National Arbor Day is April 29, 2022, and is the perfect reminder to homeowners to plant a tree (or two)!
Spring is a great time to plant a tree because it gives the tree a nice long growing season to establish roots and get settled into their new home.
There are certain trees that grow well in our area (we've provided a list below), and others that don't. Arborists recommend planing a diversity of trees in your yard to add interest and variety, and also to make our forests less susceptible to widespread damage from pests.
When too many of the same type of tree are planted together, it's a set-up for problems with diseases and insects such as Emerald Ash Borer. Rule of thumb is to plant no more than 10% of trees in the same variety. That way, if one variety succumbs to pests or disease, there will still be others that reach maturity to provide shade and clean the air.
Benefits of planting trees:
- Trees support native birds and other wildlife
- A mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year and release beneficial oxygen in exchange
- Homes with healthy trees sell for more, on average
- Trees and shrubs planted for windbreaks can cut fuel consumption by an average of 40% according to the US Department of Energy
Tree Recommendations for our unique area (considered deer resistant and grow well in our local conditions):
- Austrian Pine
- Pinon Pine
- Buffalo Silverleaf
- Forsythia Spring Glory
- Shademaster Honey Locust
- Black Locust
- Toba and Russian Hawthorne
- Crimson Cloud Hawthorne
- Bosnian Pine - Mint Truffle
- Serviceberry Rainbow Pillar
- Chokecherry Sucker Punch (red leaves)
- Blue Spruce
- Spring Snow Crabapple
- Red Oak (slow growing but strong)
CSU Extension Tree Recommendations
IMPORTANT! Watering Instructions are in the downloadable file below. Includes how often to water, how much to water, and commonly asked questions. Resource credit: Front Range Landscape.
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