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Before You Order Tree Seedlings

Good tree planting practices include good planting stock, a well-selected and properly prepared site, proper planting methods, and adequate protection and care of the tree seedlings before and after planting. Failure in any of these planting practices often results in unsatisfactory survival or growth or even in complete failure. This article provides a few questions that should be asked before ordering seedlings.

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Arkansas Forestry Commission
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Added: September 25, 2008

In cooperation with the University of Arkansas System, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Arkansas landowners, the Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC) will protect and develop the forest resources of Arkansas by preventing and suppressing wildfires, monitoring and promoting forest health, encouraging reforestation and forest resource stewardship, and gathering and disseminating forest resource information.

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Angler's Guide to Fish Diseases and Parasites

Occasionally anglers catch fish that show signs of infection or parasitism. Is the fish safe to eat? The usual and safest response to this question is, "When in doubt--don't." However, very few fish diseases can be transferred to humans. Almost all fish a...

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A House Invader from the Wild Garden

Some animal is living in my attic,'' the caller said. ``I've collected droppings--can you tell me what they are?''

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Construction Damage Assessments: Trees and Sites
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Added: November 05, 2008

A key component in assessing development impacts on trees is the systematic evaluation of damage. Many types of damage occur repeatedly over a site, and from site to site. This constant and repetitive damage comes from fundamental anti-tree and tree-illiterate activities. Under scrutiny of a systematic assessment, these patterned damage forms can be prevented or minimized. Some types of damage (one-time, one-spot, chance occurrences) can be assessed but are difficult to prevent. By attempting to categorize damage, patterns can be recognized and steps taken to minimize tree injury and site degradation. Please note that many development activities and the continued presence of good tree quality are mutually exclusive (spacially and temporally). Decisions must be made early in the planning process to maintain tree quality of life and minimize injury.

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Stem Strength with Closed / Centered Cavity
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Added: October 31, 2008

The structural integrity of tree stems, roots and branches are dependent upon a number of very conservative allocation and building processes. Mechanical injuries, growth faults, and decay processes all significantly impact how dynamic loads are resisted within the tree. One form of tree response to decay and mechanical load changes is a boundary setting process which under some conditions lead to a cavity. Hollow trees can be found everywhere tree-forms exist.

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Southern Hardwood Management Manual

We hope this publication will serve to expand the private forest landowners' horizon to the possibilities of hardwood management. We have assembled chapters on the various hardwood forest types found across the South. Other chapters address management practices designed to regenerate and maintain stand and site quality, plus many other benefits.

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The State of America's Forests

The Society of American Foresters has published a comprehensive, peer-reviewed report on the status of America's forestland. This 68-page report outlines the latest facts and figures in easy to read graphs, charts, tables, and supporting commentary. The State of America's Forests is the most definitive, one-source compilation of credible forestry facts touting more than 50 sources and peer-review by academia, non-governmental organizations, and the USDA Forest Service.

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Why Leaves Change Color
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Added: March 29, 2004

A good explaination of this wonderful event that takes place every fall.

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What Is My Timber Worth?

This publication notes some of the variables that make estimating the value of timber difficult.

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Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas

Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas is a web-based project of the Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group, that provides information for the general public, land managers, researchers, and others on the serious threat and impacts of invasive alien (exotic, non-native) plants to the native flora, fauna, and natural ecosystems of the United States.

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Urban Integrated Pest Management

People are becoming more aware of and concerned about the effects of chemicals on our environment. The impact of the use of pesticides on drinking water and food production, as well as the impact in homes and landscapes has become a significant social concern. Many people have begun to wonder if there are ways to reduce or eliminate pesticide use in non-agricultural settings.

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Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series

Millions of dollars are spent each year designing, implementing, and maintaining urban landscapes. Unfortunately, long-term problems are caused when these processes are not carried out properly. Many of these problems can be avoided or reduced by utilizing sustainable landscape practices. A landscape developed with sustainable practices will improve the environment by conserving resources and reducing chemical applications.

