Trees: Once again, the weather this early spring has driven how we care for our landscapes. The first three months of 2017 have been very dry and much warmer than normal so we have been telling everyone to get outside and water their landscapes. Over the last two weeks we have begun to see the […]
Tree Top Times
Tree of the Month – The Golden Raintree!
It’s that time of year again! The Crabapples and Pears are in bloom, and buds are beginning to sprout. This month we’re going to take a look at a gorgeous flowering tree called the Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata). This tree grows to a height of 35’ and spreads to around 35’. It has large […]
Spring has Sprung!
March was mild and warm with Colorado Springs breaking several record high temperatures. Just today I saw flowering Forsythia, Plum and Crabapple trees. This is easily 3 weeks ahead of a normal year. The National Phenology Network tracks the start of spring, called the Spring Leaf Index, by measuring the appearance of leaves, blossoms and […]
A Wild and Wacky January!
January is a month that surprises us. It is one of the driest months of the year, but in many ways it is the most exciting. January 2017 has set many records for both Mountain High and the Pikes Peak region. Record breaking winds peaking over 100 mph hit on January 9 and 10 toppling […]
Pine Wilt Disease found in Scotch and Austrian Pines
As winter approaches, dead Scotch and Austrian Pines have been appearing with more frequency in Colorado Springs. The culprit has been found to be the Pinewood nematode, a native to North America. It does not generally cause mortality in native Pines, but in exotic Pines it causes a fatal wilt disease. It can be deadly […]
Winter Watering – Put on your to-do list!
We may sound like a broken record when we talk about watering trees in the winter, but somehow this crucial practice remains one of the most overlooked tasks of caring for trees in Colorado. Maintaining adequate soil moisture helps to prevent unnecessary root loss due to desiccation. It is always our hope that Mother Nature […]
How to Take Care of Your Trees in the Winter
Denver – and Colorado, in general – can have some pretty harsh winters, and we’re off to a really dry start. That’s why it’s important to take all the necessary precautions to ensure your trees are primed for the season. Don’t forget proper fertilization and watering. The key word here is “proper.” You don’t want […]
Fireblight – What to do?
Although this fall has been exceptionally warm, we know that the cold temperatures are right around the corner. The cold temperatures offer an opportunity to begin pruning trees and shrubs that are currently, or potentially, infected by various fungal and bacterial diseases. These diseases are less active in the dormant season, so the likelihood of […]
Fall is Here!
The leaves are beginning to change and Mother Nature is putting on a show. As the caretakers of our landscapes we can assist our trees and shrubs in order to put on the best display of fall color possible. The key is water, which in Colorado is no surprise. Our trees require water to go […]
Heat, pests, sprinklers and diseases!
The summer of 2016 is in full effect. We are racking up the 90 degree days, and our landscapes are beginning to suffer as a result. Insect populations are high with record numbers of Japanese Beetles, aphids, and mites showing up this season. The combination of insect damage and heat stress is enough to frustrate […]