What’s New Fall 2024

Seasonal Needle Shedding in Conifers: A Natural Process Every fall, Earth-Wise, receives numerous calls from concerned customers who notice their pine, spruce, and fir trees displaying brown or yellowing needles. While this may seem alarming, it’s usually part of a normal, healthy process. Conifer trees—unlike deciduous trees that shed all their leaves at once—retain their […]
What’s New Spring 2024

Think Spring! Nature’s Renewal is Underway One of the surest signs that spring has officially arrived is seeing the return of our feathered friends! We’re excited to share that Earth-Wise has once again completed the annual entanglement hazard cleanup at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School’s osprey nesting project, ensuring a safe environment for these magnificent […]
What’s New – Winter 2023/2024

As Earth-Wise celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2024, we’d like to take a moment for reflection. What started in a one-room office in downtown Glenwood with one truck and a trailer has certainly grown since then! We’ve seen a lot of changes in the mountain communities that we serve and in the industry as a […]
What’s New – Spring/Summer 2023 Important Update – Emerald Ash Borer is Here

Emerald ash borer has been positively identified in Carbondale, Colorado. This exotic pest has killed over 100 million ash trees in the United States and was first discovered in the Front Range of Colorado in 2013. Since that time, Emerald ash borer has been found in numerous northern Front Range communities. While the Rocky Mountains […]
What’s New – Spring 2022 ~ Beetle Issues Continue in Colorado

Unfortunately, we don’t have much good news to report regarding the state of Colorado’s forests. The Colorado State Forest Service’s annual Aerial Detection Survey found widespread tree mortality caused by various beetle species. Years of drought and warmer temperatures are the primary driving forces behind this beetle outbreak. Locally, spruce beetle, Douglas fir beetle, western […]
What’s New – Fall 2022

Fall Needle Shedding on Conifers Every fall, Earth-Wise receives phone calls from customers concerned about the browning needles on their pine, spruce and fir trees. Not to worry, this is a normal process. Depending on species, location and overall health of the tree, conifers typically hold on to needles for 3 – 7 years. Older […]
What’s New – Fall 2019

Seeing Spots? If you’ve noticed unusual blemishes on the leaves of your aspen trees, you’re not alone. This year, Marssonina blight—a common fungal disease—has been particularly severe, thanks to the wet conditions we experienced in May and June. The disease manifests as dark brown to black spots, often ringed with a yellow halo, marring the […]
What’s New – Spring 2018

Your Trees are Thirsty! As spring approaches, trees will start to come out of dormancy, absorbing water and soil nutrients in preparation for bud break. However, due to the current drought conditions, most trees lack adequate soil moisture. Last fall was exceptionally dry and current snowpack levels are well below normal. According to NOAA, Garfield, […]
What’s New – Spring 2017

Spruce Beetle: A Rising Concern in Colorado’s Forests Spruce beetle, a bark beetle native to Colorado’s forests, is on the rise. In 2016, about 350,000 acres had an active infestation with 136,000 acres newly impacted. This made spruce beetle the most widespread and destructive forest pest in the state. Here’s what you need to know […]
What’s New – Fall 2016

My Trees Are Browning! Why Are My Pine Needles Turning Brown? Every autumn, Earth-Wise receives calls from concerned homeowners who notice the needles on their pine, spruce, and fir trees turning brown. But before you worry, rest assured—this is a completely natural process! Conifers don’t hold onto their needles indefinitely. Depending on the species, growing […]