Urban Forestry Urges Tree Protection

The City of Cheyenne Urban Forestry Division is urging residents to take steps to protect their conifer trees from Mountain Pine Beetle and Spruce Bark Pine Beetle infestation this summer. That includes spraying all species of pine trees with a trunk diameter of 1 inch or more between now and the end of May, according to Cheyenne Assistant Urban Forestry Director Randy Overstreet. He says the spray should be applied on days where there is little or no wind, using a spray that is labeled for Mountain Pine Beetles or other beetles. Other steps include watering trees year round, and using pheromone  packets to repel beetles. He adds those packets should not be used as the sole protection against the beetles, but rather in addition to spraying  as an added measure of protection.