- [Mark] This is Mark Isselhardt, Maple Specialist,
with the University of Vermont Extension,
and this is another Vermont Maple Minute.
Late summer, while leaves are still green,
is a good time to assess the trees in your sugar bush.
Weak or declining individuals
will show areas of crown dieback.
Trees with more than 75% dieback will likely not survive,
but are still competing for light, water,
and nutrients with healthier crop trees
and should be considered for removal.
Flagging potential trees to cut is a good way to plan
for what needs to happen next.
Remember that doing a little over time is better
and has less risk of damaging the sugar bush,
than doing a lot of work all at once.
Trees that have grown up with other trees for support
and lack a strong root system
and need time to adjust to the increased growing space.
Individuals could be lost to wind
or be subject to root damage and sunscald
if to too many adjacent trees are removed all at once.
Opening one or two sides of a given crop tree
balances the benefits of increased light,
while reducing the risk of a catastrophic loss.
Above all, remember that safety is the number one priority
when working in the woods.
This is Mark Isselhardt, Maple Specialist,
with University of Vermont Extension,
and this has been another Vermont Maple Minute.