City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/115252
apples, cherries, firs, pines, hawthorns (Crataegus), and about 20 other genera. Low temperatures are not the only determinant for hardiness. Trees in Anchorage must be able to make it through six months of winter dormancy. They also must adapt to the long summer daylight, equally long winter nights, and the rapid gains and losses of daylight in the spring and fall. Last year's weather tested Anchorage's trees in every season. A record snowfall of 134.5" (341.6 cm) buried the city from October 2011 until April 2012. Six months of snow removal damaged tree trunks, and salt, gravel, and ice-melting chemicals impacted root zones. Hungry moose, struggling to find food in the deep snow, found easy access to a buffet of tasty ornamentals in yards and along streets. With more than 1,000 of these winter residents, the damage was extensive. Voles, on the other hand, enjoyed the deep snow, which provided a warm home safe from predators. Homeowners were surprised in the spring to find the bark stripped from the lower 2 to 3 feet (.6 to .9 m) of many trees and shrubs. Trees safely fenced from moose were killed by the tiny vole. One benefit from the early and deep snow cover was that it insulated the ground and prevented thawing and freezing cycles that often harm plants. Because the soil was not frozen as deeply as normal, the snow melted quickly and soaked in, providing needed moisture to the trees in the spring. The summer of 2012 brought only seven days above 70 degrees F (21 C) and just one reaching 75 degrees F (24 C). A severe wind storm on September 4-5 leveled trees across the city, especially in forested parks where micro-bursts laid down nearly all trees in areas of an acre or more. The National Weather Service reported winds of 40 to 90 mph (64 to 145 km/h) and an amateur meteorologist at a higher elevation recorded a 131 mph (211 km/h) gust. High winds are common in the winter and spring but not The biggest pest of Anchorage trees weighs 1,000 lbs. (454 kg), is nearly six feet (1.8 m) tall, and can run 35 mph (56 km/h). Moose injure more people each year than bears do. Photo by Larry Hartig www.urban-forestry.com 17