Oregon has seen record drought the last couple of years, and it鈥檚 taken a toll on the state鈥檚 conifers. But it鈥檚 not just water stress killing these trees鈥攊nsects and disease that thrive in drier weather are just as deadly.
Christine Buhl is a state forest entomologist with the Oregon Department of Forestry.
She says even if we do pull out of a drought conifers may not fully rebound. Insects like bark beetles as well as certain diseases will still attack stressed trees.
Buhl: 鈥淥nce bark beetles can overcome a tree鈥檚 defenses particularly in the case of a drought stressed tree, those beetles take residence and typically that tree will die within the year. Obviously there鈥檚 no rebounding from that.鈥�
Buhl says healthy trees can create defenses against such threats; water stress weakens these protections. And dry weather means perfect conditions for tree-damaging insects.
However, Buhl says there are steps businesses and individuals can take. Select native, drought-tolerant species appropriate for the site and soil, and check with ODF for information on thinning and vegetation control.
Copyright 2016