TREE TALES


			TREE TALES
			"Tree Tales," co-produced by the Kansas Forest Service and the K-State Radio Network, Each week, you'll find advice on tree care issues, tree selection and planting, and upcoming events and publications from the Kansas Forest Service.



June 1, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	TREE PRUNING – Many like to use the beautiful spring and summer weather to trim and prune trees on their property. K-State forester Charles Barden gives advice and tips on trimming and pruning this time of year.
May 25, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	WALNUT FIELD DAY – (This cut has a kill date of 6/10/09) It’s the most abundant hardwood tree species in Kansas, and carries the most market value: the black walnut. Producing and utilizing black walnut will be the central theme of the upcoming Walnut Council Field Day near Manhattan on Thursday, June 11^th. This week, K-State forester Bob Atchison has a complete preview of this educational event for anyone who would like to attend.
May 18, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	RIPARIAN TREE VALUE – Recent research has reinforced the notion that tree plantings along the banks of streams and rivers contribute significantly to surface water quality. Landowners in Kansas can do their part, in improving water quality, by planting suitable tree species in riparian areas. K-State forester Bob Atchison talks more about that this week.
May 11, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	ENJOYING THE WOODS – Before the summer heat takes hold, everyone should get out in the woody areas near their homes and enjoy the natural resources there. That encouragement comes from K-State forester Charlie Barden, who suggests several things to look for when taking a spring-time walk in the Kansas woods.
May 4, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	AGRO-FORESTRY FIELD DAY – Incorporating trees and shrubs into contemporary agricultural systems will be the theme of the 2009 Agro-forestry Field Day, co-sponsored by the Kansas Forest Service and K-State Research and Extension. This informative event takes place Wednesday, May 20^th, at the Brown Tree Farm near Lebanon in north-central Kansas. This week, K-State forester Bob Atchison offers a preview of this excellent educational opportunity for landowners and others with an interest in conservation tree plantings.
April 27, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	FREEZE DAMAGE RECOVERY – The few spring freezes we’ve had this year haven’t done as much damage as they have in the past, but some people still have concerns about their blooming plants. K-State forester Charles Barden discusses freeze damage recovery, and its affects on fruit trees and flowers.
April 20, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	INVASIVE PRAIRIE TREES – The delicate balance of the Kansas prairie ecosystem is being increasingly disrupted by invasive, non-native tree species. Most notorious among those is the eastern red cedar. Even so, the cedar can still be used for beneficial conservation purposes, if managed appropriately. K-State forester Bob Atchison addresses that topic on this week’s program.
April 13, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	RECOGNIZING ARBOR DAY – Both Earth Day and Arbor Day are celebrated around this time of year. And it’s an opportunity to recognize those who devote their careers to enhancing our tree resources, according to K-State forester Charlie Barden. On this week’s edition, he pays homage to that cause.
April 6, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	LANDSCAPE TREE SELECTION – Spring weather and landscape tree planting go hand-in-hand. Homeowners need to be mindful of tree species selection, lest unforeseen problems result as the tree matures. K-State forester Charlie Barden shares some things to think about when selecting a tree for a particular location in the home setting.
March 30, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	OLD TIMBER STANDS – Though Kansas is known largely as a prairie state, it has its share of aged trees. K-State forester Bob Atchison refers to these as old growth timber, and he invites everyone to get out and appreciate trees with such longevity. He talks about the Champion Tree Program, which provides information on these majestic trees.
March 23, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	PLANTING AMERICAN PLUM – The American plum is a woody shrub that’s well adapted to growing conditions in Kansas. And it has many appealing attributes, as conservation plant material and otherwise, according to K-State forester Bob Atchison. American plum can be ordered now, through the Conservation Tree Planting Program at Kansas State University.
March 16, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	PROTECTING KANSAS FORESTS – The environmental value of forests are exponential, and many tree resources across the state are in need of protection. Bob Atchison, a forester with the Kansas Forest Service, discusses the Forest Legacy program and its financial incentives for Kansas landowners interested in conservation easements.
March 9, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	PRUNING WOODY PLANTS – It is still early in the spring. Nonetheless, this is an excellent time for pruning landscape trees and shrubs, according to K-State forester Charlie Barden. This week, he talks about the ground rules for pruning for promoting spring bloom on many of the popular woody ornamentals.
March 2, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	TREES FOR KANSAS – Following the dust storms of the 1930s, over 40 million trees were planted in Kansas. Since then, many of those trees have either been removed or need serious attention. To help with this problem, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is currently offering financial assistance to Kansas landowners for windbreak establishment and renovation. K-State forester Bob Atchison has more on this week’s program.
