Colorado is beautiful year-round and our trees are a big part of this aesthetic. However, tree diseases threaten to harm the region’s natural beauty. Tree diseases aren’t isolated to forests and mountains, which means they can occur on your property if you’re unprepared. Fortunately, there are preventative measures you can take to ward off these harmful diseases before they affect your trees.
You can prevent tree disease from encroaching on your property by using regular fertilizer treatments and pruning during the time that your tree is most receptive to it.
Preventing tree disease with regular tree fertilization.
Ensuring your trees receive the proper nutrition throughout the year is vital to the health of your trees. Trees that lack adequate nutrition tend to be more prone to contracting tree disease. Several common tree diseases in the Colorado region that you can prevent through fertilization include Cytospora canker, fireblight, and Dutch elm.
Regular fertilization helps your trees sustain the proper balance of nutrients they need to thrive. For example, local arborists have seen success preventing fireblight through regular applications of copper sulfate fertilizer. Similarly, tree professionals have been able to ward off the elm bark beetles that cause Dutch elm disease through regular slow-release fertilizer applications. One factor to keep in mind when applying tree fertilizer is how your trees respond to nitrogen.
Since applying the wrong fertilizer can harm your trees, it’s best to schedule regular fertilizer treatments through a certified arborist.
Prevent tree disease in Colorado by pruning when your tree can handle it.
Pruning at the appropriate time for your specific tree is critical as there are times of the year when pruning can actually harm your tree. Here in Colorado, certain threats specifically target weakened trees. So, the last thing you want to do is make your trees susceptible to disease by pruning at the wrong times.
Pruning your trees according to their specific needs ensures the arborist doesn’t inadvertently harm your tree. Elms, fruit trees, and common evergreens in Littleton, CO are known to respond well to pruning at certain times of the year. Here are a few examples of when to schedule pruning based on the specific tree type:
- Elm trees – It’s best to prune elm trees during winter dormancy to prevent any illnesses from spreading to other parts of your tree. Pruning elms any other time of the year could make the tree vulnerable to fungus.
- Fruit trees – Here in Colorado, it’s best to prune your apple or fruit trees in the winter before the trees begin growing leaves. Most arborists caution against pruning fruit trees in the fall as the branches may not heal properly, affecting spring fruit yields.
- Evergreen trees – The best time to prune evergreens, like the spruce, is in the spring. However, most tree professionals only prune them if they spot dead or damaged branches.
Ward off tree disease in Colorado with our preventative services. Call us today!
Although tree disease is a real concern to property owners in Colorado, it need not mar the trees on your property. At Tree Keepers, our technicians are well-trained in the use of fertilization treatments and selective pruning to ward off tree disease. You can trust us to help keep your trees healthy.
We work with residential, commercial, and HOA property owners and service properties in Littleton, Golden, Broomfield, and surrounding areas in Colorado. If you’d like to speak with one of our arborists about preventing tree disease, we’d be happy to help. Contact us today at (970) 465-2474 for an estimate. We are standing by and ready to help you keep your trees as healthy as possible.