Trees are major components of successful

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1 Fall 2003 Issue #8 Root Reality Contents: Comments from the State Forester... 2 Redinger Joins Kansas Forest Service... 2 Tree Profile... 3 Forestry Fall Field Day To Burn, or Not to Burn... 5 District Highlight.. 6 Forest Land Enhancement News8 Fertilizers... 8 Heating with Wood... 8 Managing Woodlands... 9 Fire Prevention Week Arborists Training Calendar of Events Trees are major components of successful communities because properly selected and planted trees have the ability to provide a bountiful mix of direct and indirect benefits. Many people are aware of the direct benefits such as wildlife habitat, increased energy efficiency, and landscape attributes. Trees also provide many indirect benefits. Trees have the ability to mitigate air pollution, storm water runoff and carbon dioxide emissions; and reduce energy costs, medical bills, and crime rates. For community trees to provide these benefits and contribute to the overall community forest, they must have a healthy and vigorous root system. At the simplest level, tree roots hold the tree upright and take up water and minerals. The root system is key to the tree s vitality and survival. Unfortunately, many people do not understand the important role roots play in maintaining healthy trees. Many misconceptions and myths exist about tree roots. Myth 1: Tree roots are very tough and woody. Root Reality: Structural roots located near the trunk are responsible for supporting the tree and are typically very strong. The root system of a tree is like a permanent structural woody frame with disposable fine roots. The majority of the root system is made up of very small diameter, fleshy roots. These fine roots, often referred to as feeder roots, provide support for the tree and are responsible for the majority of water and mineral uptake. The fine root system typically lasts for one season The majority of tree roots are very small and fibrous and located in the top 6 inches of soil. in most tree species. Annual turnover of these fine roots is due largely to poor soil growing conditions, such as drought or freezing temperatures, that are typical of the fall and early winter. In the urban environment, these roots are very susceptible to compaction, over watering, construction damage, water pollution, and soil contamination. Myth 2: Tree roots exist only under the tree canopy. Root Reality: Tree roots typically grow well beyond the canopy of the tree. In forested or natural environments, roots may be found growing two to three times the distance beyond the tree canopy. Roots do not mirror what is above ground. Imagine a tree represented as a wine glass connected to a wide flat plate. The glass and stem would represent the canopy and trunk, while the plate would represent the root system extending well beyond the canopy of the tree. Healthy trees have very extensive root systems. Myth 3: Tree roots grow deep into the soil. Root Reality: The majority of tree roots are found in the top 18 inches of soil, and typically more than 50 percent of a tree s roots are in the top 6 inches of the soil. Tree roots require oxygen for survival and will Continued on Page 11

2 Newsletter Publication Information: Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service State Forester: Ray Aslin Contact Information: Kansas Forest Service 2610 Claflin Rd. Manhattan, KS (785) Contributors: Kansas Forest Service Staff To receive the Adobe Acrobat version of this newsletter instead of a paper copy, please contact the Kansas Forest Service by mail, phone, or . To discontinue receiving this newsletter, please contact the Kansas Forest Service by mail, phone, or . 2 Comments from the State Forester The vision for Kansas natural resources continues to be developed by the Kansas Natural Resource Legacy Alliance. This group of 15 gubernatorial and legislative appointees have been diligently working to prepare a plan for the future management, use and protection of our natural resources. Input was gathered last fall during a series of seven public meetings held across the state. The issues identified by the public were considered by the Alliance and a list of priority issues was developed. A preliminary plan was prepared and submitted to the Governor and legislative leaders on May 1st. Since the completion of the preliminary report, the Alliance has been developing recommendations for action to improve our natural resources. These recommendations and the preliminary report can be viewed on the Web site: alliance.html. Another round of public meetings are scheduled for the Alliance to gather feedback on the preliminary plan and recommendations for future action. Four meetings are scheduled Rodney Redinger Joins Kansas Forest Service I recently joined the Kansas Forest Service as a Fire Training Specialist. I was born in McPherson and have lived in Burrton, 15 miles east of Hutchinson, my entire life. I received my degree in Fire Science from Hutchinson Community College in I recently married Jessica Stiles in May and we now live in Burrton. I am a member of the Burrton Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Department and have been since my 18th birthday. I spent 5 years in Colorado on the Pike Interagency Hotshot Crew. The Pike Hotshots are a 20-person Type 1 hand crew based in Monument, Colorado in the Pike National Forest. The crew travels from Florida to Oregon, fighting fires during the summer fire season. I worked my way to the position of Squad Boss and supervised five firefighters on