March 2014 ~ Terracare Talks

Lakes can have pests?

Aquatic Management Services- California & Colorado

Submitted by Stuart Perry, Aquatics Service Manager - Terracare Associates

Pests and unwanted vegetation can impact man-made lakes, ponds and water features. Here are a few things you should know about residential and commercial lakes, ponds and other general water systems. A lot of residential lakes were developed to manage storm water runoff from the entire development and support the delicate ecosystem in place within the lakes.

The water that runs off of residential and commercial properties, parking lots, driveways, streets, etc., will enter the lake system through storm drains. This runoff contains numerous components (oil, grease, chemicals, pesticides, organic matter, etc.) that can affect the biological communities in the lake.

Higher nutrient concentrations can cause significant water quality problems, including greater aquatic vegetation and algae growth a.k.a. "the pests". The increase in nutrients comes mainly from lawn and garden fertilizers, which work their way into the lake. This happens when too much fertilizer is put on lawns, and then the irrigation water runoff carries the extra fertilizer to the lake.

To help control the excessive growth of vegetation and algae in some lakes, the lakes have to be treated during the spring and summer months. Lake residents and property managers can greatly help to keep their community lakes as healthy and attractive as possible, and reduce the need for treating/spraying, by using minimal amounts of fertilizer on their property and preventing irrigation water runoff. Additionally, the disposal of leaves and other organic debris into the storm drains, the lake and/or other waterways should be avoided. Decomposing organic debris can cause oxygen depletion, and stimulate algae growth. The water quality problems this creates increases the probability of fish kills.

To keep healthy water, residents and property owners are urged to :

Never dump lawn clippings or organic material into the lake or storm drains

Apply fertilizers sparingly, and never exceed label rates

Adjust sprinklers and/or timers to prevent runoff from lawns or planted areas

Clean up pet waste immediately and do not wash waste into storm drains

Do not feed waterfowl, to deter them from taking up residence

With this in mind, we can all help to maintain community lakes and ponds to protect the delicate ecosystem that is in place.

For more information on how on Aquatic management please see
Terracare Associates Aquatic Management Service

Emerald Ash Borer - Colorado

Submitted by Paul Gebinine, Certified Arborist - Terracare Associates

On September 23, 2013 the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was detected in Boulder County, confirming the state of Colorado is infected. Based on the proven destruction in the Midwest, scientists expect emerald ash borer will ultimately kill almost every unprotected ash tree presently growing in North America. The emerald ash borer destruction will have a similar (or greater) impact and look on our urban forests as the Mountain Pine Beetle kill in Colorado high country without prevention, as experts in Colorado estimate 15-20% of all trees in the Front Range are ash trees.

What is the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)?

The Emerald Ash Borer is a green beetle native to Asia and Eastern Russia and arrived in the US through a warehouse in southeast Michigan in 2002. Emerald ash borer damages trees by tunneling (borer) areas under the bark, producing tunnels that obstruct the water and nutrients from moving within the tree. The damage is progressive and difficult to see until permanent damage is already underway. The EAB is considered the most destructive forest pest ever to hit North America and has killed more than 50 million trees across 22 states.

How can Terracare Associates help?

Terracare Associates, a leading landscape maintenance company headquartered in Colorado, has designed an innovative program; Emerald Ash Borer Management Response Plan to proactively assist property managers to tailor the best protection plan for their property and ash trees now and in the future.

We have a Certified Arborist on staff to assist each customer with building a customized EAB readiness plan for every sized property. The EAB Management Response Plan is a simple 3 step process and includes free inventory and value estimate of your ash trees. The property budget and aesthetics is of up most importance, and we listen to your needs to help evaluate the best protection options for managing EAB.