Protecting the Pines That Make Story Home

Hank Owens of WYO Tree MD explains how prevention, proper watering and early diagnosis can help preserve Story’s trees

The tall pines surrounding Story are more than part of the scenery. They provide shade, privacy, wildlife habitat and much of the mountain character that makes this community feel like home.

But many of those trees are facing growing pressure from beetles, drought, dense vegetation, poor soil conditions and Wyoming’s powerful winds. Some trees that appear healthy from a distance may already be showing early signs of stress or insect activity.

Hank Owens, owner and operator of WYO Tree MD, believes Story residents can protect many of these trees but only if they begin paying attention before the damage becomes severe.

“Protection and prevention are the best medicine,” Owens said.

Becoming a “Tree Doctor”

Owens began working in professional tree care in Colorado in 2005. He was surrounded by people with backgrounds in horticulture, forestry and botany who shared their knowledge and enthusiasm with him.

Once he began learning how trees live, grow and respond to their environment, he was hooked.

After working in the tree-care industry for more than 20 years, Owens started WYO Tree MD so he could concentrate on ethical, science-based plant health care and make recommendations based on what each tree actually needs.

Owens describes himself as a “tree doctor” because his approach involves evaluating the complete health of a tree not simply trimming branches or removing it.

“Trees are living, breathing beings,” he explained. “You go to the doctor for your overall health. They want to know your history, what injuries you’ve had and what you’re susceptible to.”

Trees also have individual histories and vulnerabilities. Their species, age, location, soil, access to water, exposure to weather and previous injuries can all influence their health.

Pruning or removal may sometimes be necessary, particularly when a tree presents a safety risk. However, Owens’ first goal is to identify the cause of the problem and determine whether the tree can be protected or restored.

WYO Tree MD offers fertilization, pine and spruce protection, insect control, disease management, soil conditioning, root-crown excavation and ongoing tree-wellness programs. Owens is a certified arborist and licensed commercial pesticide applicator serving Story and other communities throughout northern Wyoming.

Beetle Activity Is Already Visible

When Owens drives into Story, one of the first things he notices is the scattered patches of dead pines on the surrounding hillsides.

“You can see the patches of dead pine groves,” he said. “Those are beetle kill.”

Owens said he also sees individual dead or declining pines throughout the community. Although mountain pine beetles receive much of the attention, they are not the only threat.

Engraver beetles, often called Ips beetles, can attack ponderosa pine and spruce trees. Turpentine beetles can also damage stressed pines. WYO Tree MD’s pine and spruce protection program addresses regional threats that include bark beetles, engraver beetles, turpentine beetles and pine wilt.

The University of Wyoming reports that mountain pine beetle populations in the state are currently considered endemic rather than epidemic. That means they are generally present at lower levels and are more likely to overcome trees already weakened by drought, overcrowding, disease, injury or other stress. Dense stands containing mature pines can be particularly vulnerable.

That is one reason individual tree care matters. A healthier tree is generally better equipped to defend itself than one competing for limited water and nutrients.

Warning Signs Residents Should Watch For

A tree can look healthy to an untrained observer while insects, disease or root problems are developing beneath the surface.

Owens recommends taking a closer look whenever something appears different or out of place.

Possible warning signs include:

• Needles changing color unexpectedly

• Yellow, reddish or browning foliage

• Isolated dead branches

• Black spots or unusual markings

• Sap or resin oozing from the trunk

• Sawdust or boring dust around the bark

• Small holes in the trunk

• Water running away instead of soaking into the soil

• New leaning, cracking or movement around the roots

Once pine needles begin turning yellow or red, the tree may already be seriously compromised. However, Owens said discoloration does not automatically mean every tree is beyond help.

He has successfully helped some trees recover from light or moderate insect attacks. Whether treatment is practical depends on the tree’s overall condition, the extent of the damage, its location and whether it presents a hazard.

