By Curtis Swift, Colorado State University Extension

Once again, the Colorado State University Extension is offering seedling trees and shrubs in cooperation with the Colorado State University Forest Service at a nominal charge for conservation purposes. These seedlings need to be ordered now for pick-up at the end of April. Trees will be delivered from the CSU Forestry nursery in Fort Collins to Grand Junction, Delta and Montrose.

To qualify for the program, you must own two or more acres of land and use the seedlings for conservation purposes such as windbreaks, wildlife areas, reforestation, erosion control and living snow fences. Five thousand Coloradans purchase seedlings through this program each year including several hundred Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Ouray County residents. Even homeowner associations and area communities have purchased these seedlings for the development of windbreaks and small forests in their open space.  

The trees and shrubs offered through this program come in different sizes and lots of 25-30 each. Some sizes and species are in limited supply. Over 40 different species are available, from Colorado blue spruce to lilac to native plum.

Our team will provide you the guidance you need to keep your seedlings in a healthy condition until planted. Order forms are available at the Mesa, Delta and Montrose Extension offices or can be obtained through the mail by calling Ginny Price in our Montrose office at 249-3935. Some trees sell out early, so put your order in as soon as possible.

All of the seedlings offered through this program are insect, mite and disease-free, but the trees and shrubs you already have in your yard and gardens may not be as lucky. While insects seldom attack trees at this time of year, some of your trees and shrubs may already be infested with these pests. As soon as it starts to warm up, even more insects and mites will begin feeding on plants making treatments necessary. Making treatments at this time of year may not be a wise idea.

A client named Claudia reached me the other day about winter treatments to control tent caterpillars. These are the caterpillars that show up in apple, aspen, cottonwood and many other ornamental trees when the leaves start to expand in the spring. Claudia’s question had to do with applying an insecticide around the base of the tree this winter to control this insect. The eggs of this insect were laid last summer on the twigs in the top of the host tree, so treating the ground most likely won’t work. One product that would work at this time of year is dormant oil, as this will suffocate the eggs. Dormant oils, however, darken the buds causing them to accumulate heat. If applied before buds start to open in the spring, the accumulated heat may cause the buds to open too early resulting in freeze damage and bud death. Claudia’s best bet is to apply one of the aizawai or kurstaki strains of Bt insecticides as soon as she notices the caterpillars feeding in her trees. If she can’t reach the top of her trees with her sprayer, a commercial pesticide applicator would need to make this application. Bt is a bacteria that kills very specific types of insects. Aizawai and kurstaki Bt kill lepidoptera caterpillars while other Bt strains are effective on other insect types.

If you have questions regarding protecting your trees, shrubs and other landscape plants from pests, give us a call at 244-1836. Making the wrong treatment or at the wrong time can cause you and your plants irreparable damage, and waste your time and money.