a day-to-day basis. I was also the crew s sawyer. I m excited to join the Kansas Forest Service and am looking forward to meeting firefighters and getting a feel for what training they would like, where they would like to see the Kansas Forest Service training program go, and getting new ideas for strategies and tactics for fighting fires. I believe we can offer up to 50 over a two-day period on September 24th and 25th. One public meeting will take place during the afternoon and the evening of each day. On September 24, the afternoon meeting is in Hays and the evening meeting is in Wichita. On September 25, the afternoon meeting is in Johnson County and the evening meeting is in Topeka. More details about the meetings can be found at the Alliance Web site. I encourage you to read the preliminary plan the Alliance has prepared and attend one of the public meetings. If you cannot attend a meeting, please provide your input electronically through the Web site. After the last round of public meetings are completed, the Alliance will finalize the plan for natural resources of the state and present it to the governor and legislative leaders by December 1. After the plan is complete, the really challenging work will begin. Successfully implementing the plan will require support from Kansans with an interest in natural resources. This will be a great opportunity for action. Don t pass it up. Ray Aslin, State Forester, oversees all operations of the Kansas Forest Service. training classes per year. I would like to see the knowledge and safety records of all fire entities improve every year. Fire is a constantly changing environment and I feel fire knowledge is also constantly changing. If firefighters are not getting more knowledge, they are getting less and training plays a major roll in how much, or little, knowledge firefighters have. Training is just the first, but very important, step in safe and efficient fire fighting. I believe that firefighter safety is the first and foremost priority when fighting a fire, because when all is said and done, going home at the end of the incident is the number-one priority. I will also be assisting with the fire prevention program. A great way to ensure firefighter safety is to minimize the amount of fire exposure that firefighters face. If there are fewer fires, there is less exposure to the risks involved in fighting fires. I welcome any questions, comments, or concerns regarding fire training or prevention. My office is located at Hutchinson Community College South Campus, 2009 E. Wasp Road, Hutchinson, so feel free to , call or stop by. I can be reached at (620) or rodney2@oznet.ksu.edu. I m looking forward to meeting everyone. Be safe on the fire line. Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service

3 Catalpa Catalpa speciosa Native To: eastern and central U.S. Mature Height: 50 to 80 feet Spread: 40 to 50 feet Form: Irregular- conical; upright; moderately dense with irregular silhouette; course textured. Growth Rate: Rapid-growing; moderate-lived reaching maturity between 50 to 75 years. Foliage: Opposite/subopposite; whorled; simple deciduous leaf with entire margin; 8 to 12 inches long. Leaf light green to yellow green turning tan to brown in fall. Will cause significant litter. Flowers: Very showy in spring to early summer; snowball-shaped clusters are white with purplish and yellow spots or streaks; very little fragrance. Fruit: Legume; long thin pod 12 inches or more in length; brown dry fruit persists through the winter; fruit may cause a significant amount of litter. Very low wildlife value. Bark and Stems: Bark is thin on young trees and easily damaged; turning light brown to tan when young to shallow furrowed gray brown when mature. Pruning often required to develop strong central leader. Limbs resistant to breakage. Site Requirements: Tree is tolerant to a very wide range of growing conditions including soil types, moisture and is drought resistant and tolerant of flooding. Prefers medium silt and clay loams, ph Hardiness Zone: 4 to 9; grown statewide. Insect and Disease Problems: Verticillium wilt may seriously damage or kill tree. Leaf spots, powdery mildew and twig blight also may be present, but are not known to cause significant damage. Catalpa sphinx larva may periodically defoliate tree. Leaves often scorch in hot, dry weather. Limitations: Requires a fairly large area for full growth form. Should not be planted near overhead utilities. Pruning required for good form and structure. Care should be taken with site selection when planting in a urban setting given the large amount of litter generated from leaves and fruit. Fall 2003 Issue #8 Suggested Applications: Good park and specimen tree. A very tolerant tree best used as a group planting windbreaks, shelterbelts, screening and other landscape level plantings. Cultivars: Other related species include: Catalpa bignonioides (Common or Southern Catalpa); Catalpa bungei, Catalpa fargesii, and Catalpa ovata. C. bignonioides and C. speciosa both occur in Kansas and are difficult to distinguish apart. Comments: A good tree that adds texture and interest to the winter landscape. Wood is light, soft, coarse-grained with very thin, whitish sapwood. Historically this species was planted in many woodlots throughout the state as the wood of the Catalpa is very durable and makes excellent fence posts. Wood also used for interior finish and furniture. State Champion: Found in Labette County, this tree has a circumference of 21 feet and 8 inches, height of 71 feet, crown spread of 58 feet for a total of 346 points. For more details on the Champion Tree Program, please visit References: Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses by Michael A. Dirr, Stipes Publishing, Champaign, IL. Trees for Urban and Suburban Landscapes by Edward F. Gilman, Delmar Publishers, Albany, NY. Eric Berg, Community Forestry Coordinator, coordinates all urban and community forestry activities for the Kansas Forest Service. String-bean-like fruit of the Catalpa. Very large showy flowers appear in late spring early summer. 3

