As I mentioned in my previous blog post, healthy trees are an important determining factor when establishing value in Estes Park real estate and the Mountain Pine Beetle is a serious threat to trees in Estes Park.
If you have already taken a look at your trees and determined that your trees are still healthy and beetle free, it is wise to do everything you can to prevent the Mountain Pine Beetle from infesting your trees. To prevent the Mountain Pine Beetle from killing your trees, you will need to decide which of the following options to take depending on how many trees you have, how large your property is, and what your budget is.
Spraying with Carbaryl
Spraying is the most effective treatment you can employ to prevent the Mountain Pine Beetle. The chemical Carbaryl is a powerful insecticide that will kill many insects including the primary target: the Mountain Pine Beetle.
There are many companies that will do the spraying for you but you need to be sure they are spraying at least 30 feet or to where the tree tapers down to 6 inches in diameter. Also be sure there is little to no wind and no heavy rain in the forecast.
Here are some local tree sprayers offering services to Estes Park residences as reported by the Estes Park Tree Board:
- Horizon Forestry, 577-6154, Boulder, CO
- Kincade Tree Company, 484-8733, Fort Collins, CO
- Preventive Tree Spraying, Inc., 970-468-1254, Dillon, CO
- Swingle Tree & Lawn Services, 663-2071, Fort Collins, CO
- Cate Brothers, Inc., 970-587-0719
Verbonen Pheremone Packets
When Beetles have successfully attacked a tree, they give off a chemical Pheremone warning other Mountain Pine Beetles that “this tree is full” and to go elsewhere. This pheremone is available in the form of little white pouches you can hang on your tree to prevent the Mountain Pine Beetles from attacking.
Personally, I used these pheremone Packets on my 1 acre parcel with 37 trees successfully in the summer of 2008. While I was successful at not having a single tree hit by the beetles, there were no other beetle infested trees in my immediate neighborhood either. Honestly, I couldn’t say for sure if it was the pheremone packets that reppelled the beetles or if the beetles just skipped over my little corner of Estes Park completly.
You can order these Pheremone Packets from:
- Blooms Nursury – 970-586-4461
- AgBio – 303-469-9221
Tree Thinning
The Mountain Pine Beetle is known to attack trees that are not growing vigorously due to old age, crowding, or other poor growing condtions. The theory behind “Thinning” your trees is to create an optimum environment where the trees can grow healthy enough to withstand a beetle attack. This third option is used typically with larger stands of dense trees.
Of course, the larger the acreage, the higher the cost. However, it may be worth it in the long run. Ideally thinning would take place several years prior to a heavy infestation to give remaining trees a chance to grow healthy.
So How Do I know Which Method to Choose?
Spraying trees is the most effective. The Pheremone Verbenone packets are more “green” and safer for the overall environment, but studies have not proven they are as effective at preventing the beetle from attacking. Thinning requires time for the trees to benefit from the extra space and less competition.
If you have 1 or two trees, I would recommend spraying the trees you couldn’t live without. If you have a large property, I would recommend spraying the trees that you would be devastated to lose and then use the pheremone packets for other higher value trees.
There are plenty of free services that will offer you an opinion on how to manage your trees. You can call the Estes Park Public Works Department and get a free inspection and consultation at 970-577-3588. You can also call the Larimer County Forester at 970-498-5765 or the Colorado State Forest Service at 970-491-8660.