The important lesson is not to wait until the entire canopy has turned brown.

“If something doesn’t look right, definitely give me a call,” Owens said. “It might be something deeper that needs some assistance.”

Be Careful With Beetle-Killed Firewood

Cutting down a dead pine and turning it into firewood may appear to solve the problem, but beetle larvae can remain beneath the bark.

If that wood is stacked near healthy pines, adult beetles may eventually emerge and attack neighboring trees.

Owens recommends removing infested material from the property and having it properly chipped or disposed of rather than leaving it beside healthy trees.

University of Wyoming specialists similarly warn that beetle-infested firewood can transport living insects into residential areas. Trees that still have yellow or red needles may continue to harbor developing beetles beneath the bark. When there is uncertainty, residents should have the tree or wood inspected before moving or storing it.

Water Mature Pines “Slow and Low”

One of the most practical things homeowners can do is water their trees correctly.

Owens describes the method as “slow and low.”

Instead of applying a large amount of water quickly near the trunk, homeowners should allow water to soak gradually into the tree’s root zone. That area extends from the trunk toward the edge of the canopy and often beyond it.

Compacted or drought-hardened soil can become hydrophobic, meaning water pools or runs away rather than penetrating the ground. A slow application gives the soil time to absorb moisture.

Deep, less-frequent watering can encourage deeper and more abundant root growth, while slow-moving drip irrigation reduces runoff and gives water time to enter the soil.

Owens also encourages residents to consider winter watering during extended dry periods when conditions allow. Evergreen trees continue losing moisture through their needles during winter, even when the ground receives little usable precipitation.

Wildfire Defensibility Without Removing Every Tree

Creating defensible space does not necessarily mean clearing every healthy tree from a property.

Owens recommends removing slash, dead branches and excessive understory growth beneath trees. Lower limbs may also need to be raised to reduce the chance of a ground fire climbing into the canopy.

The objective is to interrupt the path fire can follow from grass and shrubs into low branches and then into the treetops.

Residents should also remove accumulations of dry pine needles and debris near structures, separate combustible vegetation and avoid placing firewood piles against homes or beneath trees. Defensible space provides a buffer that can slow fire and give firefighters a safer area from which to protect a structure.

Because every property is different, tree thinning and pruning decisions should be made carefully. Removing the wrong trees can expose those remaining to stronger winds, sun and environmental stress.

Could That Tree Fall?

Story residents are familiar with heavy snow, thunderstorms and powerful northwest winds. A compromised tree can become a serious threat to a home, vehicle, utility line or neighboring property.

Owens recommends watching for:

• A tree that has developed or increased its lean

• Soil lifting or bulging around the root system

• Cracks running through the trunk

• Spiral fractures caused by twisting winds

• Previous lightning damage

• Broken or hanging branches

• Decay near the base of the tree

• A newly exposed tree along the edge of a cleared area

Trees that have survived previous storms may still contain hidden fractures. In some cases, Owens has found splits or torsion cracks that travel a significant distance up the trunk.

A professional evaluation can help determine whether the tree can be monitored, treated, pruned or should be removed.

There Is Still Hope for Story’s Tree Canopy

Owens is concerned about beetle activity, overcrowded canopies, accumulated understory growth and trees weakened by environmental stress. But he is also encouraged by homeowners who are beginning to take tree health seriously.

“There’s definitely hope,” he said. “Preventative treatments go a long way and even the things homeowners can do.”

Story’s trees cannot be replaced quickly. Many have taken decades and in some cases much longer to become part of the community’s landscape.

Protecting them begins with paying attention, reducing stress, watering properly, safely managing dead wood and asking for help before a small problem becomes irreversible.

WYO Tree MD provides tree and plant-health evaluations, preventative treatments and customized care for Story and surrounding communities.

To schedule an evaluation or request a free estimate:

WYO Tree MD

Phone: 307-752-6574

Website: https://wyotreemd.com/