4 Forestry Fall Field Day 2003 David Jackman The Little Walnut River snakes through the middle of David Jackman s property a few miles northeast of the town of Leon. Appropriately named for the trees that line its banks, the Little Walnut and surrounding woodlands will provide a variety of educational opportunities for the 2003 Forestry Fall Field Day scheduled Wednesday, October 8th. Located about 20 miles east of Wichita, on David Jackman s property, the Field Day targets landowners, natural resource professionals and forest industry representatives who are interested in learning more about proper management of woodlands and related natural resources. Forestry Fall Field Day Agenda 9:15 AM Registration, Exhibits, Refreshments 9:40 AM Welcome - Ray Aslin, State Forester Overview of Jackman Property, David Jackman 10:00 AM Concurrent Morning Sessions Begin Wildlife Management Where Woodland, Prairie and Cropland Meet -Brad Odle, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks What Makes Your Timber Valuable, A Logger and Timber Buyer s Perspective - Marty Hewins, Hewins Logging How to Conduct a Proper Timber Sale - Dave Bruton, Kansas Forest Service, KSU What Tree is That? - Larry Crouse, Butler County K-State Research and Noon Extension BBQ Lunch - Cassoday Café! Sponsored by Kansas Forest Service 1:00 PM Concurrent Afternoon Sessions Begin Stream Corridor Management - Phil Balch, Tetra Tech Tree Shelters for Tree Plantations - Dr. Charles Barden, Extension Forester, KSU Stream Ecology - Kristen Hase and Ryan Waters, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks 3:30 PM Adjourn For more than 40 years, Jackman has been the steward of the 3,500 acre property that includes a mixture of woodland, prairie and cropland. He has been recognized for his outstanding management of the natural resources, especially wildlife. Some of these awards include the 1984 Wildlife Society Citizens award, the 1998 Kansas Banker s Association Wildlife Habitat Conservation award, the 1998 Kansas Wildlife Federation Land and Soil Conservationist of the Year, and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Wildlife Habitat Award. The theme of the Field Day is management and protection of natural resources within riparian areas. Experts in the management of timber, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife, stream corridors, tree identification and tree planting will be teaching sessions throughout the day. Representatives from Tree Farm, Walnut Council, and Kansas Forest Products Association will be on hand to provide information about their organizations. The Kansas Forest Service will provide a free BBQ lunch to participants. The Kansas Forest Service, USDA Forest Service, K-State Research and Extension, Butler County Conservation District, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Kansas Tree Farm Committee, Walnut Council, and Kansas Forest Products Association, will be sponsoring or participating in the Field Day. To register for the Field Day, call the Butler County Conservation District (316) or the Kansas Forest Service State Office (785) Registration deadline is September 29th. Because the meal is provided, please let us know if after registering you are unable to attend. The Forestry Fall Field Day is a good time for landowners and land managers to come together and share the unique challenges of managing woodlands and other natural resources. The day brings together a special group of people who are dedicated to leaving a legacy of environmental stewardship for future generations. Good people, good information, good food and a walk beside the Little Walnut River. Don t miss it. Bob Atchison, Rural Forestry Coordinator, coordinates all rural forestry activities for the Kansas Forest Service. 4 Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service

5 To Burn, or Not to Burn Escaped prescribed burning is the single leading cause of wildland fire in Kansas, typically accounting for around 45 percent of all wildfires annually. Though the majority of wildland fires are suppressed by volunteer fire departments, costs to the state, and local government are significant. Fuel, vehicle wear and tear, and equipment replacement costs add up over a busy fire season. In this time of tight state and local budgets, Kansans need to increase their awareness of their actions, improve fire safety, and reduce the amount of money spent on escaped prescribed fires. State open burning restrictions may be found in the Kansas Department of Health and Environments Ambient Air Quality Standards (Kansas Administrative Regulation 28, Article 19). K.A.R specifically sets the requirements for open agricultural burning in Kansas. Briefly, the regulation lists four primary points: (1) the person conducting the burn shall notify the local fire control authority with jurisdiction over the area before burning begins unless the appropriate local governing body has established a policy that notification is not required; (2) a person shall not conduct a burn that creates a traffic safety hazard; (3) a person shall not