Since the spring/summer of 2021, Grand Junction Ash Trees have been threatened by the exceptional drought facing the area and increasing pressure from insects, including the Lilac Ash Borer and Ash Bark Beatle. The City acted quickly to spray and treat some of the more than 37,000 public trees and develop a program to partner with the community to treat trees on private property.
A Tree City since 1982, the City of Grand Junction is especially proud of its role in contributing to a healthy urban tree canopy. Given the significance of the pests’ attack on the tree canopy, a comprehensive program including public and private trees was required. These pests do significant damage to ash trees if a tree is infected and can result in the death of the tree if not treated.
The City also launched a new program in 2022, with funding of $85,000, to support the treatment of private ash trees, called Root for Our Trees. To complete treatment of private ash trees, the City has partnered with T4 Tree Service. T4 is a licensed tree service contractor who also has expertise in protecting trees from pests.
To qualify for treatment with the Root for Our Trees programs, trees must be:
- on residentially zoned lots
- growing within Grand Junction city limits
- a minimum of 8" in diameter. (Trees under this size do not respond well to trunk injection.)
There is a $225 minimum fee for treatment (split 50/50 between the resident and the City). The City will pay up to $500 per address for treatments. Learn more about Root for Our Trees and get on the list for an evaluation.
The City’s Forestry Division maintains public trees and has increased efforts to care for them including spraying or trunk injecting all street and park trees that are Ash Trees. Work performed this year includes 2,002 trunk sprays. During the evaluation process, 817 trees were identified as being in too poor of condition to warrant treatment. There are 290 larger, more valuable ash trees on the city’s planned rotation for trunk injections this summer.
The City also offers a variety of public tree care services. To request tree services, complete the Tree Request Form. Contact the City’s Forestry Division with questions at 970-254-3849.
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Contact: Sara Spaulding, Communications & Engagement Director | 970-985-8180 or saras@gjcity.org