Hemlock
Help Program
Who's Responsible for Our Trees?
■ USDA Forest Service - National forests
■ GA Forestry Commission - Georgia's forest resources
■ GA Dept of Natural Resources - State parks, campgrounds, and historic sites
■ YOU -- Your private property
The Bad News -- and Why You Should Care
Hemlocks all over north Georgia are being attacked and killed by the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), and the beauty and value of your property are being threatened. Infestations have officially been confirmed in 14 counties -- Rabun, Habersham, Stephens, Banks, Towns, White, Hall, Union, Lumpkin, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Dawson, and Murray Counties -- and informal reports of HWA have been received from Walker, Cherokee, and Fulton Counties as well, reaching as far south as Atlanta and as far west as the Cohutta Winderness.
If aggressive action is not taken soon to address this problem, the results could be devastating and perhaps irreversible.
■
loss of certain shade-loving native
plants
and the rise of invasive plants
■
loss of certain animal species that
depend
on hemlocks
for food and habitat
■
loss of the cool stream temperatures
that
trout need
■ decline in the scenic enjoyment of our mountains
■
closure of trails and recreation areas
due to the
danger
of falling trees
■ increase in soil erosion
■ degradation of water and air quality
■
decline in revenue from outdoor
enthusiasts and
tourism and the associated jobs
■ increased exposure to drought
■ decline in the beauty and value of your property
■ expense to remove dangerous dead trees
This is the newest map provided by the Georgia Forestry Commission and U. S. Forest Service, updated for year-end 2010, showing the spread of the HWA infestation in Georgia by year. Click the map for a larger image. Note: A new map for year-end 2011 should be available soon.
The Good News -- Help is Here
SAVE GEORGIA'S HEMLOCKS has launched the Hemlock Help Program, a statewide initiative of education and charitable service to help north Georgia property owners save as many of their hemlocks as possible. It was rolled out first in Rabun County where the HWA infestation began and is now available in Habersham, White, Towns, Fannin, Union, Gilmer, Murray, and Lumpkin Counties as well. The program is being deployed across the state on a county-by-county basis wherever the HWA is a serious threat. We plan to expand into Pickens and Dawson Counties this year, and more counties will be added as needed.
As the program is implemented in each county, free public Hemlock Help Clinics are held to give property owners and the general public information about the HWA problem, economical steps they can take to save their trees and protect their property value, and the free help that is available through Save Georgia's Hemlocks.
Hemlock Help Clinic Schedule
|
Recently Completed or Currently Scheduled Events |
|
| Sun., Jan 8, 2 p.m. | SGH quarterly board meeting in Dahlonega. |
| Sat., Jan. 14, 10 a.m. | SGH presentation to Soque Wilderness POA in Clarkesville, Habersham County. |
| Sat., Feb 11, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | SGH Facilitator training at the home of Donna Shearer, 37 Woody Bend, Dahlonega. To register, call 706-429-8010 or e-mail donna@savegeorgiashemlocks.org. |
|
Sat., Feb 18, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 2:30 - 5 p.m. |
SGH Facilitator training at the home of Donna Shearer,
37
Woody Bend, Dahlonega. To register, call 706-429-8010 or
e-mail
donna@savegeorgiashemlocks.org. SGH service project for property owner in Lumpkin County. All Facilitators are welcome. |
| Sun., Feb. 19, 11 a.m. | SGH presentation to Georgia Mountains UU Church, 439 South Park Street in Dahlonega. Free and open to the public. |
| Sat., Mar. 10, 10 a.m. | SGH Hemlock Help Clinic in Chatsworth, sponsored by the County Extension Service of Murray and Whitfield Counties. Location tba. Free and open to the public. |
| Sat., Mar. 10, 1-5 p.m. | SGH Facilitator Training in Chatsworth. Location tba. To register, call 706-429-8010 or e-mail donna@savegeorgiashemlocks.org. |
| Mon., Mar. 12, 7 p.m. | SGH presentation to Georgia Mountains Master Gardeners. Location is the Parks and Rec building on Riley Rd. in Dahlonega. |
| Sun., Apr. 1, 2 p.m. | SGH quarterly board meeting |
| Wed., July 4 | SGH information booth at 4th of July Family Celebration on the square in Dahlonega |
| Sun., July 8, 2 p.m. | SGH quarterly board meeting |
| Sun., Oct. 14, 2 p.m. | SGH quarterly board meeting |
Save Georgia's Hemlocks offers a wide range of educational and service programs such as those listed here and schedules programs and activities year-round.
