when trees are in leaf and the ground is not frozen; the
timing of the storm and heavy rainfall contributed to a
large number of soil failures. Trees with poor form split
apart and many with root damage, limited root space,
or those planted too deeply tumbled.
Anchorage woke to an early frost on September 9
and then two weeks later, the floods came. Numerous
creeks running from the mountains to Cook Inlet overflowed their banks and flooded streets and basements.
A long stretch of cold, dry weather began in October and
lasted until late in the year, resulting in deeply frozen
soil. A week of warm weather and rain in mid-January
left deep water and then ice around trees. We'll see
what spring has in store for us.
Trees, like people, have to be tough and adaptable
to thrive in Alaska—but our choices of planting sites,
practices, and maintenance can increase their survival
rate or ensure their demise. Practices that have proven
successful include:
•Find
Siberian fir damaged by moose • Photo by Patricia Joyner
micro-climates such as south facing slopes and protected sites for less
hardy species.
Alaska Community Forest Council members view blow down of a stand of young cottonwoods at Cheney Lake Park two months after
the September 2012 wind storm. Photo by Stephen Nickel
18
City Trees
