KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and SportsRochester's Slatterly Park becomes "tree laboratory" for a day

Rochester's Slatterly Park becomes "tree laboratory" for a day

ROCHESTER, MN (KTTC-DT) -- For arborists, tree care companies, and community foresters, taking care of trees is no cake walk. Especially over the past couple of years.

Amber Horton, with the City of Rochester, says, "I'm excited to learn exactly where the trees go after they get cut down."

Tuesday, Slatterly Park turned into a tree laboratory for the Rochester Arborist Workshop.

Primarily a winter workshop, a summer one was added a few years back. It's hands-on, outside, and themed. This year, it's all about utilization and marketing.

A timely theme, with the hot topic of invasive species, like emerald ash borer, entering the landscape.

Justin Madson, with Maier Forest and Tree, says, "It's going to take away a lot of trees. And there are a lot of boulevard trees that are ash trees."

What to do with all those trees is a question that Ed Hayes, with the DNR, says will be tackled.

Ed Hayes says, "Broaden the perspectives of all these tree care folks. And start thinking about, in the future, how to better utilize even the boulevard trees that are going to be coming out in the future because of something like emerald ash borer."

"Selling into the lumber hardwood market, you need to know the proper length."

Ed Hayes says, "We have a portable saw mill set up. We have a guy that's cutting up boulevard trees. And they're looking at, with the utilization and marketing specialists, the various grades of lumber that is coming out."

Ed says there's lots of chatter over how to use these urban trees, and a lot of local interest.

Ed Hayes says, "Homeowners have some of their trees that are dying and being replaced and turned into products that they can take with them."

A good way to solve a tough surfacing problem, and something we'll most likely be seeing more of down the road.

There were also sessions on tree dissection, along with how to properly and safely trim a tree.

The Rochester Arborist Workshop typically draws those with tree interests from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.