|
■ Hemlock Help Clinics ■ Volunteer Facilitator training ■ Hemlock hikes ■ Hemlock treatment projects ■ Hemlock planting projects ■ Hemlock raising projects |
■ Neighborhood hemlock project planning ■ Hemlock presentations for schools, scout troops, gardening groups, environmental or recreational groups, and civic organizations ■ Environmental stewardship presentations/projects for civic or church groups ■ Charitable hemlock help service for individuals with financial need ■ Joint service projects with other organizations |
SGH Hemlock Help Clinics and presentations are free and open to the public unless specifically noted in the schedule. A typical Hemlock Help Clinic lasts 1 to 1.5 hours (but can be adjusted) and includes:
■ Slide presentation on the hemlock woolly adelgid crisis, the options for property owners to treat their own trees, information on qualified local professionals who do this work, and the free services available through our Hemlock Help Program
■ Hands-on demonstration of using a soil injector to treat hemlocks
■ Educational hand-out materials that you are welcome to reproduce and share freely
■ Optional add-on for school groups: planting of hemlock seedlings in biodegradable cups for students to take home and/or planting of a hemlock sapling on campus
■ Plenty of time for questions and answers
We will be glad to schedule special programs for property owner associations, conservation/recreation organizations, schools, churches, and other community groups. Please call the Hemlock Help LineSM 706-429-8010 to let us know of your interest.
Key Program Services
■ Education: Free public clinics, educational materials, and publicity materials to raise awareness of the HWA problem and solutions. Volunteer Facilitator training is provided for individuals who want to learn more about the hemlock problem and solutions and then be available to help others in their community. Please visit the Volunteer Facilitators page for the Volunteer Facilitator Job Description.
■ Advice: Hemlock Help Line 706-429-8010 to provide accurate up-to-date answers to your questions about the hemlock woolly adelgid crisis, treatment materials and methods, instructions for do-it-yourself options, sources for treatment products and application equipment, references for professional service providers, and concerns about product safety and effectiveness. Also scheduling of on-site consultations with Volunteer Facilitators upon request.
■ DIY Support: Placement of soil injectors for borrowing (most of which are provided by the Georgia Forestry Commission), information on purchasing treatment products, and treatment instructions for property owners who want to do the work themselves. In most cases, soil injectors may be borrowed from the Forestry Commission Office or County Extension Service in each county.
■ Professionals: Link to a list of qualified local companies that are properly licensed and insured and specialize in saving hemlocks for property owners who prefer to contract with a professional to treat their trees.
■
Hemlock Help Project
Planning:
Assistance to neighborhoods and community groups
for developing customized project
management plans to address the HWA problem efficiently,
effectively, and economically. Please
see
Neighborhood
Hemlock Help Planning Guide.
■ New Trees: Healthy hemlock saplings for planting or reforestation.
■ Volunteer Hemlock Help Projects: As time, funds, and volunteers are available, we will assist property owners on a charitable basis to treat their trees where there is a need. Requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and all information is kept confidential. Please call the Hemlock Help Line 706-429-8010 if you would like to request help or if you would like to offer help.
How the Program Works
1. Inspect your hemlocks and see if they're infested with woolly adelgids. The adelgids themselves are almost too tiny to see with the naked eye, but their egg sacs are easily visible, especially in the spring and late fall/winter. They look like the white cottony end of a Q-tip, as shown in this photo.
2.
If you see ANY adelgids on even one of
your trees, plan to treat ALL the hemlocks you want to save and
do so as soon as possible. Call the Hemlock Help Line
706-429-8010 to learn about the treatment options, services available, costs,
and resources.
3. If you want to contract with a professional to treat your trees, the Hemlock Help Line can point you to a list of qualified local companies along with their contact information. You should shop and compare the services and rates offered by each company. (See Contacts page for a link to the list of professionals.)
