Buckeyes Bonking and Hawthorns Hitting the Wall
"Bonks," and “hitting the wall,” 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...
View ArticleSpring is for Spraying
Traditionally, the day after New Year’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...
View ArticleOrganic Mulch: Re-using Trees to Beautify Colorado Outdoor Spaces
Swingle's Organic Mulchis produced and distributed by our Denver office. As a progressive full-service tree and shrub care company we are dedicated to the good health and preservation of Colorado’s trees
View ArticleColorado Sprinkler System Freeze Prevention
Identifying your backflow preventor There are various types of backflow preventors on the market today, but the most common ones are:AVB – Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker
View ArticleColorado Tree Care: What Stories are Your Evergreen Trees Telling?
Signs from the Pines Within the past 30 to 45 days, many Colorado spruce and pines have taken on a poor crown appearance. What we see unfolding in the evergreen trees now could be a prelude to the...
View ArticleThe Green or Not So Green Grass of Home
Last month, lawns along the front-range began their annual ritual of awakening from winter dormancy. Some lawns are springing to life as normal, while some are not. What happened? Only two winters...
View ArticleMountain Pine Beetle Epidemic
Beetles flying east, A Crisis in North America and our own back yards Most of us have seen the brown mountainsides on the I-70 corridor or have read news accounts about the current mountain pine beetle
View ArticleNeighborhood Landscape - Beauty or Bane of the Block
No question, this year has brought a preponderance of dead and dying tree branches. Much of the blame may be placed on the dry winter devoid of snowfall. Surface roots desiccated and died. These roots...
View ArticleDon't Touch That Dial - Mountain Pine Beetles Coming to Pine Near You
As we reported earlier this summer, mountain pine beetle is firmly entrenched along the Colorado Front Range. Evidence of mountain pine beetle can be found in many Colorado communities and recently in...
View ArticleDig Into Fall
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...
View ArticleHow to Care for Your New Trees Over Winter
Winter isn’t quite here yet, but the snow sure is. Remember last year? At the close of November 2010, just 1.5 inches of snow was recorded in Denver. Twice this season, we have faithfully shaken the...
View ArticleVoles and Your Landscape
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. We have seen an increase in vole activity in...
View ArticlePest Predictions for 2012
The Iowa caucuses are behind us and political prognosticators in full glory. Not to be left out, we have our own 2012 predictions. Our predictions are on the 2012
View ArticleRotate Your Stock: Considering What Trees to Plant
Before automation, this message was a familiar sight in hardware and grocery stores where goods had a shelf life. The idea was the older items should be moved to the front of the shelf for quicker...
View ArticlePeril on Spruce Street
Since 1990, the spruce ips beetle has been responsible for the loss of thousands of spruce in eastern Colorado landscapes. While all blue and Engelmann spruces are susceptible to ips, the trees...
View ArticleUnruly Roots in the Lawn
The most common question about roots is, “What can I do about surface roots in the yard?” Roots will surface for a variety of reasons. Some trees such as cottonwoods are just notorious for surface...
View ArticleAiling Aspen At Your Abode?
Spring of 2012 is setting up to be one of the warmest on record. The warm weather has jump started our growing season. This year, our season is a good two to four weeks ahead of schedule. With the...
View ArticleSuccessful Colorado Lawn Maintenance in a Dry Year
As of mid-May, Colorado’s average snowpack (snow water equivalent) is a gloomy 9 percent of average. While water conservation is top of mind and frequently in the news, there are many drought tolerant...
View Article40 Years of Care - Elm Preservation Update from Swingle
The team at Swingle Lawn, Tree and Landscape Care have been active participants in elm tree preservation in Colorado for 40 years. Our state’s experience with American elms is unique to other parts of...
View ArticleGet a Better Understanding of What Your Colorado Landscape Needs to Thrive
Maslow’s Hierarchy describes human needs in order of importance required for us to realize our full potential. The plant kingdom also has basic needs. When we see yellow or sickly looking plants, we...
View ArticleWhere and How to Dispose of Tree Limbs Properly
Every month, more than ten thousand Americans search Google for terms related to tree limb and wood removal, disposal and recycling. The past few years’ extreme variants in Colorado temperatures and...
View ArticleYellowing Leaves on Plants: Causes and Remedies
Sickly looking or yellow outdoor plants are a common ailment along Colorado’s Front Range. Bedding plants, turf, shrubs, and trees are affected by chlorosis (yellow foliage). Chlorosis is the...
View Article3 Easy Ways to Protect Your Family From West Nile Virus
As most people are aware, West Nile virus is on the rise across Colorado and the rest of the nation. West Nile Virus is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Even during a drought like the one we are...
View ArticleHot Temps, Low Moisture Make Immediate Tree Root Watering Essential on...
Many Colorado landscapes are littered with scorched leaves. Some trees are already looking like fall. This is really no surprise when you think about the summer we just endured. Eighteen days with...
View ArticlePine Wilt Disease: A Rising Threat to Colorado Landscapes
2012 will be remembered in Colorado for record heat and drought. You may have seen pine trees die in your neighborhood and attributed it to the weather or poor growing conditions. Certainly the...
View ArticleIndian Summer Chores Include Lawn and Landscape Care
November marks the close on one of Colorado’s shortest, yet most enjoyable seasons – Indian summer. Indian summer is defined by the US National Weather Service as sunny and clear weather with daytime...
