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Q. What considerations are important in landscaping a new home or replacing a tree lost to damage or disease?
A. Matching the tree to the site is critical. Site considerations include location of space above and below ground, water availability, drainage issues, soil texture and pH, sunlight levels and exposure. Plus weather and other environmental factors impact tree selection. Tree considerations should include growth rate of the species selected. The mature size and form of the tree in addition to hardiness-heat tolerance and drought tolerance are considerations. Pest resistance, maintenance issues and native versus non-native species also impact tree selection. Most trees will outlive the people who plant them. For more information, visit ext.colostate.edu and search for CSU Fact Sheet #7.418, "Small Deciduous Trees" and #7.419, "Large Deciduous Trees."
Q. Do Honeycrisp apple trees grow well along the Front Range?
A. Honeycrisp is a late-fruiting apple cultivar that it is very cold hardy, which means the tree should survive Front Range winters well. Honeycrisp blooms in the early to middle part of the apple flowering period. Honeycrisp does not carry any known exceptional resistances to disease or insects. Apple scab and cedar apple rust lesions have been observed on the leaves, but these diseases have been readily controlled with a standard spray program. It has shown moderate susceptibility to fireblight. The fruit, which usually matures around mid-September, is very crisp and juicy with a flavor balance between sweet and tart. The fruits can be eaten fresh or cooked in pies or other recipes. For more information, visit planttalk.org and read #1201, "Apples."
Q. What do I need to know before signing a contract with a tree care company?
A. Tree maintenance companies can provide professional maintenance for big jobs and save homeowners time. Typical services include consultation, problem diagnosis, planting, fertilizing, insect and disease control, cabling and bracing, and pruning and removal. All tree care companies offering insect and disease control services with pesticides must be licensed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Tree care companies should be able to provide product labels and safety data sheets on fertilizers and chemicals before treatment. Ask for a list of references where a company's finished work can be checked. Some tree care companies may employ certified arborists that have passed the test given by The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture on the principles of tree care and issued a license.
For more information, contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office. |
