If you have any new info on the blooming status of trees you are checking, please let us know soon. Please count if the tree or tree cluster has at least 25 blooming tips – hopefully averaging 2 or more females per bag if 25 bags placed. A full line on the first try is our goal. For completing a line we could consider one with fewer tips, but remember it's very expensive for companies to send a truck, would like the probability of harvesting the full balance needed to finish the line.
Bagging may start during the week of the 13th. With the warm weather it appears the season is coming on very fast – much earlier than last year.
We're checking if additional bucket truck companies may be available, so knowing which towns helps with the request. Please consider helping on site. We can send out bags, ties and markers to number the bags, you would need pruning shears (although the truck arborist usually has his/her own). There are resources on our websites about timing and what to do. Some low growing trees may be able to facilitate a successful ground based bagging, please be careful.
Keep in mind that the bucket truck companies need advance notice of at least a few days to schedule their trucks. Gayle KidaThe American Chestnut Foundation |