Maintenance Pruning
Even healthy trees like this giant Cottonwood on South Boulder Canyon Ditch in east Boulder need attention in a populated area. In this case there were some large broken and dead branches, and we lightened some heavy limbs which has some expected decay.
Sometimes you have to think like a squirrel to get out to where you need be to make the proper cut, like in this Longmont Box Elder.
This is how the first (above) South Boulder Canyon Ditch Cottonwood turned out.
This second SBC Ditch Cottonwood in east Boulder had a crown about the same size as the first, but due to a more upright growth pattern, it's limbs were far girthier.
Hazardous Trees
We expect to find decay in old trees. Even healthy ones. Many times we find hollow branches which can be reduced and saved. In Colorado, we often find this in Silver Maples, Box Elders, and Willows like the one in these next 3 pictures. This Willow had significant decay in almost every branch and union in the tree, which is fine in the woods or in your back 40 acres. But this Willow was over
This branch looked fine from the ground, which is the really scary thing about it. We were able to dramatically lighten branches like this so the owners could enjoy the tree a few more years while they got another tree started.
This decay was also not visible from the ground, which is why we recommend owners hire a qualified arborist to at least inspect mature trees every 3-5 years, depending on their condition, and assess their safety and provide options.
Tree Care Before and After
BEFORE: This healthy Green Ash in Old Town Longmont hadn't been trimmed in years. Fraxinus pennsylvanica is not native to Colorado and often get too heavy for its own good in a place that snow in April and September is not uncommon. Note the bent over limbs. This is called "creep" and is caused by repeated (snow or foliage) loading of the branches. Branches with creep are suseptable to failure
AFTER: Ash trees love water. They are often under watered in Colorado. Please water your Ash trees, especially after trimming. 10 gallons per inch of trunk caliper at breast height per month is the goal. Sprinklers won't come close to that. So drag out those hoses. EAB will kill your untreated Ash. See Treatment Page.