The Woods Beyond

From my vantage point during feeding time, I can keep an eye on our tall trees beyond the show barn. These are the tall trees that the show cows love to hang out around during the hot summer days. The firs and cedar keep the area shaded and cool for the critters.

Over the last couple of years we have noticed that they are not putting on vibrant leaders (the very tip of the tree) as they once did.

Last year we could see the tip of one tree begin to lose needles and thin out. This year a second tree is doing the same, with a third tree looking like it might perish before too long.

With the dry conditions of last year and so far this year, the second tree is failing quickly. It could take years for drought conditions from a single year to stress a tree enough to shorten its life span. Last year was rough for the trees, but they have experienced drier than normal periods throughout the decade and they have been weakened by it. Insects and root rot issues are much more common than they were throughout the forest. When one tree becomes ill, it can spread throughout the neighboring trees.

We will be taking down at least two of the trees out of this area soon and will be taking a good look at the tree health of the remaining to see if more damage control is needed.