4. If you want to treat your own trees, call the Hemlock Help Line for details on assessing the level of HWA infestation, determining the appropriate treatment product and method, measuring your trees, estimating the amount of chemical needed, and learning where to obtain it in the most economical manner. Then visit our Resources page and download the instructions for Treating Hemlocks with Imidacloprid or Treating Hemlocks with Dinotefuran
a. Measure the trunk diameter at breast height for all the trees you want to treat and add up for a total.
b. Based on the chart in the treatment instructions, you can estimate the amount of product needed. The Contacts page lists the names of some stores where you can purchase it. You should shop and compare prices.
c. When you have the treatment product in hand, make arrangements to borrow an injector from one of the sources listed on the Contacts page.
d. Treat your hemlocks according to the treatment instructions.
e. Clean the injector and return it.
NOTE: When you borrow an injector, you'll be asked to leave a deposit which will be refunded when you return the injector. You may request some brief hands-on training from the lending entity.
5. You can also call the Hemlock Help Line 706-429-8010 to request an on-site visit from a Volunteer Facilitator to help you assess the infestation on your property, discuss appropriate treatment options, and assist you to get started taking care of your hemlocks.
The Cost
The Hemlock Help Program is designed to operate as a no-cost or low-cost charitable community service. Here are the general cost guidelines.
| Service | Cost | |
| Education | Free* | |
| Advice via Hemlock Help Line or Volunteer Facilitators | Free* | |
| Hemlock Help Project Planning | Free* | |
| Borrowing a soil injector -- See locations on Contacts page. | Free* with refundable deposit | |
|
Treating your own hemlocks --
Property owner is responsible for purchasing
the required chemical. See list of
treatment product vendors
on Contacts page.
|
Cost
is based on level of infestation, trunk diameter, and treatment
product used.
|
|
|
Hiring a professional to treat your
hemlocks -- Property owner contracts directly with the professional and
negotiates the cost.
See the Contacts page for a link to the list of
qualified professionals. ■ Lightly/moderately infested tree using Imidacloprid ■ Heavily infested or very large tree using Safari |
Cost is based on level of infestation, trunk diameter, and
treatment product used.
Rates are
generally
within the following
average ranges: About $1.50 - $4.00 / inch About $3.00 - $9.00 / inch |
|
|
Healthy hemlock saplings -- with instructions for planting/maintaining them.
■ Saplings 1 - 2' tall ■ Saplings 3-5' tall |
Free* to good homes! $10 donation requested.
|
|
| Volunteer Hemlock Help Projects | Normally, property owners purchase their own chemicals, and labor is provided at no cost by a combination of the property owner, SGH volunteers, and other helpers as available. However, other cost -sharing arrangements can be considered. |
*Donations to Save Georgia's Hemlocks are much needed and greatly appreciated. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so all contributions are tax-deductible. If you'd care to donate, you can make your contribution by check payable to Save Georgia's Hemlocks and mail it to the address below or make a secure on-line donation through PayPal. You'll receive a thank-you letter that can be used for tax purposes along with the offer of a free baby hemlock.
Save Georgia's Hemlocks
37 Woody Bend
Dahlonega, GA 30533
More Information about the Hemlock Help Program
■ Call the Hemlock Help Line 706-429-8010.
■ Press Release (July 1, 2009) -- Announcement of the initial program launch in The Clayton Tribune and The Rabun Town Crier.
■ Program Description (updated 1/22/12) -- Planning document including problem statement, program goal and objectives, guiding principles, scope, program services, and financial management plan.
■ SAVE GEORGIA'S HEMLOCKS (updated 8/23/11) -- PowerPoint presentation that defines the problem with the hemlock woolly adelgid, explains options for property owners to save their hemlocks at the lowest possible cost, provides an overview of conservation efforts on public lands, and introduces the free services available through the Hemlock Help Program for all of north Georgia. Click here to see the Notes Pages.
■ Visit the Resources page for printed Save Georgia's Hemlocks materials, related articles and publications, and a list of helpful web sites.
Also
check out our Facebook page to meet other members and join the cause!