Newsletter No.4 March 2015

The time has come to make a plan to defend against the Emerald Ash Borer. While still only officially in Boulder, experts across the Front Range suspect it has spread beyond its known boundaries and will be found in the Denver Metro area within a year or two. The best defense is a preventative plan; it’s important to know what you want to do before your trees are attacked. There is no quick fix; once a tree is attacked it can be hard to save, and oftentimes the damage is irreparable. The impact of this insect will be felt for many years, if not decades. If you have multiple Ash trees in your yard it can complicate your choices. However, Colorado TreeScapes can help you understand the options and associated costs.

A comprehensive plan may contain multiple points of defense. Highly valued trees can be designated for preventative pesticide injections or trunk sprays. These applications are effective for one to two years before reapplication is needed. Any Ash that have major defects or are planted in poor locations should not be considered candidates for treatment. A plan to remove as needed should be enacted. Another thing to consider is replanting with a wide variety of other species to begin to recoup the value lost by the removal of the infested Ash trees.

The key is educating yourself on those options and deciding what will work best for you. Call us today if you have any questions. We would be happy to discuss treatment options with you and provide you with all the information you need to make a wise and informed decision.

Did You Know?

We all know that trees add beauty, provide shade, and create life-giving oxygen. Simply put, we wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for trees. But did you know that trees provide numerous economical and environmental benefits as well? In order to enjoy these benefits to their fullest capacity, it’s important to take care of your trees. The best way to do that is by working with Colorado TreeScapes to create both trimming/pruning and plant health care packages that will help your trees reach their full potential and allow you to enjoy all they have to offer for as long as possible!

• Well-maintained trees and shrubs can increase property value by up to 14%.
• Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30%.
• A mature tree removes almost 70 times more pollution than a newly planted tree.
• A healthy tree can have a value of up to $10,000.
• The shade and wind buffering provided by trees reduces annual heating and cooling costs by $2.1 billion.
• Each average-sized tree provides an estimated $7 savings in annual environmental benefits, including energy conservation and reduced pollution.
• A single tree produces approximately 260 pounds of oxygen per year. That means two mature trees can supply enough oxygen annually to support a family of four!
• Water originating in our national forests provides drinking water for over 3,400 communities, and approximately 60 million individuals.
• One tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces while driving 26,000 miles.
• Over the course its life, a single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide.

Featured Tree: Texas Red Oak, Quercus Buckleyi

Scientific Name: Catalpa speciosa

Mature Height: 50’

Mature Width: 40’

Growth Rate: Medium to Fast

Who doesn’t love a tree with brilliant fall color? The Texas Red Oak has vivid red fall color and is an excellent tree for our climate, since it’s cold hardy and tolerant of our alkaline soil. With this tree, there are hardly any pest or diseases to be concerned about.  The Texas Red Oak grows almost as wide as is does tall, making for an incredible shade tree in your yard to enjoy for many years to come.

What Are Your Trees Worth?

It is common knowledge that trees add value to your property, but until recently there was no way to quantify their value. Many scientists have been working on ways to calculate the many useful features of trees that make up their holistic value. Today there are several useful online tools available, where you can enter basic data about your trees and calculate their worth. One of the more comprehensive resources is i-Tree Design, which can be found on itreetools.org. This unique calculator uses a google map image of your home and then lets you identify your trees in the surrounding landscape to show you the economical and ecological benefits those trees provide. It has several adjustable settings to allow you an in-depth look at all the ways your tree can and have added value to you and your property. Of course, the social and emotional value of your trees cannot be calculated, and only you can determine these.

One of Us: John Todd

John Todd started working for Colorado Treescapes in early 2012. He serves the company as a crew leader, and holds the title of Equipment Maintenance Manager. John is responsible for keeping all of the integral pieces of equipment operational, as well as taking part in field operations. The challenge of these responsibilities keeps John on his toes, and provides the fuel for his success as a vital team member.

John served for four years on active duty in the U.S. Army, and continues to serve our country, state, and community in the Colorado National Guard. He holds the military occupation specialty of Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. The skills learned from military experience have set the foundation for John to provide customers with selfless service, integrity, and solid work ethic.

John’s greatest blessing and joy in life is his wife Molly, and son Nathan. All three Colorado natives enjoy the beauty and reverence of the great outdoors.

Tree Jokes

At Colorado TreeScapes, we feel that while taking care of your trees is serious business, it’s important to have fun and find humor in everyday situations. That said, we’d like to leave with a couple of tree jokes that we hope will brighten your day, cause you to smile, laugh, and share with someone else… Enjoy!

Why did the pine tree get in trouble?
Because it was being knotty!

Where do saplings go to learn?
Elemen-tree school