Hemlock Workshop at The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center

Written By: Luke Osteen | Issue: Whats News

An innovative workshop offered at The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center will offer treatment options for the threatened hemlock forests that surround the Plateau. For information and registration, visit savehemlocksnc.org/highlands-workshop or call (828) 252-4783.

Hemlock trees in Western North Carolina are an important and irreplaceable component of our forest ecosystems.

These trees have been suffering for over two decades from the hemlock woolly adelgid. Native to Japan, hemlock woolly adelgid has been a major forest health concern in North Carolina since the late 1990s when the invasive insect first spread into the state. Currently, the insect exists in every North Carolina county with hemlocks. The infested trees are losing needles, branches, and often dying within a few years.

However, there is good news for landowners who would like to chemically protect their hemlocks from HWA.

In the past, chemical treatment has been expensive and usually done by professionals, but new inexpensive methods are now available and can be done by landowners themselves. To educate and update landowners, land managers, and tree care professionals about the options available to treat hemlocks, the Hemlock Restoration Initiative, in partnership with Highland-Cashiers Land Trust, is hosting a training on Friday, March 15, at The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center in Highlands.

“Our job to save hemlocks is far from complete,” said HRI Director Margot Wallston. “A large part of our work now is educating individuals who aren’t aware of how simple it can be to protect a tree from hemlock woolly adelgid.”

The workshop, supported in part by a grant from Highlands-based Mountain Findings, will consist of in-the-field practice and pre-recorded video segments to give participants the tools to make informed decisions about managing their hemlocks. The videos will provide background and context for the field portion of the training, emphasizing the ecological importance of hemlocks and their value in urban and community forests, the biology of HWA and other hemlock pests, and integrated pest management strategies.

Participants will use the trees present at the workshop site to learn and practice a variety of methods to chemically treat hemlocks. With hands-on practice and additional discussion, HRI staff will cover the details of chemical treatment, including how to identify hemlock trees; assess tree health and infestation severity; select, mix, and safely apply products; as well as when to seek help from a tree care professional.

For more details and to register, visit savehemlocksnc.org/highlands-workshop or call (828) 252-4783. Registration is $10. Please register early. Space is limited. North Carolina pesticide applicator credits, ISA CEUs, and Forester CFE will be available pending approval. Please call the HRI office at the number above or email Caroline at [email protected] with questions.

This workshop is presented by the Hemlock Restoration Initiative, which is sponsored by the NC Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services and the USDA Forest Service and managed by WNC Communities, an organization focused on supporting community development and agriculture initiatives across Western North Carolina.

This event is also supported by a grant from Mountain Findings of Highlands. For more information about HRI, visit savehemlocksnc.org.