conduct a burn that creates an airport safety hazard; and (4) the person conducting the burn shall insure that the burning is supervised until the fire is extinguished. The regulation goes on to say nothing in this regulation shall restrict the authority of local jurisdictions to adopt more restrictive ordinances or resolutions governing agricultural open burning operations. Beyond the administrative regulations, there are other things a landowner can do to be sure their burn stays within established boundaries. First and foremost, check the weather. Most often, a change in the weather causes a fire to go from a land management tool to a raging inferno. Pay particular attention to any expected changes in the wind - both in speed and direction. Weather systems are the primary agent that will change the wind. A passing cold front, for example, can cause winds to significantly increase and shift 180 degrees. Thunderstorms can also cause a wind Fall 2003 Issue #8 change, but will be relatively short and often accompanied by rain. Second, understand the kinds of fuel the fire will consume. Tall pasture and CRP will burn with much higher intensity than short, moist fuels. Fuels with a high moisture content require much more heat to drive off moisture before they will ignite. Be aware that the influence of wind can cause shorter fuels, such as wheat stubble, to act much bigger than they are. Take a look at the fuels on your neighbors property as well. Next, be sure that the barriers to fire spread are large enough to stop the burn under most conditions. It s always better to plan with a barrier that is larger than might be needed, rather than wish it was there when the fire gets out of control. Depending on conditions, roads can be a very good barrier to fire spread, but be sure smoke generated from the fire does not cause a traffic hazard. Hutchinson Community College students demonstrating burning techniques Finally, another tool available and updated daily is the Rangeland Fire Danger Index (RFDI). RFDI is produced by the National Weather Service in Topeka and available from several Web sites including The RFDI provides an estimation of the day s expected burning conditions. It uses predicted cloud cover, relative humidity, wind speed and fuel moisture content to predict how a fire should behave within an area. Keep in mind that RFDI is not the only factor to consider. It is an average of burning conditions over a fairly large area and should be used in addition to other factors only available on the ground at your burn site. Obviously, this article falls far short of preparing anyone to put fire on the ground. A short course on prescribed burning is available through the Kansas Forest Service. Instructors can provide the course your area needs, from a couple hours in the evening to the full 8-hour prescribed burning class. Continued on Page 11 5

6 Sherman Rawlins Thomas Graham Rooks Osborne Wallace Logan Gove Trego Ellis Russell Greeley Stanton Morton Grant Stevens Scott Haskell Seward Decatur Sheridan Lane Gray Meade Ness Hodgeman Ford Clark Pawnee Edwards Kiowa Comanche Barton Stafford Pratt Barber Jewell Lincoln Ellsworth Rice Reno Kingman Harper McPherson Harvey Sedgwick Sumner Marion Butler Cowley Chase Greenwood Elk Chautauqua Shawnee Osage Coffey Woodson Wilson Montgomery DO Atchison Jefferson Franklin Anderson Allen Neosho Labette LV WY Miami Linn Bourbon Crawford Cherokee Cheyenne Norton Phillips Smith Brown Wichita Hamilton Kearny Finney SW 6 NW Rush Mitchell District Highlight: North Central Thad K. Rhodes When I tell people that I am a forester in Kansas, I often get a blank stare, a snicker, or sometimes a long drawn out Huh? In fact, before working Republic Washington Marshall Nemaha with the Kansas Forest Cloud Clay Riley Pottawatomie Service, I knew little about Ottawa NC Dickinson them, or how much they Geary Wabaunsee Saline Morris accomplished. Now, after Lyon having worked here for more than a year and a half I am still surprised at the Jackson NE number of requests and Douglas Johnson the variety that comes with them. SC SE Growing up in a small town in south central Kansas, I never thought much about a career working with trees. I always did enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in the woods, but that is not too uncommon for someone growing up in a rural setting. After graduating high school, I headed to Thad measuring trees for a timber inventory project. One year s growth of a riparian planting. Notice how much difference good weed control makes. K-State to pursue an engineering degree. After one semester, I decided that it was not for me. Then I decided that rather than making a lot of money, I would prefer to spend my career doing what I enjoyed, so I switched to the field of natural resources. After graduation I found a job with the U.S. Forest Service in Missouri, working for the North Central Research Station based out of Salem. Technically, my job was to collect data for a timber inventory project, but in reality, it meant that I got to spend all day in the backwoods of southeast Missouri enjoying the scenery. After about a year and a half, the traveling was getting old, so I applied for other jobs and was offered a district forester position with the Kansas Forest Service. After spending some time with other foresters during my orientation period, I was off and running as the requests began to roll in and roll in they have. A portion of the new Farm Bill that could be a source of cost-share assistance, the Forest Land Enhancement Program, has generated a lot of interest