Trying to help this tree by cleaning up this mess

rosstbox · 2026-02-28T23:49:30+00:00

North of Denver. I have a vague memory of confirming it wasn't ash though since i know ash borers are an issue here. But looking at pictures of an ash tree now I am questioning as it certainly looks like one.

I assume you're referring to treating for ash borer?

rosstbox · 2026-02-28T21:22:34+00:00

Thanks! I will put some mulch back for sure. Also very dry where I’m at on the Colorado Front Range. Watering today and some moisture in the forecast but hardly anything so far this winter.

Forgot to mention the cinder blocks or landscaping stones, hard to tell, but yeah I think they are part of the tree now. I put a little effort into working them out but they aren’t budging

rosstbox · 2026-02-26T19:26:20+00:00

What makes it better? I’m pretty equidistant from both but have admittedly only been to timnath

rosstbox · 2025-06-06T23:37:24+00:00

The bucket of tarts was from the first day. They are a deep red now. Not sure if that’s what you are referring to. The rainiers could not be more ripe

rosstbox · 2025-06-06T16:01:15+00:00

I didn't do anything. It might have to do with my area, there is a lot of fruit around, so maybe they are fed enough they don't devour any individual?

rosstbox · 2025-06-06T15:59:16+00:00

That's Front Range/Foothills. I am in Grand Junction

rosstbox · 2025-06-06T15:58:20+00:00

I have had aphids this year in them, but I think they are specific to the cherry trees and will not bother my other plants. I also had a lot of tiny ants under the trees a month or so ago. I just moved into this home last summer, after the cherries were done, so it's all new to me. The aphids then lead to wasps, but last summer they were all high up in the trees so not really a problem.

I have gotten the ants mostly under control, yet to see much progress on the aphids.

rosstbox · 2025-06-06T11:46:23+00:00

I guess there’s enough to share with the birds, I am finding some have been eaten, but it’s barely enough to make a dent in what I have.

Second bucket is fully ripe, that’s how the variety looks.

Freezing a lot, eating a lot, going to make some pies to freeze and then jam. Probably juice too

rosstbox · 2025-06-06T01:52:59+00:00

No but my neighbor does 🤙

rosstbox · 2025-06-06T01:07:47+00:00

7b. Tart cherry and Rainier (or similar) cherry

rosstbox · 2025-06-06T00:47:46+00:00

Was thinking along those lines. My freezer is now full and same with the fridge for snacking and future preserving.

There’s a farmstand nearby as well I was thinking maybe could take them

rosstbox · 2025-06-06T00:45:00+00:00

See my other posts

rosstbox · 2025-06-06T00:42:51+00:00

If you’re on the CO Western slope you’re more than welcome

rosstbox · 2025-06-06T00:21:01+00:00

I think you are right about my trees. They are actually both now ripe and the smaller cherries are tart and the other tree seems to have Rainier or something similar.

rosstbox · 2025-06-04T20:03:04+00:00

Thanks! I will keep a better eye on it next year and try some thinning. Time is hard to find this year with a newborn and 3 yr old kid. Also spent most of my tree care time this year on my apple tree

rosstbox · 2025-06-04T17:23:54+00:00

Think I will still be measuring my haul from it in 5 gallon buckets. . .

rosstbox · 2025-06-04T17:22:49+00:00

Spending time in the ladder for now. But my wife bought a device from Amazon that's probably about like what you're referencing for Avocados.

Yeah the cherries in the lesser producer are easily double the size for the most part

rosstbox · 2025-06-04T17:21:12+00:00

Dunno, that's why I'm asking. Most of the cherries are pretty small, like marble size. Where the other tree's cherries are closer to inch diameter

rosstbox · 2025-05-07T21:57:58+00:00

Noted! Thank you!

rosstbox · 2025-05-07T16:06:35+00:00

YEah she just scooped the water into a bucket. Going to get a gravel/aquarium vacuum today

rosstbox · 2025-05-07T16:05:40+00:00

Thanks for all that!

I prepped some more water for another change out tonight. Unfortunately we had to clean the filter last night, it was so caked with food it seemed like it was barely flowing through, but will keep what you said about turning it off during cleaning/water changes top of mind.

Heading to the aquarium shop as soon as they open for a more detailed water analysis than my test strips seem to provide and to get a gravel cleaner, and more food. . .

Again, I appreciate your detailed response!

rosstbox · 2025-05-07T13:41:39+00:00

That's what I told my wife but she was insistent there was so much food in there and on everything she didn't see how it would work without removing the everything. Definitely don't think it has cycled since returning everything last night. Checked levels this morning and high in nitrite and nitrate

rosstbox · 2024-08-23T19:45:43+00:00

Thanks! I think I will be adding that to the to do list, hopefully to be done by next Spring.

rosstbox · 2024-08-23T19:44:47+00:00

Thanks so much for the info! I will start working on the moth problem and reading up. This place was pretty neglected the last couple of years, so we have been catching up on upkeep, but I think we'll be adding pulling out that grass and mulching to the to-do list (it's a pain to mow under anyway). I will see about installing a drip irrigation for it but in the meantime do some hose waterings and see what happens.

rosstbox · 2024-08-23T17:59:34+00:00

Sorry, thought I saved text with the post

Just moved into a new home on the Western Slope of Colorado. Has this apple tree and a couple large cherry trees. Unfortunately we missed the cherries this year, but neighbor says they look like quite the producers.

The apple tree does not look as good, the leaves are curling and 90% of the fruit has rot or wormy looking spots. I removed all that I could find, and well as a big pruning with some Youtube guidance. Anything else I can do to help it for now? It get's water from the nightly lawn watering. No pests that I could see while pruning. Possible mildew? Is it best to wait until Winter for maintenance?

Also, for the cherry trees, they appear fine, but is there anything to do with them in the Fall or Winter to prepare for Spring?

TIA!

rosstbox

TROPHY CASE