“What is Siberian Elm Doing in New Mexico?”- Ben Wright
Vložit
- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
- The Taos Chapter of Native Plant Society of New Mexico hosts Ben Wright, ISA Certified Arborist and Taos Tree Board chair, for his talk "What is Siberian Elm Doing in New Mexico.
Wright studied conservation biology at the University of New Mexico. In addition to being chair of the Taos Tree Board, he is also an International Society of Arboriculture-certified arborist. He is a candidate for a master's degree in natural resources at Oregon State University, with a focus on urban forestry. His master's project will study Siberian elms in New Mexico, with a focus on exploring and integrating the dynamic relationship between nature and people.
Enthusiastic, engaging, friendly and knowledgeable, Wright will inform and hold the interest of any audience interested in learning about the trees of Northern New Mexico.
An article in the Taos News can be found here:
www.taosnews.co...
I live in a Stonehouse over 100 years old. One of three houses all made of stones that have survived in the old ghost town of Andrews Oregon. Located in the Alvord Desert, and the northern stretch of the great basin and range land. We have about 30 mature Siberian elm’s at our place that were planted over 50 years ago. They are not an invasive species in this area because the only place they live is where they were planted at the old original homesteads. Every where else is covered in sage brush with the addition of Willow’s and a few Cottonwood along the creeks. I love the elms because they provide much-needed shade in the hot summer months, and offer a very important refuge for the birds along the migration routes we see here. Yes they drop a lot of limbs and litter and we are actively cutting the dead out. But if it wasn’t for these elm trees, it would be a much more brutal existence living here. I enjoyed listening to this talk.
I'm sad that nobody commented here. I'm curious what people think of Siberian Elm being used to reforest the Taos Mesa. I understand that it spreads and out competes native species, but after a certain point out in no mans land it becomes very difficult for much of anything other than sagebrush to grow. The native species are dying off, the evidence is in the very surreal alien looking landscape where the trees abruptly end as if they were killed off by some great plague, clear cutting, or burn. The sagebrush is invasive in the area it's in. A singular organism that dominates the land. A diabolical mono culture. Other sagebrush steppe landscapes usually have a bit more biodiversity.
I'm thinking some funky outsider species, perhaps a willow, poplar, or elm, might actually survive long enough to help establish other types of trees that take longer to grow like the pinons and ponderosas.
Hopefully somebody sees this comment some day and offers some feedback.
Saw your comment and appreciate it. Is there undisturbed native landscape anywhere now? In NM? In Jemez, the Ponderosa pines seem to be retreating to higher elevations. An acquaintance in Algodones insisted that pines grew well down slope from Placitas out of the Sandias many years ago. I’ve seen the devastation to Piñion pines around Ojo Caliente myself. In Jemez, they are clearly stressed and many are dead. Nature is besieged. My own belief is that it’s time for triage. This is truly saddening. I feel it’s inevitable. I don’t like it, but…
From another perspective- the samaras of the elm are edible. The young leaves are edible. The wood is long fibered and very tough. It can be green bent and steam bent for furniture. It’s wood makes a good bow for archery. The heart wood is hard and durable and has a golden brown color. As fuel, it’s long lasting and produces a long lasting ember. Apologies for the snark, but the best way to control the Siberian Elm…is to make it valuable. A marriage of capitalism and the Siberian Elm may be sufficient to ensure it’s complete destruction.
@@kirkha100 I love your ideas!
mine got to new mexico cuz i bought it for a windscreen...i didn't know it was an issue
Thank you, Ben and NPS. We really enjoyed that informative talk. I live in Canon where there are quite a lot of large Siberian Elms. I have to say, I love the shade in summer and they are beautiful, but it’s a real chore to keep them from growing, they’re so prolific! I have raked bags and bags of these seeds north of Taos plaza, at a client’s home. And I think someone might make a small fortune sprouting them for consumption, I have heard the seeds are edible... but, I have not tried them. Have you?
Also, thanks for the info on how to eradicate them...will try that.
One more thing, if the temperatures continue to rise on the planet, do you think it might serve us to keep them for shade and cooling? As it is, so many trees are being destroyed and causing problems....but it is drought tolerant.
when this tree is young can it be grazed by goats and other live stock?
Grazing goats also harms other tree species. I think it will not contribute to saving the ecosystem. But if goats prefer these trees more than other species, it may be partially useful.
An invasive type of invasive Ailanthus Altissima worse than Ulmus Pumila. Because it is longer. It should be avoided. However, it can be used to make wood pulp. Another type that can be invasive is Aesculus hippocastanum.
Apart from that, fast growing, drought resistant, taller than U.Pumilia, tree species can be a solution to protect the ecosystem. Tree and shrub species that can grow in the shade can also contribute to the solution.