and questions about planting and timber stand improvement. That is one nice thing about the position that I am in diversity. There are never 2 days that are the same. An average day can include helping with technical assists with other state and federal agencies or working oneon-one with a landowner. A typical work day involves making recommendations for the planning or management of a piece of ground, performing diagnostic work for insect and disease problems, and assisting with conservation education programs. To an extent, the requests that I get are seasonal in nature. Summer brings insect and disease questions; fall and winter, when the timber markets increase, creates interest from landowners; and as the weather turns nice in the spring, people begin to think about planting trees. I get a variety of these inquiries throughout the year, but that is the usual pattern of requests. Often overlooked during tree planting projects, site preparation and weed control are very important. Often, when people are ready to plant in the spring, they have not taken into consideration the need to till the ground ahead of time. By breaking the ground early, sometimes nearly a year before planting, the seedlings will be able to establish their roots fast, making for a successful planting. The other thing to consider is the vegetative competition that the seedlings will receive, especially during the first 3 years. Cool season grasses such as brome and fescue are highly competitive with young trees and precautionary measures to keep the grasses away will promote quick establishment and faster tree growth. Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service

7 Many opportunities exist for riparian plantings to help stabilize stream banks. While I have been involved in many projects, one of the larger ones has been a stream bank stabilization project along the Little Blue River in the northern part of my district. To prevent the loss of crop fields from erosion caused by the river, streambanks were sloped and rock weirs installed to redirect the channel away from the bank. Willow stakes and cottonwood trees were planted nearest to the water with a mixture of hardwoods along the upper portion of the bank. Shrubs were planted on the outside edge with a grass filter strip separating the planting site from the crop field. The unique part of this project is that several landowners along the river are interested in it, so an 8-mile stretch of river is protected rather than just a small area. Projects like this contribute to the variation in my job, but also the difference in locality plays a significant role as well. The western portion receives less annual rainfall, which limits the types and sizes of trees that grow there. Many of the requests from this area concern windbreak design. As you travel south and east, timber resources are more readily available, so there is more interest in forest management. Some people have the false idea that if they like their woodland, they should never do anything to it and that it will always stay the same. A woodland is a dynamic, ever-changing place. As certain desirable species such as oak and Many opportunities exist for managing walnut become overmature, they are overtaken the timber stands in Kansas. by more shade tolerant species such as hackberry, American elm, and green ash. This is where management becomes an important tool to help create favorable conditions for the regeneration of the desirable species. Not only will timber management help perpetuate the condition of the woodlot, but also it is a good way to help obtain income through timber harvest and increased wildlife habitat. The desire to create more habitat also is evident. I am not sure whether it is a result of more interest in hunting because of increased deer and turkey populations, the desire to create more habitat for declining quail numbers, or just people interested in enhancing their property. Whatever the reason, the number of requests is noticeable. Looking back on my experiences, I am glad I chose to work in the forestry sector. I have had the opportunity to learn many new things and continue to learn something new every day. By working with the Kansas Forest Service I can spread my knowledge to Kansans and help create understanding and appreciation of woodland resources. Thad K. Rhodes, District Forester, provides direct technical assistance to Kansans in 15 north central Kansas counties for the Kansas Forest Service. 7 Fall 2003 Issue #8

8 Giving You the Poop on Fertilizers Most agree that fertilizers improve plant health and increase growth. But are there different kinds of fertilizers? What do the numbers on the bag stand for? How much should be applied and when? First of all, most soils have enough nutrients to sustain newly planted seedlings. If you think otherwise, take a soil sample and have it analyzed for nutrient content. Then, only apply what is deficient. There are organic (natural) fertilizers and inorganic (man-made). Because organics are natural, their nutrient concentrations Common inorganic fertilizer are usually lower, cheaper to purchase, and burning plants is less likely. Inorganics often have a quicker response, but cost more and burn potential is higher than inorganics; therefore, calibration of equipment is very important. Slow release fertilizers are granular fertilizers that contain a special covering that breaks down slowly. This allows the fertilizer to be available to the plants over a longer period of time. The numbers on the bag tell exactly how much of each nutrient is contained