Forest Management

New from The Woods in Your Backyard Partnership, the Woodland Health Practices Field Guide provides the latest, research-based information on land-care practices.

A non-native nematode is causing beech leaf disease in native Maryland beech trees. This article offers advice on identifying BLD in local beech trees and what to do if you find evidence.

The News and Notes roundup for this issue notes that invasive plant species are affecting other countries as well as the U.S., notes that a vital program led by University of Maryland researchers will return to operation in space, shares information about watersheds and drinking water, and wonders if a new app will revolutionize forestry mapping.

Eastern hemlock is a coniferous tree that favors the cool and humid climate along the Appalachian Mountains. Hemlocks can grow more than 150 feet tall and live for more than 800 years. Their short, dense needles provide excellent habitat for many kinds of wildlife, from warblers to bobcats. Unfortunately, healthy hemlocks are becoming increasingly rare due to the invasive insect called hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). New efforts by the Virginia Dept. of Forestry are combatting this invasive bug with another bug.

Resources for information about common invasive insects in Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region.

The Princess Tree was imported from China in the 1800s and has become an aggressive, invasive plant in much of the mid-Atlantic and mid-South states.

As this newsletter enters its 31st year, the Woodland Stewardship Education program invites its readers and subscribers to provide some feedback through an online survey.

Registration for the spring session of "The Woods in Your Backyard" online course is now open. Our Regular features include the Woodland Wildlife Spotlight, Invasives in Your Woodland, our events calendar, and the Brain Tickler challenge.