Tree Care Tips for Colorado

Douglas County's semi-arid climate, dramatic temperature swings, and intense sun create unique challenges for tree health. Understanding these conditions helps you protect your landscape investment.

Understanding Colorado's Climate Challenges

Our Douglas County trees face several environmental stressors:

• Low humidity - Average relative humidity of 40-50% causes rapid moisture loss
• Intense UV radiation - High altitude means stronger sun exposure
• Temperature extremes - 50+ degree daily swings are common
• Late spring frosts - Can damage new growth even in May
• Heavy, wet snow - Spring storms cause significant branch breakage
• Alkaline soil - Common in Douglas County, limiting nutrient availability

Seasonal Tree Care Calendar

Spring (March - May)

• Inspect for winter damage - Check for broken branches and split bark
• Prune dead wood - Remove obviously dead branches before new growth
• Apply mulch - 2-4 inches around the base, keeping it away from trunk
• Start deep watering - Begin supplemental irrigation as temps warm
• Watch for late frosts - Cover young or tender trees if frost threatens

Summer (June - August)

• Deep water weekly - Trees need 10-15 gallons per inch of trunk diameter
• Water in early morning - Reduces evaporation and fungal issues
• Monitor for pests - Check for borers, mites, and scale insects
• Avoid heavy pruning - Stresses trees during peak growth
• Watch for sunscald - Especially on young or recently transplanted trees

Fall (September - November)

• Continue watering - Until ground freezes, trees still need moisture
• Schedule pruning - Late fall is ideal for most tree pruning
• Wrap young trees - Protect thin-barked trees from sunscald
• Remove fallen leaves - Prevents fungal issues over winter
• Deep water before freeze - Thoroughly soak before ground freezes hard

Winter (December - February)

• Water during warm spells - Trees need moisture even in winter
• Brush off heavy snow - Gently remove snow loads from branches
• Avoid salt damage - Keep deicing salts away from tree roots
• Plan spring projects - Winter is ideal for assessing tree needs

Watering Guidelines for Douglas County

Best Trees for Douglas County

These species thrive in our climate:

• Bur oak - Extremely drought tolerant once established
• Kentucky coffeetree - Adaptable to alkaline soil
• Colorado blue spruce - Native, handles our conditions well
• Ponderosa pine - Native, drought tolerant
• Hackberry - Tough, tolerates poor soil
• Austrian pine - Handles alkaline soil better than most pines
• Rocky Mountain juniper - Native, extremely drought tolerant

Trees That Struggle Here

Some popular trees have difficulty in Douglas County:

• Pin oak - Requires acidic soil, develops chlorosis here
• Red maple - Often shows iron deficiency in alkaline soil
• White pine - Struggles with our dry conditions and alkaline soil
• Birches - Need more moisture than we typically provide
• Dogwoods - Prefer more humidity and shade

Common Tree Problems in Our Area

Sunscald and Frost Cracks

Colorado's intense winter sun heats bark during the day, then rapid temperature drops at night cause cracking. Prevent by:

• Wrapping thin-barked trees (maples, ashes, lindens) with tree wrap in fall
• Removing wrap in spring after last hard freeze
• Planting where buildings provide afternoon winter shade

Iron Chlorosis

Yellow leaves with green veins indicate iron deficiency, common in our alkaline soil. Solutions include:

• Soil amendments to lower pH
• Iron injections for established trees
• Choosing iron-efficient species when planting

Emerald Ash Borer

This destructive pest has reached Colorado. If you have ash trees, watch for:

• D-shaped exit holes in bark
• Crown dieback starting at the top
• Woodpecker activity
• Bark splitting