Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 10, 1995 TAG: 9503150018
SECTION: LAWN & GARDEN PAGE: L&G-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
These days, that job is done from an airplane, and acres of forested land have given way to urban sprawl.
Today, a forest ranger stationed in a populated area is just as likely to be giving a homeowner advice on how to manage a woodsy patch in the back yard as he or she is to be surveying a tract of wild timberland.
For the average owner of a standard residential lot, the forest service may seem an unlikely place to turn to for information, but when it comes to planting and maintaining trees, the Virginia Department of Forestry has a variety of programs available to homeowners, many of which are low-cost or completely free.
Bob Boeren is Roanoke County's forester. Each county in Virginia has its own ranger who is responsible for implementing the department's programs. Some cities have an urban forester or a horticulturist who is hired to maintain trees on public property, such as parks, schools, and the area between the sidewalk and the curb.
Many people do not realize that the cities own these strips, said Roanoke's urban forester, Dan Henry. Homeowners are required to call his office and check with him before they plant, he said. Once a tree is planted in the right-of-way, it automatically becomes city property, and the city has rules about what types of trees may be planted and where.
Homeowners can put in a request for trees, and if the site is suitable, the city will plant them in the right-of-way free of charge.
Boeren's job is much more varied. He spends about half of his time working in rural areas, he said, and the rest of it in urban areas.
Part of his job in the rural areas is to advise owners of large tracts of land how to go about timbering their property.
There is very little logging going on in Roanoke now, he said, but some landowners want to harvest their hardwoods and leave the rest standing. Boeren can tell them the best way to do so with the least amount of damage.
Others want to clear out less-valuable species of pine and replace them with better quality woods. And some property owners want to re-forest empty fields, either for a tax deduction or to start a tree farm.
The Virginia Forest Stewardship program is for landowners who have more than 21 acres. The program helps them work out a plan so they can meet a variety of objectives, such as maintaining the scenery, attracting wild life, creating hiking trails and other recreational facilities, and improving the land to increase its value as a real estate investment. Boeren will provide a management plan for the property, free of charge.
Most land-clearing in this area is for the purpose of subdividing property into residential lots. Part of Boeren's job is to make sure the developers do not disturb the land unduly, and that the wildlife and waterways are protected.
Some of these programs also benefit owners of smaller properties. As the available flat land in the Roanoke Valley disappears, more and more homeowners are building on hilly wooded tracts that don't lend themselves to being converted into well-manicured lawns.
Boeren has gone out to look at tiny patches of land, and once, he said, "I went to look at just one tree."
Boeren refers all disease problems to the extension service, but he can advise owners of a scrubby patch of woods about what to plant and where, what to keep and what to remove.
There are "little things" a homeowner can do to manage a wooded area, he said. Some people want to attract wildlife to their property, and something as simple as building a brush pile can do that, he said. Others want to fix or prevent erosion or to plant a certain kind of tree, and he can make recommendations.
Fire prevention and control also are a big part of his job, Boeren said. He is often called upon to fight fires all over southwestern Virginia and other parts of the United States.
With more people living in the woods, he said, forest rangers have had to learn about fighting structural fires as well as forest fires.
Before building a home in the woods, it's a good idea to call a forest ranger, he said. The ranger will provide a woodland home plan. Part of this plan involves making sure there is enough clear area to act as a buffer zone around the house. This will keep it safe in case of a fire. The ranger also and will determine if the roads are wide enough to accommodate fire-fighting equipment in case it is ever needed.
Another little-known service the Department of Forestry offers is a special reference section at the main Roanoke County Public Library on Va. 419. In addition to numerous reference books, there is a CD-ROM computer program that provides graphic images of over 600 different species of trees that homeowners can browse through. The program also provides information about site selection, growing conditions and zone hardiness. It also asks users to take in account factors such as the amount of sun the area receives, soil type and whether the tree will be planted near a power line.
The Department of Forestry works closely with organizations such as Valley Beautiful. These groups can apply for Small Business Administration grants for planting projects on public property, such as schools and parks. The forest service administers the funds, which last year totaled about $25,000 for projects around the Roanoke Valley, Boeren said.
Boeren and his department also are trying to establish Arbor Day programs in the Roanoke Valley. They want to bring tree-planting projects into the schools, and currently, Boeren is working on planning an arboretum for Fishburn Park Elementary in Roanoke. When it is finished, students will be able to take nature walks and never leave the school grounds.
"It will be like an outdoor classroom," he said.
Of course the forest rangers are good friends of Smokey Bear, and he often accompanies Boeren to fire-safety talks at area schools. The programs are aimed at children in kindergarten to third grade, and "the kids go wild" when they see Smokey, Boeren said.
One of the least-known forest service programs is its seedling catalog, which is available from the Department of Forestry.
The department operates three nurseries in various parts of the state, Boeren said. Many of the seedings are used for department projects, but the rest are for sale to the public at a very low price. For instance, 50 apple seedlings can be purchased for $50.
For most species, the minimum number of trees that can be ordered is 50, but the "specialty packs" offer five each of five different species for a total of 25 trees. There also are special packages for screens or windbreaks with a minimum of 10 trees. Next to each listing, the catalog provides information about planting distance and the number of seedlings need for a good screen.
Also included in the catalog are grass, wildflower, and bird seeds. Some of the seedlings are packaged to attract wildlife, discourage gypsy moths, or to provide fall color. The seeds and bare-root seedlings are shipped directly to homeowners from the nursery, Boeren said.
by CNB