One of the great things about our neighborhood is our canopy of Ponderosa Pine trees. Unfortunately, these beautiful trees are susceptible to attack by mountain pine beetles. Spring is the best time of year to check your trees for two tell-tale signs of beetles: “frass” (sawdust in crevices or near the base of the tree) and “pitch tubes” (large globules of pinkish or reddish sap where the tree is trying to defend itself).

For example, here’s a pitch tube that I discovered on one of our trees the other day…

Sadly we’ll have to cut this tree down and then chip or remove the wood so that the beetles don’t spread to nearby trees, which they otherwise would do during their “flight season” in late summer.

For more information about mountain pine beetles, read this post from the Colorado State Forest Service. You can also call the Franktown extension office at 303-660-9625 and arrange for someone to check the trees on your property and advise you about tree care, all for a very modest fee.

– Peter Saint-Andre