Urgent alert for Ohio landowners
If you own timbered land in southeast or southern Ohio, you need to be aware of a significant and rapidly developing problem affecting one of our most valuable native trees: the yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), also known as the tuliptree.
Reports from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and forest experts indicate a widespread decline and, in many cases, the death of these trees. If you have a significant number of yellow-poplar trees on your property, swift action may be necessary to protect their economic value.
This problem is concentrated in a broad area from Tuscarawas to Washington counties, with additional reports from Perry and Hocking counties, affecting nearly all of southeastern and southern Ohio.
What's happening to our Yellow Poplars this year?
The decline is primarily linked to a “double-whammy,” or even a triple-whammy of environmental stress and native insect activity.
The Historic 2024 Drought:
Yellow poplar trees are particularly susceptible to drought stress. The historic drought conditions in 2024, especially in southeastern Ohio, severely weakened these trees, making them highly vulnerable to further issues. Many yellow poplars were almost completely defoliated by late September 2024 due to this stress.
Yellow-Poplar Weevils (Odontopus calceatus)
These small native insects have been present in unusually high populations. They feed on the leaves, chewing characteristic crescent or half-moon-shaped holes, and severe infestations can make trees appear “burned”. Aerial surveys in 2024 identified the yellow-poplar weevil as the number one damage-causing agent in Ohio’s forests, affecting more than 15,700 acres.
Tuliptree Scales (Toumeyella liriodendri)
Another native insect, the tuliptree scale, contributes to the problem by feeding on the tree’s sap, further weakening it and leading to the production of “honeydew” that causes black sooty mold.
According to Tom Macy, ODNR’s Division of Forestry’s Forest Health program manager, while native insect outbreaks are normal, the current widespread dieback and mortality are directly linked to these high insect populations coinciding with the 2024 drought. Trees that were alive last year are now showing significant stress or are completely dead, with sparse canopies or a failure to leaf out this spring.
Why this matters for your timber
If you have poplar trees on your property that are showing signs of this decline – such as sparse canopies, browning leaves, or trees that have failed to produce leaves this spring – it’s crucial to understand the implications for your timber.
Loss of Value
Trees that have failed to produce leaves or show any growth this spring are most likely to die. Once a tree dies and stands for an extended period, its timber quality rapidly deteriorates, making it less valuable or even “useless” for timber harvest.
Targeted Issue
It’s important to note that yellow poplars are the only species widely affected by this specific issue. This means a harvest can be focused on the declining poplars without necessarily impacting other healthy tree species.
What you should do now
For landowners facing widespread yellow-poplar mortality, a salvage timber harvest may be a viable option to capture the economic value of those trees before it’s too late. This is where professional guidance becomes essential.
The ODNR’s Division of Forestry strongly recommends that if you are considering a timber harvest due to this decline, you should first contact a professional forester.
Get an experienced forester to help you
A professional consulting forester can help you prevent a total loss in your poplar stand and help you give its restoration a healthy boost. He will help you:
1. Evaluate the health of your trees
2. Advise you on a salvage harvest
3. Ensure sustainable practices
4. Get fair compensation
- Minimum: 10 wooded acres or 50 mature trees.