Fast-growing, drought-resistant taller tree species:
Most likely candidates
Pinus contorta
Pinus lambertiana
Pinus patula
Robinia pseudoacacia
Acacia dealbata (Not native but Nitrogen fixer)
Celtis occidentalis
Not native but good wood quality: Pinus nigra
Not native and same height: (potentially invasive?)
Pyrus ussuriensis
Pyrus calleryana
Albizia Julibrissin (Nitrogen fixer)
Not native and near height: (potentially invasive?)
Quercus brantii
Melia azederach
With the same feature worth trying species:
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Cupressus macrocarpa
Pinus muricata
Pinus radiata
Pinus Brutia (Not Native Good Quality Wood)
Pinus pinaster (not native good quality wood)
A little more resistant to cold
Pinus monticola
Pinus sylvestris (Not Native Fine Wood)
Less drought resistance but can be tried species:
Abies concolor
South West Fraxinus ssp
Fraxinus texensis
Fraxinus berlandieriana
Fraxinus velutina etc.
Fraxinus angustifolia (Not native)
Juglans nigra (Wood quality is good.)
Alnus cordata (Not native, but Nitrogen fixer. Wood quality is good.)
Platanus orientalis (Not native)
Sophora japonica (Not native, potentially invasive? But Nitrogen fixer. Wood quality is good)
Betula ssp.
Fraxinus americana
Quercus rubra
Catalpa speciosa
Acer negundo
Acer macrophyllum
Ulmus glabra
Acer hyrcanum (not native)
Acer platanoides (not native)
Acer campestre (not native)
Same height:
Hippophae salicifolia (not native)
Fraxinus sogdiana (not native)
Close height:
Ziziphus jujuba (not native)
Medium speed growing with the drought-resistant taller tree species:
Most likely candidates
Cupressus Arizonica
Castanea Ozarkensis
Celtis Laevigata
Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana
Gleditsia Triacanthos
Juniperus Monosperma
Pinus Flexilis
Pinus ponderosa
Pinus Strobiformis
Pinus Teocote
Pinus veitchii
Burgambel oak
Not native but the wood quality is good:
Cedrus Atlantica
Cedrus Deodara
Juniperus Excelsa
Note native:
Celtis Australis
Celtis Caucasica
Same height:
Cercis Siliquastrum (not native)
Close height:
Robinia luxurians
Pinus Attenuata
Acacia Mucronata (not native)
Celtis Tournefortii (not native)
Crataegus Pubescens
Crataegus Tanacetifolia (not native)
Pistacia Vera (not native)
Pyrus Elaeagnifolia (not native)
Pyrus Nivalis (not native)
Pyrus Regellii (not native)
Pyrus Salicifolia (not native)
Pyrus Syriaca (not native)
Medium speed growing with the same feature worth trying species:
Pinus Jeffreyi
Not native but good wood quality:
Juniperus Drupacea
Castanea Sativa
Castanea henni
Castanea mollissima
Pinus Armandii
Pinus Tabuliformis
Not Native:
Gleditsia macracantha
Same height:
Robinia viscosa
Gleditsia Caspica (not native)
Close height:
Crataegus Arnoldiana
Broussonetia Papyrifera (not native)
Pinus Pinea (not native)
The speciesa, which grows at medium speed, has less resistance to drought but can be tried:
Fraxinus latifol
Fraxinus quadrangulata
Acer saccharum grandidentatum
Parrotia Persica (Not native)
Native trees and shrubs that can grow in the shade can also be tried
I know mule deer love to eat the leaves of them. I have a half dozen of these in the back yard near the alley way and all summer and early autumn (before the leaves fall) mule deer in the late afternoon and early evening are out munching the he'll out of the leaves on the lower branches they can reach.
what do you recommend for a hedge screen please in central nm??
The Siberian elm (Ulmus Pumila) and its close relative, Chinese elm (Ulmus Parvifolia) are drought tolerant and hardy. For this reason, they can be grown in cold deserts and steppes. Oak species, Juniper species and some Pine species can also live in such climates. The Siberian elm can grow in states such as Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Idaho. It spreads in the more humid Northern and Eastern states. It is quite harmful. It has not been a problem in its coexistence with the Oak-Juniper ecosystem in Asia. The quality of its wood is not excellent but it is not very very bad. It grows faster than Oak and Juniper. Maybe it can be used for forestry for commercial purposes and in addition to enrich the ecosystem in problematic climates. It can only be preferred in very desperate areas. It should not be preferred in woodlands and forests. The damages to the existing American Oak-Juniper ecosystem and Pinyon-Juniper ecosystem should be evaluated. It should be noted that, apart from problematic afforestation areas, it will be harmful invasive. Chinese elm (Ulmus Parvifolia) is less aggressive and a little less tolerant to drought. Its wood is a bit more useful.
An invasive type of invasive Ailanthus Altissima worse than Ulmus Pumila. Because it is longer. It should be avoided. However, it can be used to make wood pulp. Another type that can be invasive is Aesculus hippocastanum.
