By Nancy Bauer
Pests in Pine Trees
Around the Denver Metro area, there is noticeable decline in a lot of the pine trees. Common symptoms are needles turning brown, poor bud development, and very thin canopies. There is nothing we can do to repair tissue that has already been damaged, but there are a few things we can do to help support tree health in times of stress.
It is important to support in the form of insect and disease prevention. as well as proper fertilization. If you suspect that your pine trees are in decline, have a certified arborist give you a professional opinion. Pests in the area include Ips Beetle, Mountain pine beetle, and an emerging insect called ‘Pine Bark Adelged’. Our HOA has taken a preventative approach and treated all our evergreen trees for these pests. We are going to proceed with a ‘treating and monitoring’ approach to these insects.
Miller Moths
The miller moth, which is a mature army cutworm, is a common pest in Colorado. These pests overwinter as larvae in the soil, primarily in alfalfa and wheat fields in eastern Colorado. In the spring, caterpillars emerge to feed and complete their life cycle. Moths emerge in May or June, with the majority emerging during a very short period. They migrate to higher elevations in the mountains to find food, crossing heavily populated areas of the state. If moths get to the mountains, they usually stay there until late summer or early fall when they return to the eastern portion of the state.
Experts believe that miller moths get distracted from their normal flight pattern by light at night in urban areas — porch lights, security flood lights and street lamps. Once inside a home, moths can be controlled with a fly swatter or vacuum cleaner. Keeping a light suspended over a bucket of water during the night also can trap moths. You may also wait for the insects to die on their own in a few days. Remember that these insects are a nuisance, but pose no danger to humans, plants, clothing and fabric.
Growing Warm Season Vegetables
Beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, okra, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin and squash are warm-season vegetables. Many of these crops grow under cool conditions but won’t produce fruit when night temperatures are in the 50-degree Fahrenheit range. They need warm temperatures to grow and mature. Once the fruit begins to form, it needs up to two months of frost-free weather. Warm-season vegetables are not suited for high elevation gardens. Keep plants watered but not too wet. Remove weeds quickly so they don’t compete with vegetable plants, and check plants regularly for insects and disease. Harvest warm-season vegetables as soon as they are ripe so the plants will produce more Crops. Cucumbers, especially, will stop growing fruit until the ripe cucumbers are removed.
Tree Circles
Tree circles are rings around the trunk of a tree devoid of vegetation. Sod and weeds can be dug out, being careful not to damage tree roots. This should be done three times a year as grass and weeds will grow into an area of dirt without treatment. The primary reason to do this is to protect the trees from mowers, trimmers.
Other reasons:
- It makes mowing easier
- Mowers do not have to slow down as they are away from the tree.
- The weed whip is eliminated from attacking the trees
- Grass growing against the trunk allows insects a place to hide. Tree circles eliminate this hazard.
- Once rings are established, wood mulch should be added to mitigate temperatures, conserve moisture, add nutrients to the root zone, and to improve the appearance of circles.