When the winter 2018-’19 CTPA (Connecticut Tree Protective Association) newsletter, “The Connecticut Arborist” arrived, the article by Chris Donnelly titled, “2018: A Difficult Year for Trees — How Can Arborists Help?” stood out.
As a reader, we’ll assume you’ve noticed the increasing number of dead and dying trees as you drive around the state. For the many of us who love our trees and hate to see them perish for any reason, Chris’s article gives us some insight on what’s going on and where.
The windstorms and tornadoes in our area in March and May, the continuing advance of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), plus the combined effects of drought and gypsy moth defoliation caused very noticeable tree damage and mortality.
Primary causes for concern
Why should tree mortality concern us?
- The loss of a significant proportion of our forest trees
- The drastic reduction in numbers of a key group of native trees (ash)
- The likelihood that so many trees dying in the forest will provide a rapid increase in invasive species
- The woods may not be as safe to enter as previously thought
- Foresters will have to deal with the impact of excessive tree mortality on timber markets
- Tree wardens must make critical decisions on how to handle (and pay for) removal of many more hazardous trees in cities and towns
- Property owners need to make decisions about trees that have suddenly become at risk
Sketch of Tree Mortality Across Connecticut
Below you can see the percentage, by county and by tree, of the total number of trees identified by CTDEEP (Conn. Dep’t of Energy & Environmental Protection) for removal across Connecticut. Data was gathered by DEEP staff visiting high-use areas within DEEP properties. Though not intended to serve as a scientific survey, the figures provide a useful and very interesting snapshot of what types are dying and where, on a county level.
Notice the two counties with the highest mortalities are at opposite corners of the state. Litchfield county, which is an early EAB territory and has high ash die-off, and New London county, the gypsy moth epicenter (look at that oak number!). Drought and storms have amplified numbers across the state.
So now, when you travel around/across the state and notice these dead and dying trees, you won’t be so puzzled and perhaps a little less alarmed. The trees we take for granted have to put up with a lot, and when they are stressed by damage, disease, insects, or the weight of the invasive vines clambering into their crowns, it’s incumbent on us to take notice and help if there’s anything we can do.
