What to Do With Those Big Old Trees

If your favorite forest has become the "old folks home" of aged spruce and pine trees, then the beetles are on the way to clear them out. Mother nature wants a balanced ecosystem out there, and when it gets out of balance like it is now in some places, something will happen to fix that. The beetles don't go after the younger trees. Just the big old trees. If you have a few high value ornamental trees on your property it is possible to have them sprayed by a licensed commercial applicator with the proper equipment to protect them. But if you have a large acreage of trees, there really is not much economically that you can  do. The trees that have commercial value can be logged and used for wood products if they are processed soon after they are beetle killed. The best protection for your woodlands going forward is to keep a diverse age group and type of trees growing.

The Colorado State Forest Service has an array of programs and trained in house forestry professionals to help private land owners manage their timbered acreage. They also have lots of different cost share and grant programs to help land owners with fire mitigation projects. They will come out to your property and evaluate your individual situation for a small fee, and then will develop a management plan to achieve the desired results. Strategic clearing and fuel breaks can make a big difference if a fire should ever break out in your area. They have recommendations for "defensible" space around your homes, and what would need to be done to give your house a chance of survival in the event of a wildfire.

Don't wait until the slurry plane is buzzing  your house, and the firefighters are ringing your door bell. Give the State Forest Service a call.  They have the trained professionals and the cost share money to help you!

Contact info for Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests: