Pests & Insects Archives - LAM Tree Service

Signs of spruce budworm infestation on a tree in Evergreen, Colorado.

How to Identify & Get Rid of Spruce Budworms

Spruce budworms can cause serious damage. Identify and manage them early to save your trees & avoid further infestation. Here’s how you can get rid of them.

squirrel on a snow-covered tree near evergreen colorado

How to Prevent Winter Rodent Damage to Your Trees

Voles, gophers, rabbits, and squirrels can damage or even kill trees during the winter. See our recommendations for how to keep your trees safe from rodent damage this winter.

Aspen Trees: Common Problems & What To Do

Although Colorado’s aspen trees are beautiful, they’re also prone to a host of aspen tree problems. Thankfully, most are preventable or treatable – especially if you address the #1 issue nearly all aspens in our area face.

How Spring Weather Affects Treatment Timing For Weeds, Insect Pests & Tree Diseases

Have you ever wondered why weeds, bugs, and plant diseases seem to appear earlier some years but much later other years? Unlike holidays and birthdays, the emergence of weeds and insect populations isn’t determined by a date on your calendar. Instead, timing is based on a combination of factors, with spring weather conditions being the most important.

Aspens Turning Orange? It’s Cytospora Canker

Cytospora canker causes dead or dying areas on tree bark. In aspens, this area turns orange. The cankers kill tree branches (you’ll often see this in spruce) and, in severe cases, will kill the whole tree. There’s no cure so prevention is critical.

Spider Mites Suck Plants Dry

Spider mites are common and destructive pests in Colorado yards, including on trees of all kinds. Learn how to identify these tiny arachnids and control them before they kill your plants.

Scale Insects: Oystershell, Pine Needle & Striped Pine Scale

Scale insects can be extremely damaging to trees and shrubs in the Evergreen, CO region, causing leaf/needle discoloration, defoliation, stunted growth, limb dieback, vulnerability to other pests and diseases, and even plant death. Here’s how to identify scale insects, as well as treatment options and timing.

How to Prevent Insect & Disease Problems on Trees & Shrubs

Getting an early start on dealing with insect and disease issues can make all the difference between a beautiful, healthy landscape and one that’s plagued by problems all season. By focusing on prevention, rather than reacting to disease and pest infestation when it happens, you save money that may be spent on unnecessary pesticides and get to enjoy a more attractive environment.

Aphids Cause Sticky Leaves & Black Patches

Aphids are small insects that suck the sap from plant leaves, twigs and stems. They excrete a sticky substance called honeydew (often mistaken for sap “bleeding” from the tree) that can develop sooty mold (a black coating on leaves and surfaces). Treatment and prevention are possible. Read more for the details.

Ips Beetle – A Killer of Pine and Spruce Trees

Ips beetles are a frequent problem in Colorado, including here in the Denver foothills where they can kill whole forests in a single season. They’re especially problematic during periods of prolonged drought.