27
Dec

Lodgepole pines are not to be confused as ponderosa pines. Yes, they are both a type of pine tree, but they offer different benefits to the wildlife out there. The lodgepole pine is very common throughout the western United States and Canada.

Lodgepoles grow tall and straight. The bad news for fire survival is that they have thin barks and shallow roots. This leads to them being more susceptible of death when it comes to fires spreading. And we all hear on the news about wildfires each summer.

The Adaptation of Lodgepoles Over the Years

All trees in the area have evolved in their own way. Lodgepoles have adapted so that they burn every 200 years or so. This helps to cultivate a land perfect for growing more trees. The problem is wildfires are happening at a more alarming rate than they used to.

The trees have a waxy resin seal around their trunks. This seal will melt when the temperatures reach 120F, leading to the release of seeds so that new lodgepoles can grow in the area. Without the fire, the trees wouldn’t be able to reproduce; at least, not at the rate they can do now. There would be a risk of the tree dying out.

Preventing Fire Too Early

Lodgepole pines have done some evolution work to prevent dying out too early due to fire. During the first 50 years of the fire’s life, there isn’t enough fuel for basic fires. It takes between 50 and 150 years for the trees to get tall and dense enough to make it suitable for the spread of fire to allow more seeds to drop.

The trees most at risk are those that are 150 years or older. By this point, some of the trees have already started to die due to overcrowding and age.

Mitigating the Risk of Fire Too Early

Homeowners can do their part to help mitigate the risk of fire too early. This is going to be different than if you live in a ponderosa pine forest. It’s important to look after lodgepole trees during high winds. The narrow trunks and shallow roots mean they are at a higher risk of falling down while they’re still growing.

Once the trees have reached pole size, you’ll want to limit the thinning process. This is even if you have a pine beetle problem killing off some of the trees. You want the fuel for the fire in this case. It’s the smaller saplings that you’ll want to thin. As the trees get older, they will start to withstand the high winds.

When trees do go down, you’ll want to remove them as soon as possible. It’s also important to remove any other type of fuel from the forest floor. This is the best way to reduce the risk of wildfires in the area while the trees grow.

For questions about our fire mitigation services, call (719)400-9104.