Thu, 10 May 2012 0:00:00http://www.myswingle.com/blogen http://www.myswingle.com/blog/ailing-aspen-at-your-abode http://www.myswingle.com/blog/ailing-aspen-at-your-abode/comments 2012-05-07T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/ailing-aspen-at-your-abode <p>Spring of 2012 is setting up to be one of the warmest on record.&nbsp; The warm weather has jump started our growing season.&nbsp; This year, our season is a good two to four weeks ahead of schedule.&nbsp; With the newness of spring, trees with dead branches stick out like a sore thumb.&nbsp; Man http://www.myswingle.com/blog/unruly-roots-in-the-lawn http://www.myswingle.com/blog/unruly-roots-in-the-lawn/comments 2012-04-05T08:30:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/unruly-roots-in-the-lawn <p>The most common question about roots is, &ldquo;What can I do about surface roots in the yard?&rdquo;&nbsp; Roots will surface for a variety of reasons. Some trees such as cottonwoods are just notorious for surface roots.&nbsp; Other trees will typically surface root due to a hard or compacted la http://www.myswingle.com/blog/peril-on-spruce-street http://www.myswingle.com/blog/peril-on-spruce-street/comments 2012-03-09T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/peril-on-spruce-street <p>Since 1990, the <a href="http://www.myswingle.com/pine-beetle-control">spruce ips beetle</a> has been responsible for the loss of thousands of spruce in eastern Colorado landscapes.&nbsp; <br /> While all blue and Engelmann spruces are susceptible to ips, the trees primarily at risk are the larg http://www.myswingle.com/blog/rotate-your-stock-considering-what-trees-to-plant http://www.myswingle.com/blog/rotate-your-stock-considering-what-trees-to-plant/comments 2012-02-06T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/rotate-your-stock-considering-what-trees-to-plant <p>Before automation, this message was a familiar sight in hardware and grocery stores where goods had a shelf life.&nbsp; The idea was the older items should be moved to the front of the shelf for quicker sale. In today&rsquo;s retail stores, older or seasonal goods are displayed with clearance sig http://www.myswingle.com/blog/pest-predictions-for-2012 http://www.myswingle.com/blog/pest-predictions-for-2012/comments 2012-01-09T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/pest-predictions-for-2012 <p>The Iowa caucuses are behind us and political prognosticators in full glory.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>Not to be left out, we have our own 2012 predictions.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>Our predictions are on the 2012 <a href="http://www.myswingle.com/residential- http://www.myswingle.com/blog/voles-and-your-landscape http://www.myswingle.com/blog/voles-and-your-landscape/comments 2011-12-06T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/voles-and-your-landscape <p><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Making pest predictions for the next growing season can be a gamble, but one prediction that now is almost a sure thing is voles will make an appearance.<span style="mso-spaceru http://www.myswingle.com/blog/how-to-care-for-your-new-trees-over-winter http://www.myswingle.com/blog/how-to-care-for-your-new-trees-over-winter/comments 2011-11-03T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/how-to-care-for-your-new-trees-over-winter <p>Winter isn&rsquo;t quite here yet, but the snow sure is. Remember last year?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>At the close of November 2010, just 1.5 inches of snow was recorded in Denver.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>Twice this season, we have faithfully shaken the heav http://www.myswingle.com/blog/dig-into-fall http://www.myswingle.com/blog/dig-into-fall/comments 2011-10-03T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/dig-into-fall <p>Fall planting is a favorite time of the year for those who enjoy their outdoor spaces. Get a jump on spring by planting bulbs, perennials, shrubs and trees yet this fall. Denver Botanic Gardens hosts a spring and fall Plant and Bulb sale; it&rsquo;s a great place to pick some up if you need any http://www.myswingle.com/blog/don-t-touch-that-dial-mountain-pine-beetles-coming-to-pine-near-you http://www.myswingle.com/blog/don-t-touch-that-dial-mountain-pine-beetles-coming-to-pine-near-you/comments 2011-08-04T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/don-t-touch-that-dial-mountain-pine-beetles-coming-to-pine-near-you <p>As we reported earlier this summer, <a href="http://www.myswingle.com/pine-beetle-control">mountain pine beetle</a> is firmly entrenched along the Colorado Front Range.&nbsp; Evidence of mountain pine beetle can be found in many Colorado communities and recently in the Denver metropolitan area.