SK Malone
Staff Writer
A Mayday tree grows in Hope. These trees are an invasive species in Alaska.
Mayday trees, also known as the European Bird Cherry, are beautiful invaders threatening our ecosystem. They may look like any other innocent tree, but these trees are taking over parts of Alaska and threaten native trees and shrubs.
There is even a possibility for cyanide poisoning in moose, although as of 2011, there were only 3 known cases according to Alaska Department of Fish and Game. On their website www.adfg.alaska.gov, is an 2011 article about those three cases. It also mentions that in Alaska there are three types of choke cherry trees, and all are invasive species.
On May 7 at the Hope Social Hall, there was an informative seminar held by Tim Stallard from Alien Species Control, LLC. He held this meeting to discuss the European Bird Cherry, how it came to Alaska, the potential moose danger it poses and what we can do to help stop this tree from taking over. The trees were brought to Alaska and planted in yards, parks and a few remote cabins as ornamental trees.
Birds eat the fruits and spread the seeds, which have a 1-3 year period to germinate. They are also spread by trimming and cutting as any part of the branches, stump and root remnants can sprout new saplings. This species are known by a few different names, which include The May Day Tree, European Bird Cherry or Prunus padus, and Chokecherry Tree.
These trees can grow up to 30 feet tall, have a relatively smooth grey to brown bark, which may have visible pores on it. The flowers are white cylindrical clusters that are very fragrant, droop from the branches, and bloom in late May and early June. The deciduous tree’s leaves are dark green, elliptical, ovate, tapered at the tip and have serrated edges.
They can survive temperatures as low as -33 degrees Fahrenheit, and are typically native to Northern Europe and Asia. This tree is legally sold in Alaska, it was suggested at the seminar by Tim Stallard, that if you see them in the gardening sections at stores or in commercial greenhouses, to bring it to the attention of someone in charge that this is an invasive species.
There are a few ways to weed out this problematic species. Simply pruning and cutting are not going to help. One way is to manually remove them, as saplings and small trees can be pulled by hand. Make sure you get all of the roots or else the saplings will re-sprout. Trees up to 2” in diameter may be pulled up with a special tool called an Uprooter, again taking careful measures to eradicate the whole root system. The removed trees must be disposed of by proper means, and one example given at the meeting was a wood chipper. You may also cut the tree down and remove the stump, but with these methods there is no guarantee of complete removal of the root system.
Pesticides and systematic herbicides are recommended for their removal. There are a few that you can coat the stump after cutting the tree down, or you can make two slits in the trunk of the tree about 3-4 inches apart. Make sure to leave a non-cut/slit section between the two incisions, or the tree may realize that it is injured and start healing itself. After you make the incisions you can spray a herbicide or pesticide inside the slits, this is called frilling.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks can provide more information on which herbicides to use or someone who is certified to use pesticides in Alaska. You can find out more information at UAF Cooperative Extension Service, outside of Anchorage (877) 520-5211, in Anchorage (907) 786-6315, or at these email addresses or www.alaskainvasives.com.
For control or removal volunteer information, you can contact Anchorage Park Foundation at (907) 339-0101 or . For a list of alternatives to plant instead of invasive species, contact Invasive Plants Program coordinator at (907) 745-4469 or . You may also call 1-877-INVASIV.
If you see any Mayday trees located in Hope, tie a blue marking tape ribbon to it. Tim Stallard from Alien Species Control and Betty Charnon from the U.S. Forest Service will be down on June 10 to remove those trees marked with blue ribbons.