Author - MarkFairchild

26 Apr

Storm Damage: What to Do: A Step-by-Step Plan

Storm Damage is stressful. Waking up to a tree down in your front yard, a limb on your house or your car is just not the way anyone wants to start their day. amiright? 

Tis the season for heavy, wet snow that breaks your tree limbs and causes that unwelcomed headache. How should you handle it and what can you do to prevent it?

Prevention is always key to preventing these spring storm problems. 

  1. Always ensure you are keeping your trees happy and healthy by trimming them when necessary, removing them when they need removal, or treating them before they are infested.
    1. When trees are healthy they are less likely to snap under the pressure of heavy spring snow.
  2. We are always available to access the health of your trees and make any suggestions to ensure they stay that way.

When the snow comes.

  1. Check to make sure the tree is safe and clear of all utility lines prior to removing snow. If they are laying on a power line: DO NOT TOUCH OR TRY AND MOVE IT. CALL EXCEL ENERGY.
  2. If the tree is clear of utility lines, use a broom to remove as much snow as possible from branches by brushing off or gently shaking. Do not bang broom on tree limbs as this could cause the limb to break.
  3. Do not attempt to climb a tree or use a ladder to reach higher limbs, this is dangerous and will cause bigger problems than just the tree being hurt!
  4. If the tree is between the street and the sidewalk on your street – call your city official as this is more likely their responsibility.
  5. If your limb has landed on your house, fence, car, shed, another tree DO NOT attempt to move them.
    1.  Take photos of the damage to the best of your ability.
    2. Call you insurance and report the damage.
    3. Call Colorado Trees or fill out the work request form and we will get you on the schedule asap. Be sure to include “storm damage” in your details so we can mark as urgent.
    4. Do not attempt to move (if small enough off car or fence etc) until you are told to do so by your adjuster.
  6. Do not attempt to remove broken branches or trees by yourself.
    1. If the job requires running a chainsaw overhead, sawing from a ladder or removing large branches or entire trees, contact an insured, ISA- Certified arborist like Colorado Trees. We have multiple certified arborists on staff, are licensed, insured and we prioritize safety and client satisfcation.
    2. PLUS for every tree or trim or remove this year we are planting one tree with our partner One Tree Planted in burn areas in Colorado to reforest.

 

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13 Apr

Celebrating Earth Day by Planting Trees With US

As Earth Day approaches many companies, indviduals, politicians, and eco-consicience folks will be thinking about what they can do to keep making positive impacts on the planet this year. As a company who cares deeply about the environment and works in the beautiful outdoors of Colorado each and every single day we put thought in to this topic all year long. Taking care of the environment often means removing dead trees or keeping your trees healthy and maintained. We love what we do and our “office” aka the trees are always on our minds.

As wildfires have ravaged many parts of Colorado, leaving behind burnt landscapes and destroyed ecosystems. The Spring Creek fire near La Veta, the Troublesome Fire in Grand County, and the Cameron Peak Fire near Fort Collins are the three burn areas alone consumed over 200,000 hectares of forests in Colorado.

We have partnered with the incredible non-profit called One Tree Planted. One Tree Planted makes it simple to plant trees and support incredible projects across the world. One Tree Planted have planted over 92.7 million trees in more than 80 countries across the globe since 2014. In 2022, they more than doubled their impact from 2021 – with 52.7 million trees.

One way to counterbalance the negative impact of removing or trimming trees is by planting new ones. For every tree that we remove or trim,  we will be planting one with One Tree Planted. We have pledged a minimum of 500 trees specifically to the three burn areas in Colorado (Spring Creek Fire, Troublesome Fire and The Cameron Peak Fire).

Choosing Colorado Trees to trim or remove your trees is all you need to do to support this reforestation project! It’s as simple as that. If you’d like to do more you can also contribute more (just $1 plants a tree!) by clicking here to support our fundraiser.

To learn more about One Tree Planted check out this impact video!

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02 Mar

Protecting Your Elm Tree from Elm Leaf Beetle

The Elm Leaf Beetle is a destructive pest that attacks and feeds on the leaves of elm trees. The Elm Leaf Beetle can cause severe damage to elm trees, leading to defoliation and even death of the tree if left untreated.


There are several reasons why treating for Elm Leaf Beetle is important.

  1. Elm Leaf Beetles can cause significant damage to elm trees, leading to defoliation and reduced growth. This can weaken the tree and make it more susceptible to other pests and diseases.
  2. Elm Leaf Beetles can quickly multiply and spread to other trees in the area, causing widespread damage. Therefore, treating an infestation early can help prevent the spread of the beetle to neighboring trees. They will also take cover in winter in your home’s window sills or garage until spring when they are ready to feed.
  3. Elm Leaf Beetles can also impact the aesthetic value of trees, as severe infestations can cause trees to lose their leaves prematurely and look unsightly.

Preventative Treatment is the best option to ensure proper health and to allow your Elm to thrive providing you and your family with that wonderful summer shade.

HOW DO I IDENTIFY THE ELM LEEF BEETLE?

Leaves damaged by elm leaf beetle larvae look lacy, turn brown, and may prematurely drop from the trees. The beetles themselves are oblong-shaped with an olive green or yellow body with a black dot on their head.

Check out the photo below to identify them.

