Forest Health

The News and Notes roundup for this issue features a look at the upcoming schedule for our Woodland & Wildlife Wednesday webinars, how you can get your green industry business listed with the Woodland Stewardship Education program's online directory, the growth of women leading state forestry agencies across the nation, and the benefits of bringing back fire to help restore eastern woodland habitats.

Woodlands are under increasing pressure from both native and invasive insects or diseases. Insect or disease management providers are listed here.

Chosen tree management, previously known as "crop tree management," is a proactive method for encouraging selected trees in your woodland.

Harvesting selected trees from your small woodland can provide firewood, enable chosen trees to thrive, help to control insects and diseases, and more. Small woodlot tree harvesting providers are listed here.

Cutting firewood on your property can achieve more than one goal, such as providing fuel for heating and benefitting selected tree species. Providers of firewood cutting are listed here.

This publication has a dual role of being a non­technical, fully illustrated guide for use by the pub­lic, while still being useful to experts in the field. It describes and illustrates the 100 most frequently grown or encountered potentially poisonous plants found in Maryland.

Garlic mustard is a biennial flowering plant in the mustard family that is an aggressive invader of woodlands throughout the United States.

The News and Notes roundup for this issue features Extension forester Jonathan Kays' interview on Voice of America, a look at why people get lost in the woods, the potential benefit of ghost forests for certain birds, and a new urban tree grant program from the Maryland Department of Transportation.

Afforestation is the process of planting trees in formerly open space. Because trees take time to mature, it is important to ensure that the seedlings have sufficient light and nutrients to grow. This often involves controlling growth of other species within the planting area, including invasive species such as the distinctive Johnsongrass. And once established in an area, Johnsongrass can out-compete many other species for nutrients and over-top them to rob them of sunlight.

Read some "parting thoughts" from Extension Forester Jonathan Kays prior to his retirement. Our regular features include the "Woodland Wildlife Spotlight," "Invasives in Your Woodland," plus the events calendar, the Brain Tickler challenge, and the News and Notes section.