&n http://www.myswingle.com/blog/neighborhood-landscape-beauty-or-bane-of-the-block http://www.myswingle.com/blog/neighborhood-landscape-beauty-or-bane-of-the-block/comments 2011-07-11T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/neighborhood-landscape-beauty-or-bane-of-the-block <p><strong><big>No question, this year has brought a preponderance of dead and dying tree branches. </big></strong></p> <ol> <li>Much of the blame may be placed on the dry winter devoid of snowfall. Surface roots desiccated and died. These roots are responsible for water and nutrient uptake http://www.myswingle.com/blog/mountain-pine-beetle-epidemic http://www.myswingle.com/blog/mountain-pine-beetle-epidemic/comments 2011-06-08T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/mountain-pine-beetle-epidemic <p><strong><big>Beetles flying east, A Crisis in North America and our own back yards </big></strong></p> <p>Most of us have seen the brown mountainsides on the I-70 corridor or have read news accounts about the current <a href="http://www.myswingle.com/pine-beetle-control">mountain pine beetle</a> http://www.myswingle.com/blog/the-green-or-not-so-green-grass-of-home http://www.myswingle.com/blog/the-green-or-not-so-green-grass-of-home/comments 2011-04-26T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/the-green-or-not-so-green-grass-of-home <p>Last month, lawns along the front-range began their annual ritual of awakening from winter dormancy.&nbsp; Some lawns are springing to life as normal, while some are not.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>What happened?</strong><br /> Only two winters since 1882 have seen less snowfall than this 2010-2011 s http://www.myswingle.com/blog/colorado-tree-care-what-stories-are-your-evergreen-trees-telling http://www.myswingle.com/blog/colorado-tree-care-what-stories-are-your-evergreen-trees-telling/comments 2011-04-12T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/colorado-tree-care-what-stories-are-your-evergreen-trees-telling <p><strong>Signs from the Pines</strong><br /> Within the past 30 to 45 days, many Colorado spruce and pines have taken on a poor crown appearance.&nbsp; What we see unfolding in the evergreen trees now could be a prelude to the 2011 growing season.&nbsp; Since the <a href="/pine-beetle-control">Mo http://www.myswingle.com/blog/colorado-sprinkler-system-freeze-prevention http://www.myswingle.com/blog/colorado-sprinkler-system-freeze-prevention/comments 2011-03-18T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/colorado-sprinkler-system-freeze-prevention <p><strong>Identifying your backflow preventor</strong><br /> There are various types of backflow preventors on the market today, but the most common ones are:</p> <ul> <li><span class="style5">AVB &ndash; Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker</span></li> <li><span class="style http://www.myswingle.com/blog/decorative-colorado-organic-mulch http://www.myswingle.com/blog/decorative-colorado-organic-mulch/comments 2011-03-18T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/decorative-colorado-organic-mulch <table width="730" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="50%" valign="top" class="ContentArea"> <table cellspacing="4" cellpadding="4" border="0" style="width: 656px; height: 482px;"> <tbody> http://www.myswingle.com/blog/organic-mulch-re-using-trees-to-beautify-colorado-outdoor-spaces http://www.myswingle.com/blog/organic-mulch-re-using-trees-to-beautify-colorado-outdoor-spaces/comments 2011-03-18T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/organic-mulch-re-using-trees-to-beautify-colorado-outdoor-spaces <p><strong>Swingle's Organic Mulch</strong></p> <p>is produced and distributed by our Denver office. As a progressive <a href="http://www.myswingle.com/tree-service-denver">full-service tree and shrub care</a> company we are dedicated to the good health and preservation of Colorado&rsquo;s trees http://www.myswingle.com/blog/spring-is-for-spraying http://www.myswingle.com/blog/spring-is-for-spraying/comments 2011-02-03T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/spring-is-for-spraying <p>Traditionally, the day after New Year&rsquo;s meant our mailboxes were stuffed with colorful seed and plant catalogs, along with the much awaited catalogs and tax forms. While the IRS has ceased mailing their tax booklets, the catalogs still continue to arrive. Catalogs are a reminder that spring http://www.myswingle.com/blog/buckeyes-bonking-and-hawthorns-hitting-the-wall http://www.myswingle.com/blog/buckeyes-bonking-and-hawthorns-hitting-the-wall/comments 2011-01-03T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/buckeyes-bonking-and-hawthorns-hitting-the-wall <p>&quot;Bonks,&quot; and &ldquo;hitting the wall,&rdquo; are jargon terms used by athletes. From lack of water or nutrition, activity suddenly becomes more difficult. Ordinarily simple movements seem to require more energy than normal.</p> <p>Medical experts tell us we need to drink water several http://www.myswingle.com/blog/-tis-the-season-for-predictions http://www.myswingle.com/blog/-tis-the-season-for-predictions/comments 2010-12-03T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/-tis-the-season-for-predictions <p>Pundit predictions will soon be in the air. World issues, politics, and economics are favorite themes. What about your landscape? These six pests bear watching.