in the bag and generally they represent the N (Nitrogen), P (Phosphorus), and K (Potassium). A bag of means that there is 10 percent of N- P-K in that bag. Therefore, if the bag weighs 50 pounds, the actual content of nitrogen Considerations for Heating with Wood is 5 pounds (10 percent of 50); the same is true of the other two elements. The rest of the weight is derived from inert materials that are not fertilizers. Some bags may contain micronutrients that plants require in very small amounts, but they are not usually necessary unless a soil analysis indicates otherwise. How much do you apply? For deciduous trees, up to 3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet will benefit young trees (not seedlings). Evergreens take about that rate. However, if you value the turf around these trees, split the applications because turf can only withstand rates of about 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. The best time to apply fertilizers is from November to April; the second best is from May to June. Do not apply fertilizers from July through the first hard freeze. A late application can damage plants by stimulating growth, so the plant does not have time to harden off before freezing temperature occur. Use a spreader to broadcast granular fertilizers. For other formulations, use liquid applications. Fertilizers are good in moderation. Applying too much fertilizer is a waste of time and money; it also can be detrimental to plants. Excess nitrogen can make plants more susceptible to diseases and pests, so apply only what is needed when it is needed. For more details, contact your local K-State Research and Extension office, district forester, or contact the Kansas Forest Service headquarters at Joshua Pease, Conservation Forester, manages the Conservation Tree Planting Program and related activities for the Kansas Forest Service. 8 With natural gas prices already high and expected to go higher as winter arrives, many people that may have stopped using wood, or who have never burned wood for heat, are now taking a closer look. However, before rushing out and buying a new heating stove or firing up your old stove or fireplace, consider these 10 steps for maximizing wood burning efficiencies (information provided by Vermont Department of Public Service, Energy Efficiency Division): 1) Choose the proper size stove. A properly sized wood stove will do its job efficiently even on the coldest days. One that is too big will have to be damped down, which increases creosote production. The insulation in your home is a factor as well. To be sure you select a properly sized stove, inform your dealer of the number of square feet to be heated, and the amount of insulation surrounding the area to be heated. 2) Buy the most efficient design you can afford. It will pay for itself in the long run. Research has made great strides in designing fireboxes, drafts, catalytic combustors, and other devices that improve combustion and reduce smoke. Maybe it is time to retire the old smoker and modernize. 3) Burn only fuel your stove is designed for. Do not burn coal in a wood stove, for example, unless your stove was designed to handle both wood and coal. Trash should not be burned in your stove either besides increasing the chance of starting a chimney fire, some plastics and other trash emit harmful gases, and can ruin your catalytic combustor. Driftwood, treated wood, artificial logs, or anything containing plastics, lead, zinc, or sulfur will damage your catalytic combustor. Continued on Page 9 Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service

9 Overcoming the Fear of Managing Woodlands In some ways managing timber is like religion. It is talked about more than it is put into practice. There are many reasons. It is hard work, it costs money and time, and many of us are simply afraid to cut trees. Whether you are a landowner who has put the blood, sweat and tears into establishing a tree plantation or a professional forester who is concerned about ruining quality timber by exposing stems to too much light, cutting trees can be a scary proposition. The data collected from the annual inventory of Kansas woodlands and the collective experience of foresters seems to reveal that if we are to maintain the health and productivity of our woodlands, they must be thinned and harvested. Ignoring this fact invites problems that are currently being experienced in the Ozark forests where the red oak population has been devastated by, most likely, lack of management. The borers that are killing them are simply opportunists who recognize a tree in decline when they see one. 4) Burn seasoned wood. Up to 50 percent of the weight of green wood can be moisture, which can be released into your house. Seasoned wood burns hotter and more efficiently, helps decrease the amount of creosote buildup in your stovepipe, and saves you money. 5) Make your fires small and hot. This burns volatile gases more quickly, producing fewer safety hazards and air quality problems than a fire that is over-damped. Smaller, hotter fires mean more frequent loading and tending the stove, but the improved efficiency and air quality are worth the effort. 6) Install a stack thermometer on the stove flue. This will help you monitor the temperature of the gases as they leave the stove. Optimum range for most efficiency and least pollution: about 300 degrees to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 7) Remove excess ashes. Too much can clog your stove s air-intake vents and cut down on the amount of oxygen needed for efficient woodburning. 