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Southern Pine Beetle
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Added: September 25, 2003

Southern pine beetle (SPB) is a serious pest of yellow pines, including loblolly, shortleaf and Virginia pines.

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Southern Center for Sustainable Forestry

The Southern Center for Sustainable Forests provides innovative research and practical applications for enhancing sustainable forest management on industrial and nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land in the South.

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South Carolina Urban Tree Care: How to Grow Healthy,Beautiful Trees

Many people think that trees will grow and be healthy without our help, but for trees to thrive, we must care for them. Start by selecting the right species of tree to plant on the site, plant the tree properly, then provide timely maintenance throughout its life.

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Soil Nutrient Variability in Southern Piedmont Soils

When sampling soil, it is usually recommended that one collect a small amount of soil from a number of locations within a field, then mix the soil together in a pail for a good, representative sample. The reasoning behind this approach is that soil nutrient level tends to vary across a field due to the heterogenous nature of soil.

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Safe Use, Storage and Disposal of Pesticides

This publication discusses safe ways to use, store, and dispose of pesticides.

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Minimizing the impact of construction activity on trees

Construction Tolerance and Comments Regarding Trees Commonly Found in Ohio

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Loblolly Pine: The Ecology and Culture of Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.)

Loblolly Pine: The Ecology and Culture of Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.) highlights individual tree, stand, and land management alternatives useful to resource managers, students, researchers, and others.

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Legal Terms & Concepts for Forest Land Owners
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Added: October 05, 2008

This publication contains selected legal terms and concepts designed to acquaint the forest land owner with terminology designed to help specialized needs.

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Herbicide Use: Information and Guidelines

Herbicides are used to treat weeds and grasses to allow seedlings to grow. The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) provides information and guidelines on herbicide use.

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Erosion Control & Wildlife Plantings for Forestry Operations

Timber management creates openings in the form of roads, stream crossings, log decks, skid trails, and firebreaks. Establishing vegetative cover on these areas reduces soil erosion and prevents offsite sediment. The purpose of this publication is to provide forest land managers with a variety of seeding mixtures that will stabilize sites and provide benefits to many species of wildlife.

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Ecology Explorers
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Added: July 29, 2008

Most people in the US live in cities but may not understand the ecological processes going on around them. People influence ecological conditions and at the same time, we are influenced by those conditions. As an Ecology Explorer, you will be studying your schoolyard (or backyard) as part of an urban ecosystem.

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Building Homes for Squirrels

When natural cavities are hard to find, squirrels will readily use man-made dens--sometimes they even prefer them. This preference may be because the dens are dry and protect the squirrels from most of their enemies.

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A Landowner's Guide to Wildlife Abundance Through Forestry

The satisfaction of working with nature to increase wildlife abundance, and at the same time, of leaving to the next generation property of increasing economic and esthetic values can be yours through careful but decisive management.

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Wildland Urban Interface South

Interface South was developed by the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station and Southern Region to heighten awareness of and provide information about wildland-urban interface issues. Critical interface issues include fire, watershed management, wildlife conservation and management, land use planning and policy, and many more.

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Wildland Resources Center-Links to Resources

The Wildland Resources Center is a systemwide multicampus research unit. The Center is charged to relate not only to research but also to the extension and continuation of activities concerned with terrestrial natural resources.

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IPM Checklist In Established Fraser Fir Christmas Tree Plantations

Integrated pest management or IPM is a sustainable approach to controlling pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks. This checklist is designed to give ideas of practices that may be adopted so that tree production can become closer to the IPM ideal.

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Hurricanes and the Harvesting Decisions

This paper addresses the generic question of whether a crop should be harvested after sustaining significant loss. This paper provides a citrus grower with a roadmap to determine the economic criteria for harvesting the remaining crop. Conversely, when is it in the best economic interest for a grower to abandon the remaining crop? While the hurricanes of 2004 motivated this paper, the analysis is applicable to any situation arising from natural disasters, pest infestations, or collapsing market prices.

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