Apart from that, fast growing, drought resistant, taller than U.Pumilia, tree species can be a solution to protect the ecosystem. Tree and shrub species that can grow in the shade can also contribute to the solution.
Fast-growing, drought-resistant taller tree species:
Most likely candidates
Pinus contorta
Pinus lambertiana
Pinus patula
Robinia pseudoacacia
Acacia dealbata (Not native but Nitrogen fixer)
Celtis occidentalis
Not native but good wood quality: Pinus nigra
Not native and same height: (potentially invasive?)
Pyrus ussuriensis
Pyrus calleryana
Albizia Julibrissin (Nitrogen fixer)
Not native and near height: (potentially invasive?)
Quercus brantii
Melia azederach
With the same feature worth trying species:
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Cupressus macrocarpa
Pinus muricat
Pinus radiata
Pinus Brutia (Not Native Good Quality Wood)
Pinus pinaster (not native good quality wood)
A little more resistant to cold
Pinus monticola
Pinus sylvestris (Not Native Fine Wood)
Less drought resistance but can be tried species:
Abies concolor
South West Fraxinus ssp
Fraxinus texensis
Fraxinus berlandieriana
Fraxinus velutina etc.
Fraxinus angustifolia (Not native)
Juglans nigra (Wood quality is good.)
Alnus cordata (Not native, but Nitrogen fixer. Wood quality is good.)
Platanus orientalis (Not native)
Sophora japonica (Not native, potentially invasive? But Nitrogen fixer. Wood quality is good)
Betula ssp.
Fraxinus americana
Quercus rubra
Catalpa speciosa
Acer negundo
Acer macrophyllum
Ulmus glabra
Acer hyrcanum (not native)
Acer platanoides (not native)
Acer campestre (not native)
Same height:
Hippophae salicifolia (not native)
Fraxinus sogdiana (not native)
Close height:
Ziziphus jujuba (not native)
Medium speed growing with the drought-resistant taller tree species:
Most likely candidates
Cupressus Arizonica
Castanea Ozarkensis
Celtis Laevigata
Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana
Gleditsia Triacanthos
Juniperus Monosperma
Pinus Flexilis
Pinus ponderosa
Pinus Strobiformis
Pinus Teocote
Pinus veitchii
Burgambel oak
Not native but the wood quality is good:
Cedrus Atlantica
Cedrus Deodara
Juniperus Excelsa
Note native:
Celtis Australis
Celtis Caucasica
Same height:
Cercis Siliquastrum (not native)
Close height:
Robinia luxurians
Pinus Attenuata
Acacia Mucronata (not native)
Celtis Tournefortii (not native)
Crataegus Pubescens
Crataegus Tanacetifolia (not native)
Pistacia Vera (not native)
Pyrus Elaeagnifolia (not native)
Pyrus Nivalis (not native)
Pyrus Regellii (not native)
Pyrus Salicifolia (not native)
Pyrus Syriaca (not native)
Medium speed growing with the same feature worth trying species:
Pinus Jeffreyi
Not native but good wood quality:
Juniperus Drupacea
Castanea Sativa
Castanea henni
Castanea mollissima
Pinus Armandii
Pinus Tabuliformis
Not Native:
Gleditsia macracantha
Same height:
Robinia viscosa
Gleditsia Caspica (not native)
Close height:
Crataegus Arnoldiana
Broussonetia Papyrifera (not native)
Pinus Pinea (not native)
The speciesa, which grows at medium speed, has less resistance to drought but can be tried:
Fraxinus latifol
Fraxinus quadrangulata
Acer saccharum grandidentatum
Parrotia Persica (Not native)
Native trees and shrubs that can grow in the shade can also be tried
They're good for firewood that's about it lol
Thanks ben i found this talk very interesting, as ive been wondering WHO is addressing the tree issues in taos. There are many issues beyond the elm, but ive been focused on this tree primarily because i live out on the west side of the gorge, and when i bought my land, wanted to plant a tree immediately ,and i sought out the tree that would be most likely to survive here. The answer was Siberian elm. Ive taken alot of criticism for being excited about this tree’s potential here. Curious how you feel about its roll here on the barren mesa, where they aren’t out-competing other trees… because there ARE no other trees…. Something to out compete the sagebrush. I feel like this tree is a true savior to a landscape like ours. I can see one by one taking them out of town spaces and replacing them with natives… but perhaps.. to offset the canopy loss, more of them could be planted west of the gorge… start spreading our potential canopy out to cover a larger area of our place on the map….. 💚🙏💚🙏💚🙏 thanks for doing this talk. Im glad SOMEONE is paying close attention to the trees here. They are EVERYTHING 💚
There destructive water lines and sewer
Climate change having a real impact on the environment and maybe these so-called invasive species will be the norm in the future. I potted some of these trees and I like them a lot.