WHAT CAN I DO AND WHEN SHOULD I DO IT?

To prevent or control the population of the Elm Leaf Beetles in your tree you have two options.

  1. Soil Applications
  2. Truck Injections

Both are effective ways to keep that Elm Tree thriving! However, soil applications begin in March and April and are not only more effective but are more cost-effective too!

Get your free assessment and estimate and ensure that your Elm is looking good this summer!

Hot Tree Summer anyone?

 

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21 Feb

Protect your Evergreen Trees! Prevention is the Key.

Prevention is the key to keeping your Evergreen Trees healthy. It is important to protect your trees against Ips Beetles, Pine Beetles, and Pine Wilt Nematodes for several reasons:

  1. Prevent tree mortality: These pests can cause significant damage to trees and can even result in their death. Ips and Pine Beetles bore into the bark of trees and lay eggs, which hatch and feed on the inner bark, cutting off the tree’s supply of water and nutrients. Pine Wilt Nematodes attack the tree’s water-conducting vessels, causing the tree to wilt and eventually die. By protecting your trees against these pests, you can help prevent tree mortality and ensure the longevity of your trees.
  2. Preserve ecological balance: Trees play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, providing habitat and food for a variety of wildlife, and contributing to air and water quality. The loss of trees due to pest infestations can disrupt this balance, affecting the health and well-being of other organisms in the ecosystem. Protecting your trees against Ips Beetles, Pine Beetles, and Pine Wilt Nematodes can help preserve the ecological balance in your area.
  3. Maintain aesthetic value: Trees are often valued for their aesthetic qualities, providing shade, beauty, and a sense of tranquility. When trees are damaged or killed by pests, it can significantly impact the visual appeal of the surrounding landscape. By protecting your trees against these pests, you can maintain the aesthetic value of your property and contribute to the overall beauty of your community.
  4. Save money: The cost of removing dead or dying trees can be significant, and the loss of trees can also impact property values. By protecting your trees against Ips Beetles, Pine Beetles, and Pine Wilt Nematodes, you can save money in the long run by avoiding the cost of tree removal and replacement.

Protecting your trees against these pests is an important step in maintaining the health and well-being of your trees, preserving the ecological balance in your area, and maintaining the aesthetic value of your property.

The best time to protect and prevent these pests is now while it’s still cool outside. Call, text, or fill out our contact form for a free estimate!

Healthy Evergreen Trees look like this!

Trees affected by Ips Beatle look like this!

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24 Jan

Starting a Business

Starting my own business has always been an ambition of mine. It was not ever really a choice in my mind, but more of a calling to be able to create a job that can help others and does not feel like work. I have had a lot of jobs in my life where going to work felt exactly like that, work. I always felt like there were options in the world to create something that was mine and that could offer beneficial services. I’ve always loved being outdoors and being outside. Rock climbing has been a passion of mine since I was in my early 20’s. When I started learning how to climb in the tree industry I knew that this is something I would want to continue to do and grow as a business. I learned from some of the best in the business: shoutout to Richard Withey and Colin Dandridge, thanks guys! Doing something I was passionate about and combining that with a job was a dream come true.

Starting the business felt easy to me, but growing the business, is the hard part, but it has been fun. I started this company with just my 1997 Honda Passport and my 5ft x 10ft boat trailer. I just .. started. I named my business, made it official, advertised myself to my friends and family and started working. For awhile I was a one man business. I did sales, estimates, trims, removals and groundsman. I worked hard but I felt good. I was fortunate to have friends who wanted to help grow my business with their skills join me along the way and began building the business. I find the problem solving involved in owning my own business to be one of the most interesting and fulfilling parts of being a business owner. I have tried and failed at other business ideas in the past, but without those experiences to learn from I would not be where I am today. As far as I’m concerned it’s those failures that helped me turn the right idea into a success. Everyday challenges are presented in this business, and if you lay down and give up you never really dive into that void where the growth happens. 

I worked hard when I started the company to ensure I was also knowledgable and giving the best advice to my clients as possible. I knew that being an arborist was the way to do that. I had three years of field training but then committed to six months of studying to become an arborist. I passed the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) test and was proud to be able to offer the knowledge I gained to my clients. Being an Arborist means that you are part of a larger International community of other people doing the same thing we do, everyday. The ISA is a great resource of knowledgeable people that I tap into all of the time for continuing education.

After recieving my ISA certification I wanted to know more. I began working on my Plant Health Care certification and I am a Qualified Supervisor with the Department of Agriculture. This certification allows me to assess the health of trees, diagnose trees, and create treatment plans. I worked under David Walker for two years who was then a Qualified Supervisor and taught me what I needed to know about assessing and various tree treatments. Much love David, not only for that training, but the continued education you continue to provide. The key to success for Colorado Trees is the collaborative effort of all of the people involved in daily operations to do a job well done in a safe manner. No one person would be able to accomplish our work with the efficiency and safety required of a team. I am thankful to all the people in my life who got me to this point. I always want to thank my parents for instilling the work ethic that is the backbone of the work I do. I  thank the many people I have climbed with over the years that have pushed me to go further out on that limb, figuratively and literally. Finally, I also need to thank my wife and kids for their continuous support of my passion to climb higher and help make trees healthy and beautiful.

Go for it, take the leap! 

No photo description available.

 

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