What Happened To The Trees?

"What happened to the trees?" was a common question during league meetings this spring. In reality over the 27 holes we cut down 9 trees so we still have 400 left without counting the sections of unmaintained woods. One ash on 2, three ash on 16 and the most noticeable ones were the five silver maples behind the 8th green.

The silver maples on 8 were too close to the green and causing quality programs due to the root system going under 8 green but we cut them down only because they were nearing the end of their lives and becoming brittle. Each time we had a decent wind a good sized live branches were falling down with the potential to injure a golfer.

The removal on 8 left quite a opening behind the green and that opening looks barer than it is because the rest of the trees on 2 and 8 do not have leaves yet. Once the other trees leave out the look will really change and there will be a background to the green again.

I did find it odd that when we removed the maples around 27 green 3 years ago the very undulating green looked flatter but when we removed the trees on 8 the green the previously flat green looks more sloped from back to front and left to right.

Hole 8 with the Silver Maples.

Hole 8 with the trees removed early this spring. The
look will change as the background trees leave out.

The second common question this spring is what trees are you going to plant to replace those trees on 8? Although we appreciate the many suggestions it is not our goal to have trees right on the green bank. We have planted 3 trees away from the green that will grow up to give background to the green without the agronomic problems.

The trees on 2 and 16 were ash trees that were also brittle and near the end of their lives but did not show any sign of the emerald ash borer that has been  found near the golf course.

Regardless of the lack of any current signs of the borer on our property it is probable we will lose all our ash trees in the next 10 years. Most of the ash on the course are nearing the end of their useful live anyway so we have decided not to treat those with insecticides. 

On the other hand the few ash we have planted in the past 10 years are small and easy to remove and replace with a better species before we invest in treatment for the life of the tree.

Rolling Meadows has almost 200 ash trees along fairways and behind greens. We will be replacing trees but not on a one to one basis. A few less trees will open up the course without eliminating the challenge the trees bring.

For mature ash trees that add value to your home or property there are new insecticide treatments you may want to consider now before you trees start showing signs of decline. The sooner they are treated the more successful the treatment will be.

It is thought the Emerald Ash Borer came to North America from Europe or Asia as part of crating or pallets.  Without treatment it will kill every ash in Wisconsin just as it has in Michigan and Illinois.

The adult Emerald Ash Borer
 

The damage from the larvae
under the bark kills the tree.

The D shaped hole on the trunk is a sign of the adult borer.