How to make sure your trees thrive in Colorado's urban forests

Since the city’s earliest days, Denver has befriended trees. City ordinances from the 1920s called Denver citizens to plant and maintain trees. The following tips are framed up for Denver, but are solid advice for helping you do your civic duty even in yards beyond:

•  Apply for a free tree. The BeASmartAsh.org website includes information about emerald ash borers and also an application for Denver residents to request a free street tree which the city will plant in a public tree lawn or right-of-way to help offset the anticipated scourge of the pests.

• Water wisely. “Ultimately if you don’t have water you don’t have success. Pests go after drought-stressed trees, and our dry winter conditions lower the health of trees,” said Chris Becker, a certified arborist and degreed urban forester with Schulhoff Tree and Lawn Care. “Water infrequently, but soak deeply. Water at night. And it’s best to water twice: once to break the surface tension of compacted soil so water doesn’t run off; then go back and water again.”

• Managing lawns helps manage trees. “We say ‘healthy lawn, healthy trees’ because a tree’s root system is a big plate and spreads wider and shallower than you think,” Becker said. “Aerating, adding compost, amending soil and feeding a lawn helps your tree roots, too.”

• Look to the future and up. “When planting a tree, be sure it won’t overtake its bounds in the future and cause problems with power wires,” Becker said.

• Prune. “Pruning not only removes potentially dangerous dead wood, but also promotes growth,” Becker said.

• Consult an expert. “Get a certified arborist out, and pick his brain about how to care for your trees,” said Becker. “If you’re buying a house, have an arborist inspection to make sure trees aren’t infected.”

And while you’re considering your sylvan duty, familiarize yourself with the urban forest.

• Denver Botanic Gardens offers Third Thursday Tree Walks from 10 a.m. until noon in various neighborhoods now through October. For more information, visit botanicgardens.org or call 720-865-3500.

• Denver Parks and Recreation’s BeASmartAsh.org website includes information on notable trees and tree walks, community forest volunteer opportunities and more.

• Arboradvisor.com catalogs the 75 best trees for the Front Range.

• Becker recommended Schulhoff’s site DenverTreePictures.com for information and inspiration.

• Help save trees from damage during development. City forester Rob Davis encouraged residents to keep an eye on trees within protective orange fences on commercial or residential property. If you see a tree within an orange fence threatened by construction, contact forestryresdev@denvergov.org or call the city forester office at 720-913-0651.

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https://www.denverpost.com/2018/04/27/how-to-plant-tree-in-denver-colorado/