conservation efforts leave city's locust, birch trees susceptible to insect damage

[Saundra Lund]

Visionaries:

This article below from today's Daily News was of particular interest to me
because I've personally been a bit concerned about the impact of watering
restrictions on trees, birds, and other wildlife that live in town.

The article really hits home for us because looking at the pictures, I think
we're seeing evidence of stress in a neighbor's wonderful black locust tree.
Recently, we heard a huge crash one evening and went outside to find that a
huge branch in our neighbor's tree had just inexplicably snapped off about
40-50 feet up the tree and was tangled in the wires.  Avista came out that
evening and determined that since no power was out, removing the branch was
a job for professionals, who came the next morning and took care of the
broken branch, which was quite a process to watch.

In any case, here's the article, which I found extremely informative:


"Moscow trees in trouble; Water conservation efforts leave city's locust,
birch trees susceptible to insect damage
By Tara Roberts, Daily News staff writer
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Page Updated at 12:00:00 AM

Many of Moscow's trees face heightened danger as the weather remains dry and
they become susceptible to insect infestations.

Locust borers pose a threat to the black locust trees that line many of
Moscow's streets and bronze birch borers already are hurting Moscow's birch
trees.

The city has been on the lookout for locust borers since Lewiston began
having trouble with them earlier this year. Roger Blanchard, Moscow parks
and facilities manager, said there have been no confirmed sightings of the
locust borer yet, but they're coming.

The borers lay their eggs in black locust trees in the fall. In the spring,
the eggs hatch into larvae that burrow deep into the heartwood of a tree and
emerge as beetles around this time of year.

If the borers get into a branch, "they pretty much can make swiss cheese out
of it," Blanchard said.

Damaged branches tend to fall off the trees, Blanchard said. If a homeowner
notices a broken-off branch filled with galleys and holes, it's a sign the
borers have infested the tree. Other signs include dark brown oozing out of
small holes on trees and yellowish, sawdust-like insect excrement.

"If you see a sign like that, you should probably inspect the tree further,"
Blanchard said.

The locust borer doesn't necessarily kill the trees, but it does seriously
damage them, he said. Some of Moscow's black locusts are getting old and
weakened.

"The borer could hasten the decline of some of those trees," Blanchard said.

University of Idaho Extension Office Pest Management Coordinator Ed
Bechinski said trees are more susceptible to borers because the city's water
conservation regulations are causing people to under-water their trees.
Drought-stressed trees can't defend themselves.

While the locust borer has been a small problem, Bechinski said, the bronze
birch borer is a bigger threat to Moscow's trees. The upper limbs of birch
trees infested with the borer will turn brown and die.

"After a period of three years, if nothing is done, the tree will succumb to
this borer," he said.

The best thing homeowners or renters can do to protect birch trees is water
them heavily, Bechinski said.

He said there also are insecticides that can be used to poison the bronze
birch borer.

Blanchard also recommends watering to protect black locusts from locust
borers.

"Keep your trees healthy - keep them mulched, water deeply," he said.

Blanchard recommended against pruning black locust trees, since that
actually could invite locust borers. The callus left when a branch is pruned
is an ideal spot for borers to lay eggs.

Insecticides also can be sprayed on black locust trees in the fall, killing
the borer larvae when they hatch. Philip Shinn, Lewiston's city forester,
said he recommends spraying trees with an insecticide called Sevin.

Lewiston's locust borer problem has been significant, with people calling
daily to report problems during the borer-hatch season in June, Shinn said.

Pullman Parks Superindentent Alan Davis said neither type of borer has been
a significant problem in Pullman.

The Moscow Tree Committee will hand out information at the Latah County Fair
in September on the best ways to care for trees while conserving water.

Committee member Cathy Willmes said the committee wants to remind people
that trees in the public right of way are homeowner's responsibilities, and
that trees can be cared for by "prudent use of water."

The Moscow Water Department Conservation Program and Moscow Tree Committee
have released a brochure called "Trees and Moscow's Water Conservation
Efforts."

The brochure suggests mulching around trees to retain soil moisture and
reduce lawn area; using captured rainwater to water newly planted trees; and
watering trees for roughly five minutes per inch of trunk diameter.

Moscow residents who notice their private trees are infested with borers
should call an arborist, Blanchard said. Problems with trees in the public
right of way should be reported to Blanchard at (208) 883-7098.

Tara Roberts can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 234, or by e-mail at
troberts at dnews.com."