</p> <p><strong>Insects</strong> - European elm flea weevils, tiny but mighty at just 2 mm in length, devour elm leaves before your eyes http://www.myswingle.com/blog/winter-pruning http://www.myswingle.com/blog/winter-pruning/comments 2010-11-03T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/winter-pruning <p>Colorado residents cannot help but enjoy our pleasant fall weather and autumn colors. While the mild temperatures have been abundant, the results in the rain bucket have been dismal. Since August 8th through the end of October, Denver has only recorded six tenths of an inch of precipitation.<br / http://www.myswingle.com/blog/the-landscape-down-under http://www.myswingle.com/blog/the-landscape-down-under/comments 2010-10-01T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/the-landscape-down-under <p>One cannot help but notice what <a href="http://www.myswingle.com/">Colorado landscapes</a> look like this fall.&nbsp; Low relative humidity, wind, high temperatures, and the lack of precipitation have left landscapes scorched.&nbsp; On the plus side, mountain aspen viewing has been spectacular.& http://www.myswingle.com/blog/welcome-to-deadwood-colorado http://www.myswingle.com/blog/welcome-to-deadwood-colorado/comments 2010-09-01T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/welcome-to-deadwood-colorado <p>A common sight this September are trees with brown leaves, early fall color, and dead branches.&nbsp; What is causing these maladies?&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Record cold October 2009<br /> </strong>Many trees and shrubs were not ready for the second coldest October on record.&nbsp; In Denver, reco http://www.myswingle.com/blog/vigilance-the-key-to-scales-lurking-in-your-landscape http://www.myswingle.com/blog/vigilance-the-key-to-scales-lurking-in-your-landscape/comments 2010-08-01T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/vigilance-the-key-to-scales-lurking-in-your-landscape <p>Scales are inconspicuous insects feeding on your trees and shrubs without notice until twigs and branches start dying.&nbsp; Scales are sap sucking insects along with aphids, whiteflies, psyllids, adelgids, and mealybugs.&nbsp; These insects all feed by sucking sap from the host plant.&nbsp; Dama http://www.myswingle.com/blog/modern-methods-for-systemic-insecticides http://www.myswingle.com/blog/modern-methods-for-systemic-insecticides/comments 2010-07-01T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/modern-methods-for-systemic-insecticides <p>In an era gone by, townspeople welcomed mist blowers trolling neighborhood streets misting trees.&nbsp; Folks today are looking for <a href="http://www.myswingle.com/residential-pest-insect-control">insect control</a> products and methods that are less environmentally intrusive.&nbsp;</p> <p>In http://www.myswingle.com/blog/trees-planted-with-human-hands http://www.myswingle.com/blog/trees-planted-with-human-hands/comments 2010-06-01T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/trees-planted-with-human-hands <p>Thirty-four million years ago, Colorado consisted of a dense forest.&nbsp; The giant sequoias only exist in fossilized records.&nbsp; Today, Colorado&rsquo;s front-range is a short-grass prairie.&nbsp; Human hands have planted and created nearly every landscape.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Water is the m http://www.myswingle.com/blog/cool-tips-for-cool-season-turfgrasses http://www.myswingle.com/blog/cool-tips-for-cool-season-turfgrasses/comments 2010-05-01T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/cool-tips-for-cool-season-turfgrasses <p>Most of our lawns are comprised of Kentucky bluegrass or a mix of grasses with bluegrass being predominant.&nbsp; Bluegrass is also called a cool season turf.&nbsp; Buffalo-grass would be an example of a warm season grass.&nbsp;</p> <p>What does this mean?&nbsp; This means that our lawns green u http://www.myswingle.com/blog/spring-is-for-weed-control http://www.myswingle.com/blog/spring-is-for-weed-control/comments 2010-04-01T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/spring-is-for-weed-control <p>April showers bring May flowers.&nbsp; Some of those &ldquo;flowers&rdquo; include dandelions.&nbsp; Homeowners will spring into action with a dizzying array of herbicides &ndash; weed killers.&nbsp; Herbicides are meant to kill plants, insecticides kill insects, and fungicides prevent fungi from http://www.myswingle.com/blog/it-s-a-tree-s-life http://www.myswingle.com/blog/it-s-a-tree-s-life/comments 2010-03-01T00:00:00-04:00 Expert Articles http://www.myswingle.com/blog/it-s-a-tree-s-life <p>Today&rsquo;s human life expectancy is 77.5 years. How long do trees live?&nbsp; In a typical downtown urban location, trees growing in a sidewalk planter box live an average of 15 years.&nbsp; In a well cared for residential landscape, trees will live over 100 years.&nbsp;</p> <p>So what is the