8) Tighten up your house. Insulation, weather stripping, storm windows, and caulking can all reduce the amount of wood required to heat your home, which in turn helps decrease the amount of air pollution. 9) Check your smokestack. Burn your stove at different rates, then go outside, and check the emissions. The absence of smoke indicates that your stove is burning cleanly and effectively. 10) Inspect your stove. Once or twice a year, depending on how often it is used, your stove and chimney should be inspected. Look for Fall 2003 Issue #8 A new program has arrived in Kansas to alleviate the financial fears associated with managing woodlands. The Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) will cover 75 percent of the cost landowners incur to thin their woodlands and plant trees. Interested landowners should contact their local district forester to get started. These foresters can help you reach the objectives you have for your property. Give them a call and help prolong the health and productivity of Kansas woodlands. Bob Atchison, Rural Forestry Coordinator, coordinates all rural forestry activities for the Kansas Forest Service. Considerations for Heating with Wood, from Page 8 warping, check the baffle to make sure there are no gaps, and check for creosote. Your dealer can make regular inspections, and so can a chimney sweep. Species Million BTU s Per Green Cord Osage-orange 32.6 Black locust 28.3 Hickory 27.4 Post oak 25.6 Pecan 25.6 Honeylocust 25.6 Mulberry 25.3 Bur oak 24.9 Red oak 24.0 Green ash 22.8 Black walnut 21.8 Hackberry 21.0 Red elm 20.6 American elm 19.8 Sycamore 19.8 Redcedar 18.9 Silver maple 18.9 Cottonwood 15.9 Willow 15.5 David Bruton, Utilization and Marketing Forester, provides direct technical assistance to individuals and companies harvesting, using and/or making wood products. The Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) will pay landowners 75 percent of their costs to thin trees from their woodlands. 9

10 A firerelated fatality occurs every 3 hours in the United States National Fire Prevention Week Why have we commemorated National Fire Prevention Week for the past 81 years during the week that contains October 9? For a bit of fire history, that week and particularly October 8 and 9 mark the date of two of the most devastating fires in modern United States history. One was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, a fire that killed 252 people and destroyed more than 2,000 acres of the city of Chicago. The other was the Peshtigo Fire, that killed 1,152 people and destroyed 1.2 million acres of Wisconsin forest on the same dates. We have all been told that Mrs. O Leary s cow started the Chicago burning, but recent research may have cleared the cow s good name. The real cause may have been a careless neighbor or boys doing a little smoking behind the barn. The Peshtigo Fire was probably started by railroad workers clearing timber for new track. Whatever or whoever caused such devastation is not as important as the lessons learned. On the 49th anniversary of those two fires, at the request of the International Fire Chiefs Association, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation. In 1922, it became National Fire Prevention Week. The designers decided the anniversary should not be observed with festivals, but as a way to keep the public aware and informed about the importance of fire prevention. The 2003 theme is When Fire Strikes: Get Out! Stay Out! A simple, but often forgotten message. On a regular basis, we read about someone reentering a burning home for no good reason, only to be overcome by smoke. No material goods are worth risking a life. Some facts about house fires published by the National Fire Protection Association indicate a fire-related fatality occurs every 3 hours in the United States. In this modern era of central heating and electric lighting in our homes, candles and space heaters are leading causes of home fires. During the winter months, heating equipment is the number one cause of home fires, with two-thirds of the this type of fire caused by space heaters. In 1999, electrical equipment was in fourth place. Candles, those fresh-smelling ornaments with their dancing light, caused $278 million in property loss in They have become so popular that over the past 10 years, the number of fires they have caused have tripled and resulted in 102 fatalities in a single year. With electric lights in every room, why the increase? Statistically 40 percent of the candle fires begin in the bedroom. What can we do in addition to being more careful with space heaters and candles? If your home is one of the 6 percent that does not have one, install the single most effective life saving device, an operational smoke alarm. Thirty percent of the time smoke alarms are found inoperable when fire strikes. Do not second guess the smoke alarm if it sounds, Get Out! Stay Out! Only 8 percent of the people whose smoke alarm sounded left their home. As prevention officers, we must not be making a strong enough impression on our constituents. Should we revisit the message that smoke alarms save lives? Well, a lot of questions and not many answers. One thing for sure, we must keep getting the message out, When Fire Strikes: Get Out! Stay Out!, in hopes that the tragedies of 1871 are not repeated. Ross Hauck, Fire Protection Specialist, provides Master Fire Planning and Prevention Programs for the Kansas Forest Service. 10 Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service

