Tree Care in Ouray, CO

If you're looking at the trees around your Ouray home, you're likely seeing the legacy of planting decisions made when these houses were built. In the 1970s, builders often chose fast-growing species like Siberian elm or green ash for quick shade. These trees are now reaching maturity, and their weaknesses are showing. Siberian elm has brittle wood that fails in our wind events, and green ash is now threatened by emerald ash borer. The real issue is that many were planted too close to foundations and driveways, where their root systems are now causing conflicts. Your mature blue spruce or aspen grove adds tremendous value, but it needs a different care approach than your lawn. The biggest mistake I see is using a lawn sprinkler schedule for trees. Daily, shallow watering encourages weak roots. In our dry climate, trees need deep, infrequent soaks to survive drought and develop strong anchors.