ArborScape's Tree Spraying Options

General Insect Control

ArborScape has three general insect sprays to keep your trees protected. Like all of our PHC (plant health care) treatments, these sprays are time-sensitive. 

We start these treatments during late spring, once the weather starts warming up and the bugs come out of hibernation, and go until late summer to maintain the health of your trees during peak season.

The first general insect spray covers all trees, coniferous and deciduous alike except fruit trees. This is because the fruit spores are still open and we don’t want to infect them with anything that may damage or infect the fruit. 

Meanwhile, the second round of spraying is only done on deciduous trees because the type of insects that attack conifers don’t usually have a second generation for the second spray to do anything to.

Finally, the third round of spraying covers only coniferous trees because deciduous trees usually have little to no leaves left by this point in the season, so the insects are either dormant or have left in favor of another tree.

Japanese Beetles

Some things you’ll want to know about the Japanese beetle is that while it’s more common east of the Mississippi, they’ve still managed to migrate over to here due to their love for many trees, but especially for maples, lindens, and crabapples.



While we use a spray to manage Japanese beetles, they can never be fully eradicated. However, as we help you mitigate the issues these pests bring about, we also suggest planting Virginia Creepers in your yard.

Planting these will help lure the Japanese beetles away from the areas you want to keep safe from them as these beetles love to eat the creepers and will prefer these over your trees.

Ips Beetles

With eleven different types of Ips beetles here in Colorado, they’ve proven to be quite detrimental to the health of trees. 

Because Colorado is so dry and arid, many of our trees- particularly pines and spruce- are at risk for drought and all the symptoms it brings. And drought-stressed trees act as an invitation to Ips beetles, who like to burrow in these dry, wooden homes.

While trees do make great homes for diverse wildlife, this is not a helpful critter. Ips beetles can unfortunately end up killing your tree if not treated in a timely manner.

One way to try and prevent these pests from hankering down into your trees is ensuring proper watering to reduce the stress from drought. 

However, if you do manage to attract these beetles, just know that we do have pest control sprays for this pesky insect. We can spray for Ips beetles in early spring and, because this pest tends to have multiple generations, a second spray in the summer.

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borers have since made their way into Littleton, and are now spreading into Lakewood. They travel fast and pose a great threat to our urban canopy, as ash trees make up 15% of it.

However, we do have some options for treatment depending on the size of your tree.

For younger, smaller ash trees, we have a borer spray that will need to be applied every year. Larger ashes can withstand our microinjections that are needed only every other year.

Is Tree Spraying Safe?

There are different types of pest control out there, such as pesticides, fungicides, and many more. Here at ArborScape, we specifically use insecticides for our tree spraying services to manage the bugs that can harm our trees and shrubs.

Our sprays have a strong bonding agent that helps the spray stick to bark and foliage for weeks at a time to act as a deterrent to hungry insects during the peak seasons.

However, it’s important to know that insecticides can be harmful to people and pets. When using our pest control services, we recommend waiting until the bark or foliage is completely dry before touching or examining the work.

You should also be aware of these insecticides if you’re trying to attract pollinators to your garden. While our sprays are great for helping to mitigate pests, they’re also unfortunately toxic to bees and other friendly insects.

This is why calling out our certified arborists is a great idea. Not only do we give free estimates, we can find the perfect plan for your landscaping goals.

These treatments are also meant to be annual services. A one-time spray won’t keep these pests away forever; upkeep is important to keep your trees healthy.

We know it can seem expensive to invest in this type of work, but once you’re able to sit back and relax and enjoy the stunning views of your healthy yard and our priceless Colorado landscape, you’ll see why it’s worth it.

So check out our website for more information about our tree spraying services and to learn how we’ve been taking care of Denver’s trees for over 25 years.