February 23, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	RURAL FIREWISE PROGRAM – Those who live on the outskirts of a city or town, or who have just recently moved to the country, may not be aware of the wildfire dangers that could threaten their dwelling. There’s a special educational program that alerts people to the wildfire possibilities. This week, K-State forester Charlie Barden talks about the Fire-Wise program, and tells how to access its information.
February 16, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	MARKETING LOCAL TIMBER – Many landowners don’t realize the opportunity they have to market timber from their property, according to K-State forester Bob Atchison. There are a number of willing timber buyers in Kansas. Bob stresses, however, that the transaction must be handled in a businesslike manner. This week, he covers some of the finer points of marketing home-grown timber.
February 9, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	SPRING TREES AND SHRUBS – Mail order catalogs that provide a wide variety of trees and shrubs will be arriving in your mailbox soon, just in time for spring planting. The Kansas Forest Service, however, can offer many of the same products at a much lower cost for those who are more interested in conservation plantings, through its Seedling Distribution Program. K-State forester Charlie Barden has more on that this week.
February 2, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	TREES AND GLOBAL WARMING – To what degree it is occurring may be a subject of debate, but global warming is a fact, says K-State forester Bob Atchison. And tree resource management is a key part of addressing global climate change. This week, Bob urges all landowners to take stock of their role in mitigating that change through good forestry practices.
January 26, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	WINTER PRUNING DECOR – During a nice winter day, homeowners may want to use this rare opportunity to prune shrubs and trees in their yard. The branches cut from shrubs and trees can be used for indoor decoration when placed in a vase of water, which will allow the buds to burst. This week, K-State forester Charles Barden gives tips on how to prepare these “woody cuts”, especially for special occasions such as Valentine’s Day or Easter.
January 19, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	EMERALD ASH BORER – Forestry officials in Kansas are taking all means necessary to keep the emerald ash borer from devastating ash trees in this state, much as it has in an increasing number of locations to our east. One of the main ways that this insect spreads is by firewood movement. This week, K-State forester Bob Atchison is asking those who burn firewood to take precautions against this pest.
January 12, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	NATURAL RESOURCE CONFERENCE – Wichita will be the site for a major educational meeting on managing tree plantings and other natural resources on January 29-30^th. It’s the 2009 Kansas Natural Resources Conference, open to the public and co-sponsored by a broad array of agencies and interest groups. K-State forester Charlie Barden will be on that program, and he offers a preview of this informative event.
January 5, 2009	MP3 with music MP3 without music	PROMOTING TREE PLANTINGS – Conservation tree plantings in Kansas have tapered off significantly in recent years. K-State forester Bob Atchison is working to revive those planting initiatives, by way of the Conservation Tree Planting Program at K-State. This week, he reports on the downward trend in conservation plantings, and offers encouragement to landowners to turn that trend around.
December 29, 2008	MP3 with music MP3 without music	UTILIZING CHRISTMAS TREES – The usefulness of a real cut Christmas tree doesn’t have to end with the holiday. There are a number of ways that tree can be put to good use, especially to enhance wildlife habitat. K-State forester Charlie Barden offers a few suggestions on this week’s program.
December 22, 2008	MP3 with music MP3 without music	ATTRIBUTES OF WINDBREAKS – The recent arctic cold blast that descended upon the central plains served as a good reminder of the value of windbreaks. Whether they’re protecting the farmstead or the livestock housing area, windbreaks pay great dividends in harsh winter weather. K-State forester Bob Atchison expands on that topic this week.
December 15, 2008	MP3 with music MP3 without music	BURNING FIREWOOD EFFECTIVELY – Firewood is an excellent alternative heat source for the home. But how the wood is selected and cut can make a big difference in maximizing its heating value. This week, forester Charlie Barden of K-State offers several pointers on making the most of your firewood this winter.
December 8, 2008	MP3 with music MP3 without music	CARING FOR CHRISTMAS TREES – As we enter the holiday season, many families will be putting up Christmas trees. On this week’s edition of Tree Tales, K-State forester Charles Barden suggests trying a real tree, and offers several tips to care for the live Christmas tree.
December 1, 2008	MP3 with music MP3 without music	ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM – Kansas landowners who would like to better manage their forestlands would be wise to consider the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP as it is commonly referred to. On this week’s edition of Tree Tales, K-State forester Bob Atchison discusses the program and the opportunities it provides to Kansas landowners.