11 Kansas Arborists Training Course The Kansas Arborists Association (KAA), with the Kansas Forest Service, will be offering an Arborists Training Course October 13 to 17, 2003 in Manhattan, Kansas. This course will educate and train people who work with trees. This weeklong school was developed to instruct potential or existing tree maintenance workers; but tree board members, park managers, grounds maintenance personnel, and administrators are invited to attend this school and learn about proper tree care. During the past 28 years more than 1,240 individuals have attended this training school and more than 200 have become certified arborists with the KAA. This course is designed to provide students with the fundamentals of the art and science of arboriculture. Topics covered in the class include: Tree growth, function and identification Chain saw use and safety Tree pruning procedures and principles Ropes, saddles and knots Tree insects and diseases Tree surgery and methodology Shrub and evergreen pruning Tree planting and fertilization Tree problem and environmental stress diagnosis Utilizing urban forest residues Working safely around energized conductors Hazard tree assessments The course cost is $200 and covers course notebook, publications and required course This training emphasizes practical textbook. Registration demonstrations and hands-on approach for the course will be available by early September. The course is limited to 40 students and is filled on a first-come firstserved basis. Contact Eric Berg, (785) or at eberg@oznet.ksu.edu) for further information and course registration materials. For more information about the Kansas Arborist Association, including membership, certification, events, and activities, please contact Dr. Charles Long, Secretary / Treasurer, at (785) or at Clong@tctelco.net. Eric Berg, Community Forestry Coordinator, coordinates all urban and community forestry activities for the Kansas Forest Service. Root Reality. Continued from Page 1 occupy and grow in areas with good aeration, moisture and nutrient availability. The health of tree roots is directly related to, and responsible for, the health and vigor of all trees in the community. Understanding some of the basic biological realities of tree roots is the first step in maintaining their health and preventing damage to this hidden, but critical system. The next time you plan to do some earth work, apply some herbicides, or drive across that seemingly wide expanse of fescue, stop and consider the trees and roots around you and take care to protect this unseen and living resource. Eric Berg, Community Forestry Coordinator, coordinates all urban and community forestry activities for the Kansas Forest Service. Fall 2003 Issue #8 To Burn or Not to Burn? Continued from Page 5 We live in a fire environment. Fire is not bad. It s a tool, a valuable one when it comes to the land management practices of a grassland state. Fire used inappropriately and under the wrong conditions, is dangerous. As people build homes, areas that have traditionally been rural, agricultural land, escaped prescribed fires will no doubt become a bigger problem. Casey McCoy, Rural Fire Coordinator, directs all fire activities for the Kansas Forest Service. 11

12 Notice of nondiscrimination It is the policy of Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and materials without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability. Kansas State University is an equal opportunity organization. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, George Ham, Interim Director. Calendar of Events (Only events with firm dates are listed) September 19 Kansas Association of Arboreta & Botanical Gardens Meeting, Hutchinson, KS. Contact Dick Weidenbach at (316) September American Forests Conference Engineering Green into Metropolitan America, San Antonio, TX. Visit for registration information September Kansas Natural Resources Legacy Alliance, Public Meeting. See their Web site for details. September 27 Kansas PRIDE Day Conference, Great Bend, KS. Contact Dan Kahl for more information at (785) September 29 - October 1 NADF, Building for Greener Communities National Conference, Nebraska City, NE. Visit for conference details. October 2-3 Great Plains SAF Walk in the Woods, Riggs Arboretum, Waterloo, KS. Contact Dennis Carlson for further details at (620) October 8 Kansas Forest Service Fall Field Day, Butler County. Contact Bob Atchison for more information at (785) October KAA Arborists Training School, Manhattan, KS. Contact Eric Berg for more information at (785) October Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams Fall Field Tour. Contact Tim Christian (620) or tdchristian@cox.net October The Practice of Restoring Native Ecosystems National Conference, Nebraska City, NE. Visit for conference details. November 7-8 Central Region Woodland Stewardship Conference, Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, NE. Contact Charlie Barden, (785) or cbarden@oznet.ksu.edu November 7-8 Kansas Environmental Education Conference, Manhattan, KS. Contact Laura Downey (785) or ldowney@ozent.ksu.edu. January 4-6 Western Trade Show, Kansas City, MO. For more information, visit January KRPA Annual Conference, Topeka, KS. For more information, visit January KAA Shade Tree Conference, Manhattan, KS. Contact Dr. Charles Long at (785) for further details. Links of Interest: Kansas Forest Service K-State Research and Extension Kansas Canopy Kansas Forest Service 2610 Claflin Road Manhattan, KS State of Kansas Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Natural Resources Conservation Service Kansas Farm Service Agency Kansas