USU Extension Forestry

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USU Extension Forestry

This page is to connect people who are interested in trees and forests with educational and inspirational resources.

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10/24/2023

Today’s Tree Tuesday is Peachleaf Willow!

This native tree grows on the banks of rivers and in wetlands. It is most commonly found in the midwest as far south as New Mexico and north into Canada. In Utah, it can be found near Logan and Vernal.

Willows typically have weak wood and branch structures. It should be used for restoration and in places where native plants are a high priority, but not near structures.

It gets its name from the resemblance between its leaves and peach leaves. The leaves tend to be somewhat wider and more oval shaped than the typical narrow willow leaf shape.

For more information on Peachleaf Willow and other Utah native trees, check out our website at https://extension.usu.edu/treebrowser/catalog/willow-peachleaf

10/17/2023

Today’s is Wavyleaf Oak aka Quercus undulata.

Wavyleaf oak is native to the southwest US and northern Mexico. It is a shrubby tree that can grow to 10 feet in height. It grows natively in rocky soils and on mesas and is tolerant of droughty conditions and alkaline soils.

You can identify it by the crinkly or wavy texture of the leaves, which have lobed edges and a dark green color (dull green underneath). Like other oaks, this tree produces acorns!

Is there a tree you’d like to see showcased in a future tree Tuesday? Let us know!

To learn more about wavyleaf oak, check out our website at https://extension.usu.edu/forestry/tree-identification/oaks/wavyleaf-oak

10/13/2023

Are you interested in smoke management in the West? Come to this land management-focused panel discussion on November 1, 2023 at 10-11:30 on Zoom hosted by the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Pre-registration is required:
https://usfs.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscuyhrDgjEiUg0ZHgvv6cPjvV2U_WaHY%0D #/registratiohttps://usfs.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscuyhrDgjEiUg0ZHgvv6cPjvV2U_WaHY%0D #/registratio

09/21/2023

Do you use firewood, either to heat your home during the winter or for campfires? Do you wish you didn't have to wait so long after cutting down a tree to use the wood?

Then consider trying out the solar kiln, developed by Glen Holt, the Cooperative Extension Service Outreach Forester at University of Alaska Fairbanks. It is a simple method to accelerate the seasoning or drying process for firewood.

Check out our newsletter at https://extension.usu.edu/forestry/publications/utah-forest-newsletter/solar-kiln

09/19/2023

Today’s Tree Tuesday is Honey Mesquite, or Prosopis juliflora

This tree has complex branching leaves with many narrow leaflets. It is native to the southern US (including southern Utah) and Mexico. It’s not very cold-hardy, but it could do well on warm sites. It is well adapted to hot, dry desert sites and has an extensive root system.

Fun fact: honey mesquite is in the Pea family, and it grows seeds in pods!

For more information on honey mesquite and other Utah native trees, check out our website at https://extension.usu.edu/forestry/tree-identification/other-trees/honey-mesquite.

Is there a tree you’d like to see in a future Tree Tuesday? Let us know!

09/05/2023

Today’s is the Desert-willow, aka Chilopsis linearis

This shrubby tree species is not a true willow, but gets that name from the long, thin shape of its leaves.It is more closely related to the Trumpet Vine, a popular red flowering vine. Desert-willows can grow up to 40 feet tall in good conditions. Its native range extends from southern California through part of southern Utah and down into northern Mexico.

The desert willow has showy pink flowers in the early summertime. If you live in a warm climate where it doesn’t get too cold, this drought hardy plant could be a good choice for an ornamental landscaping tree.

To learn more about the desert-willow, check out our website at https://extension.usu.edu/forestry/tree-identification/other-trees/desert-willow

08/30/2023

is the Common Hoptree, aka Ptelea angustifolia

Contrary to what its name might suggest, this tree is not related to the hops plant used to make beer. However, when German immigrants moved to the Texas area they used the Common Hoptree as a substitute in beer making, which is how the tree got its name.

Hoptree leaves grow in 3 leaflets. The fruit is a papery two-seeded samara. It is native to southwest North America, from western Texas to California, including southern Utah and northern Mexico.

To learn more about the Common Hoptree, check out our website at https://extension.usu.edu/forestry/tree-identification/other-trees/common-hoptree

08/22/2023

This week’s is California Redbud!

This Utah native is a small tree. It often has multiple trunks and is often shrubby. It has dark green leaves with a leathery texture that are round to heart shaped. In the spring it produces showy pink flowers.

This tree is in the Fabaceae family, also known as the Pea or Legume family. The fruit grows in flat pods that mature in mid to late summer.

Native Americans used the wood to make bows. The wood is also good for carving.

For more identification information, check out USU Extension’s TreeBrowser at https://extension.usu.edu/treebrowser/catalog/redbud-california

08/18/2023

Interested in adding native plants to your landscaping, but not sure where to start? Check out USU Extension’s new website EcoRestore Utah Portal! There you can fill out a Site Assessment to get recommendations for your location, see a list of native plants, read articles about ecosystem restoration, and more!

Check it out at extension.usu.edu/ecorestore/

08/15/2023

Today’s Tree Tuesday is Greene’s Mountain-Ash aka Sorbus scopulina

This shrubby tree can be found in cool, moist canyon sites. It has dark green leaves with 9-15 toothed leaflets that turn a striking orange color in the fall. The berries can be cooked into jam or jelly, but make sure to properly identify them first, as there are poisonous look-alikes such as baneberries.

Contrary to what its name suggests, the mountain-ash is not related to other Ash trees (genus Fraxinus). It is in the Rosaceae family, which makes it more closely related to roses and apples.

To learn more about Greene’s Mountain-ash and other trees in Utah, check out our website: https://extension.usu.edu/forestry/tree-identification/other-trees/greene-mountain-ash

07/25/2023

is Longleaf Pine

This tree is native to the Southeastern region of the US. Longleaf pine is particularly well adapted to fire. When it is young, it looks more like a grass than a normal tree seedling. It grows low to the ground with very long needles. When low-intensity fire burns through, the needles get crisped, but the terminal bud (the part that helps the tree grow vertically) is well insulated.

The tree stays in this grass-stage for many years, saving up carbon until it is ready to grow vertically. Once it begins its ascent, it can usually get tall enough to evade low-intensity fires within a single growing season.

Longleaf pine is culturally and ecologically significant. It is the state tree of Alabama, and home to a number of wildlife species that depend on it for survival.

07/24/2023

Summer. The season of campfires. Here’s some tips to keep your campfires safe for you and your community.
1. Check fire restrictions. Wildfire season is getting longer and longer every year, so check out the local fire restrictions and risk levels.
2. Buy it where you burn it. Moving firewood contributes to the spread of insects and pathogens. Check out dontmovefirewood.org/ for guidelines and recommendations.
3. Clear any flammable plants or debris away from your firepit. Make sure to look up! Sparks can carry into hanging tree branches.
4. Don’t leave your fire unattended. Watch for sparks or embers that might start a wildfire.
5. Put it dead out! Fire pits should be completely drowned and cool to the touch before leaving.

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5230 Old Main Hl
Logan, UT
84322

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http://forestry.usu.edu/

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