Diseased Wood

[Circle B MN]

Got to thinking about all the invasive species and fungi around here, and am surprised there is a tree left standing. In this area we have.....

Oak Wilt
Dutch Elm Disease
Pine Bore Beetle
Birch Beetles
Emerald Ash Borer
Asian Long Horn Beetle (threat of)

Please add to the list if I have missed something, but it sure does make it hard to get a clean piece of timber....

 

[bluestem]

The other problem I see with this is that some of the trees growing around here are introduced species as well, they (for the most part) aren't susceptible to these diseases and spread rapidly. Trees like Siberian Elm, Black Locust, and Honey Locust are pretty invasive around here and are definitely taking the place of the Oaks and Hickories that once shaped the landscape.

That's a good list to start with, I'm not sure about up in Minnesota but we have a lot of invasive plants as well that keep the nice hardwoods from propagating as well including:

Garlic Mustard
Dames Rocket
Smooth and Glossy Buckthorn
Bush Honeysuckles

Oh here's another one that's probably headed that way Gypsy Moths.

 

[Circle B MN]

There was a post not too long ago regarding cedar in the plains states IIRC gaining ground at an alarming rate.

 

[MN Ripper]

Why do all the bugs and diseases love the more "premium" timber? There's plenty of cottonwood and boxelder's how come they don't kill off those? Wait I just remembered that's wind & lightning's job.

 

[vincem77]

What does everyone do with the bad sections when splitting wood. I try to split the nasty stuff out and burn it with some pine. Should i just let it dry out with the rest of the wood?

 

[bluestem]

There was a post not too long ago regarding cedar in the plains states IIRC gaining ground at an alarming rate.

Cedars are a huge problem in the plains states mainly because of the lack of large scale wildfire being pretty much nonexistent for the last 100 or so years. Those grasslands thrive in a burned landscape and Cedars obviously go up light a torch! If a lot of those ranchers would try some prescription burning it would go along way in pushing the Cedars back.