[Homestead] Bark Beetles Kill Millions of Acres of Trees in West

Jeanne Driese jeanne13 at earthlink.net
Wed Nov 19 07:20:06 EST 2008


Lynda,
No clue as to what kind of pine it is.   Eastern white pine?
Identifying trees is not something I do well at all.  After spepnding hours with a tree book  I just become more confused.  Liking them all, it really makes little difference what kind they are!  Some I am very well aware of as I try and keep them from totally obliterating any sun !  The bane of my existance is keeping my 35 feet in diameter free of tree seedlings.  The trees are very persisitant in setting seeds around here.  Drought or not!   The most persistant are the sasafrass, black walnuts and the native cedars.   One black walnut that sticks streight out of a bank has been trimmed to the ground every year (15) and still it grows.  Very seldom do I take out the roots because they do a wonderful job of holding up the hills around here.
Not much use am I????  :)))
Jeanne 
tnhillwoman
North East TN zone 6
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lynda 
  To: homestead at lists.ibiblio.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 1:03 PM
  Subject: Re: [Homestead] Bark Beetles Kill Millions of Acres of Trees in West


  What type pines do you have?  Out here we have Ponderosa and Gray pines. 
  We've lost a few to the beetles and some of the Doug Firs.  In fact, DH is 
  cutting one down this week.

  However, the Ponderosa and Gray pines fall over healthy or not.  Sometimes 
  it makes absolutely no sense at all.  We've seen then hit the ground when it 
  hasn't rained a lot and there isn't any wind.  We got rid of all of them 
  that were around the house.

  However, we sold all of them over 12" to the local mill.

  I don't think the beetles are bothering the Gray pine.  I wonder if it is 
  because they are actually a hard wood (same hardness factor and BTUs of 
  oak).

  Lynda
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Jeanne Driese" <jeanne13 at earthlink.net>


  > Here on the 12 forested acres all the pines except two are long gone.  If 
  > I remember correctly it has been about 8 to 10 years ago.  It cost me 
  > about 600 dollars to have (two) of the 60 or more foot tall ones felled. 
  > Since the hillside is so steep and the trees were only 6 feet from the 
  > house, it was done professionally.  The rest have just fallen on their 
  > own.  One fell and blocked the road as well as the driveway.  Here in our 
  > area as soon as a tree comes down on the road all the neighbors come with 
  > chainsaws and help get if off the road.
  > It is always heart stopping when a tree falls as it is usually a slow 
  > process, but I usually have a few seconds to send my prayers out for it to 
  > fall away from the house.
  > Around here the hill and hollers make it hard to tell what direction to 
  > look.
  > You can hear me asking them to keep their roots strong and deep whenever I 
  > leave the house.  Quite a bit of my time is spent talking to the trees. 
  > :)))
  > Here about the insects were called pine beetles, wonder if they are the 
  > same as out West?

  _______________________________________________
  Homestead list and subscription:
  http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
  Change your homestead list member options:
  http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/jeanne13%40earthlink.net
  View the archives at:
  http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/homestead




  -- 
  No virus found in this incoming message.
  Checked by AVG. 
  Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.9.4/1792 - Release Date: 11/16/2008 10:04 AM




More information about the Homestead mailing list