Author: Marian Vasilescu

Tree pruning guides? Small insects and fauna: Tiny insects and animals are one of the biggest threats to tree health and foliage. The tree in your backyard may seem like it’s perfectly healthy at first glance, but only a careful look can tell whether it has been infested by pests like beetles or carpenter ants. Over time, these small insects can burrow into the trees, build their nests and lay eggs, effectively weakening it from the roots. This can pose a major threat to your home if the tree becomes unhealthy enough to fall. See this document from the U.S. Forest Service on the 70 most common insects and 27 most common diseases that threaten trees in North America.

Tree stumps are both unattractive and dangerous. We have the proper tools and experience to remove or grind any stumps on your property. Your satisfaction with our work is guaranteed! Local, family-owned and operated by the father-and-son team of Jack and Clay Webb, Tree Artisans offers reliable, timely tree care. We are members of the International Society of Arboriculture and the Tree Care Industry Association. Licensed and insured to operate in Colorado, we are based in Colorado Springs. Our services extend anywhere along the Front Range, and we can quickly service El Paso, Teller, and Douglas. Read more info at Tree care services in Colorado Springs. The highest tree loss rates occur within the first three years after planting while the root system grows from the root ball into your soil. Many such losses are preventable with the right care. Watering trees at the right time and in the right way is the first step. Apply water to the original root ball and the surrounding soil once or twice per week during dry periods – depending on the weather and soil moisture levels.Proper mulch application conserves soil moisture and provides a better environment for roots to grow. Mulch should never be in contact with the trunk of the tree. Pest management is also important because young trees can’t afford to lose leaves or branches to pests. Fertilization helps to establish healthy growth and is a cost-effective way to help turn small plants into larger ones.

Tree owners often need to move or transplant trees from a nursery or within the yard. Yard trees may have been planted too thickly or threaten to outgrow available space. Size is a critical factor in transplanting. The larger a tree, the more difficult it is to transplant. Before starting a mulching project, become familiar the critical root zone (CRZ) or tree protection zone. This zone is generally defined as the area under a tree and out to its dripline. Improving conditions in this protection zone will also result in major health benefits to a tree. While you won’t need to do much to keep your trees healthy, it makes sense to take some simple precautions to ensure they last a lifetime. Surrounding the base of your trees with mulch is a great idea. Mulch will protect the tree from over-watering and over-fertilizing. Layer the mulch 2 to 3 inches thick and keep it away from the bark of the tree. Make sure to remove the older mulch before putting on a new layer. Most trees don’t need much pruning, in fact, pruning can slow the growth because the tree must heal before it continues to grow. Good times to prune a tree are when you see dead limbs or those that have cracked because of strong wind or a rain storm. You should take the time to safely cut these limbs or branches away from the tree to prevent them from falling and possibly damaging your property.

Not enough water is harmful for the tree, but too much water is bad as well. Over-watering is a common tree care mistake. Please note that moist is different than soggy, and you can judge this by feel. A damp soil that dries for a short period will allow adequate oxygen to permeate the soil. You can check soil moisture by using a garden trowel and inserting it into the ground to a depth of 2″, and then move the blade of the trowel back and forth to create a small narrow trench. Then use your finger to touch the soil. If it is moist to the touch, then they do not need water.

Searching for the best picks if you want to cut down the tree maintenance costs? Start with picking the right trees for Colorado! Nancy is a big fan of American Hornbeams, in part because of the striking patterns on their bark. The beautifully textured bark is sinewy, like well-developed muscles on an athlete. No surprise that the tree is also known as a “Musclewood!” Another remarkable feature of this Hornbeam is the pagoda-shaped fruit it produces in the fall. Fall leaf color is a mottled yellow and red. The fruit and the bark give this tree an especially elegant appearance in a winter landscape. American Hornbeams grow 25 to 30 feet tall and wide. They have a moderate growth rate. This Hornbeam should be watered normally for the first three years. They are somewhat drought tolerant once established.

Do you want to keep your trees healthy? First we will suggest some advices on tree care and after that we will introduce Tree Artisans, a tree services company in Colorado Springs. If your area constantly deals with drought you will want to consider trees listed as drought-tolerant. Some drought-tolerant species include Arizona Cypress, Japanese Zelkova, White Fir, and Kentucky Coffeetree. On the opposite side of the spectrum if your area deals with a large amount of moisture or wet conditions, here are a few trees that will do better in wet conditions: Baldcypress, Shellbark Hickory, Red Maple, Silver Maple, Paper Birch, River Birch, and Weeping Willow.