Forestry

Highlands Ranch has an expanding suburban forest with more than 16,000 trees decorating our parks and roadways in the community. We are proud to have been named a Tree City USA for 30 consecutive years by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The Tree City USA program honors cities, communities and towns committed to planting and nurturing trees.

The Metro District supports a thriving suburban forest through a variety of practices including maintaining the health of existing trees, fighting tree-related diseases, tree and limb recycling, a Tree Planting Program and annual Arbor Day activities.

Additional Information and Tree Care Tips

• Emerald Ash Borer FAQ
• Free App Launched to Help Homeowners ID Trees Susceptible to Emerald Ash Borer
• Tips to Prepare Landscape Trees for Winter
• Take Care Dealing with Snow-Damaged Trees
• Springtime in the Ranch
• Garden Tool Tips to Help You Have a Beautiful Landscape
• Protecting Your Trees from Common Landscape Operations
• Trees Enhance Curb Appeal
• Recommended Tree Species
• How to Prune a Tree – instructional video (.wvx file requires Windows Media Player)
• Tree Watering Tips
• Adding Fruit Trees to Your Landscape
• Structural Pruning
• Trees in the Landscape
• Winter Tree Care Tips
• Protecting Evergreens from Insect Attacks
• Drought Friendly Trees Resource List

Helpful Links

• Colorado State Forest Service
• Winter Tree Watering Necessary During Drought Conditions
• Fall Cold Snap Has Lingering Effects on Trees
• Seasonal Aspen, Cottonwood Leaf Diseases Not Lethal to Trees
• Yellowing Pine Needles Normal in Autumn
• Saving Damaged Trees After Storms
• Preparing Trees for Winter
• National Arbor Day Foundation
• Mountain Pine Beetle – Colorado State Forest Service – Colorado State University
• Mountain Pine Beetle – Fact Sheet – Colorado State University – Extension
• A Northern Front Range Landowner Guide to Living with Bark Beetles – Colorado State Forest Service
• Forestry Careers Guide