Taking care of trees makes good economic sense because they are valuable assets that increase the market value of homes. Trees shade homes on a hot day, increase curb appeal and make yards more enjoyable. But are trees worth money? The answer is yes. 

Tree Economics 101

Denverites must like trees since they have planted over 9 million in the metro area. A mature landscape is worth about five percent of the value of a home. Recent U.S. Census data shows there are 351,868 housing units in Denver. In 2022, according to the Denver Metro Association of Realtors, the median sell price of a single-family home is $660,000. Let’s assume three-quarters of homes have mature landscapes with trees. So, trees in Denver are worth about $8.7 billion, and a mature landscape is about $33,000. With these valuations, tree care makes economic sense.

Tree Maintenance 

Deep root watering and feeding is the first task in keeping trees healthy. Our climate and soils are great for growing grass, not trees. So it makes sense that trees need extra care because most would die without supplemental watering. Healthy trees can fight off many of the insects and diseases listed below.

Spring and Summer 2022

Spider Mite Damage

The record-tying drought between the winter of 2021 and spring of 2022 severely damaged the root systems of many trees and left them susceptible to disease. Honeylocust trees have been hit hard by Thyronectria Cankers, while Cytospora cankers attack Aspens. Aspens with Cytospora become denuded. Tree vigor is the only defense against cankers because there is no treatment for these fungi diseases. On the flip side, our wet June created perfect growing conditions for soft-bodied insects such as aphids and scales. Aphids are attacking Conifers and Maples. The recent dry weather is ideal for spider mite growth. Homeowners with Elms, Evergreens, Fruit trees, Honeylocust, Maples, Mountain ash, and Oaks should look for leaf curl and webbing. Spider mites grow fast and should be treated before they damage trees.

Emerald Ash Borer

Some people think the tree service industry has been crying wolf about the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) since 2013. Homeowners with mature Green, White, Black, and Blue Ash and all their cultivars should get them treated before it is too late. These trees have zero immunity to this insect. The EAB showed up in Arvada in 2020. It is just a matter of time before the insect flies to Denver or arrives inadvertently in the back of a pickup in a load of firewood. Since Denver Metro has 1.4 million Ash trees, it will be impossible to book an appointment with a plant health care company once the insect makes its presence known in Denver, so it is best to be proactive. Check out the Ross Tree EAB Handbook for more information about this pest.

Tree Calendar

Our new Insect Calendar web page has had many visits over the last two months by people trying to identify what tree pests are on their trees. The calendar gives approximate times for treatment by insect species. Click here to download. 

Ross Tree has blogged extensively on these plant health care issues over the last three years. Check out the blogs below for more information about each tree insect or disease.

 Insect or Disease NameBlog TitleLink
Aspen CankersAspen Cankers
A Short Guide to Aspen Trees and Their Care
 
Link
Thyronectria CankersHoneylocust Thyronectria CankersHow To Deal With Cankers On My Honeylocust Trees?
Link
Spruce and Pine Beetles
Spruce and Pine Beetles

Pine Tree Care Handbook
Link
Maple aphidsConifer and Maple Tree Aphids
Surprising Rise in Tree Aphids This Summer in Denver
Link
Japanese BeetlesJapanese Beetles What To Do About Japanese Beetles?Link
Conifer and Hardwood BorersConifer and Hardwood BorersSurprising Rise in Tree Borers this Spring in DenverLink

Ironically, trees that receive deep root watering throughout the year maintain their health and use their natural defenses to ward off cankers and tree insects. Ross Tree offers annual tree maintenance programs, including deep root feeding and watering. Call 303-871-9121 or click here to fill out a service request form