View ArticleWinter Lawn and Tree Care: Snow on the Roof, a Fire in the Furnace
Just because there’s snow on the roof doesn’t mean there’s not a fire in the furnace. How this might apply to your Colorado landscape? In the quietness of a winter’s day, what is going on inside your...
View ArticleColorado Landscape Predictions for 2013: Tree Pests and the Horticultural Cliff
What’s in store for your Colorado landscape? The answer to this question is somewhat predicated on how the remainder of the Winter and early Spring play out. Cool and wet Springs bring more foliage...
View ArticleColorado Drought 2013: 5 Actions to Take Now to Protect Your Landscape
Colorado landscapes are enduring another drought. Just how serious is this one?In order of intensity, the United States Drought Monitor applies the following descriptors to drought conditions:•...
View ArticleColorado Drought 2013: Water Restrictions Coming – Do Touch That Dial.
Green landscapes are inviting – a place you want to live, visit and do business. In Colorado our lawns and landscapes are a source of pride. Single family homes, multi-family complexes, office parks...
View ArticleHow Commercial Landscaping Can Affect Your Finances
This may sound like a strange combination but when you give it some thought your finance balance sheet and your landscape have a lot in common. Many property managers and building owners think of their...
View ArticleTree Pruning: Denver & Colorado Trees Need Spring Cleaning Too!
Spring Cleaning: Denver and Colorado Tree PruningDo you have your spring cleaning chores lined up? These are days when Denver and Colorado residents clean the garage, get unused clothes out of closets...
View ArticleLooking for Answers About Water Restrictions? 7 Things You Need to Know
If you have any questions or concerns as we embark on the season, please call us. Remember, it's wise and cost-effective to be proactive, rath
View ArticleApril Freezes Bring May Miseries to Colorado
Spring freezes are a common occurrence in these parts, but Denver’s low temperature of six degrees on April 10 was a record breaker.The sudden temperature drop and prolonged cold caused plenty of plant...
View ArticleLandscape Freeze Injury and What You Can Do
Colorado’s front-range landscapes are severely damaged as a result of April cold.Some damage is just becoming apparent. Effects may last through the 2013 growing season.
View ArticleIs Your Lawn Brown? This Could Be the Cause
The culprit is a fungal disease known as Ascochyta leaf spot. Conditions that favor Ascochyta are not well understood, but usually occur just after unseasonably warm weather preceded by cool and wet...
View Article2013 Elm Preservation Newsletter - 41st Year
Forty-one years ago, Swingle instituted this communication on a half sheet of paper providing personalized information on American elms and Dutch elm disease. With the onset of Dutch elm disease, our...
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What Are Your Local Watering Rules & Regulations? Find Out Here
Watering your lawn, trees, and shrubs is vital to keeping them healthy and beautiful. This is why it is so important you stay informed of your local Colorado watering rules,
View ArticleThe Economics of Your Colorado Landscape
We’ve all seen it. A store past by many times and it never seemed to have much business. You marveled how it stayed open, till one day you see the liquidation sign in the window or simply the doors...
View ArticleHelping your landscape weather nature
When recommending winter watering, pruning, and fertilization sometimes we hear: The plants are dormant, why do they need care now?
View ArticleEmerald Ash Borer Approaching Colorado- Prepare!
Due to recent media coverage, there is an increased awareness in Colorado about the threat of Emerald Ash Borer. First and foremost, don't panic - as far as we know EAB has yet to reach our state....
View ArticlePine and Spruce Trees in Colorado Dropping Needles This Fall
Have you noticed needles dropping from your pine or spruce tree. This time of year it's usually attributed to something called needle drop. Beginning in late summer and into fall, older needles on the...
View ArticleEmerald Ash Borer Found in Colorado - How to Treat Your Ash Tree
Mountain Pine Beetle is responsible for devastating much of our Colorado mountain forests. Experts believe
View ArticleSwingle Anticipates Dept of Ag to Quarantine Boulder for Emerald Ash Borer
A lot hasn’t been heard of the September discovery of emerald ash borer in Boulder, but plenty is happening, as it should. We are anticipating the Colorado Department of Agriculture to announce a quara
View ArticleTree and Home Improvement Projects for Your Colorado Landscape
Fall weather means we are spending more time indoors. With family and friends enjoying indoor activities, maybe you are yearning for additional interior space. Perhaps you are considering some...
View ArticleEmerald Ash Borer Continues to Spread as a 3rd Infestation is Found in...
Emerald ash borer is known to use our highways as a means to traverse and infest new areas. The pest likes to hitch-hike on vehicles and in transported firewood. Denver Forestry staff sent to assist...
View ArticleWhat Pests will Affect Colorado Landscapes This Year- Swingle's 2014 Pest...
By Swingle Plant Pathologist Steve Geist: Here are a few insects and diseases making news in Colorado landscapes... Emerald ash borer: Likely, you have heard about emerald ash borer being
View ArticleSprinkler Systems – What You Need to Know
In the middle of winter why should we give our sprinkler system a thought? Months will elapse before the system is brought back to life. Landscaping ideas are often “hatched” during the winter...
View ArticleFertile Soil is the Key to Healthy Growth
Gardeners in Colorado are a patient and persistent lot. We must be, growing plants in Colorado can be tedious battling weather and soils difficult to work. This spring, our landscapes will come...
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