Spring is in the air: Planting season is approaching, National Arbor Day is coming up on April 26 and the Colorado Department of Agriculture is getting the word out about pests to watch out for in 2019.
The Emerald Ash Borer and the Japanese Beetle are back.
"Denver, Boulder and Pueblo have high numbers of Japanese Beetle," said Laura Pottorff with the Colorado Department of Agriculture. "They eat away at your foliage. They love fruit trees, Linden trees, roses and grapes to name a few."
The Emerald Ash Borer kills our state's ash trees and Pottorff said it still hasn't spread beyond Boulder County.
"There will be a continued effort to keep it that way this year," she said.
There are also pests on the East Coast that experts don't want to see in Colorado.
"Pests like the Gypsy Moth are in the eastern part of the United States that we are watching for," said Pottorff. "We are monitoring, so we can hopefully detect them early if they do enter Colorado."
If you are doing some landscaping this year, experts ask that you ensure you're buying from a reputable business.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture regulates the sale and distribution of trees, shrubs and perennial plants. That means landscapers, nurseries and garden centers have to be registered.
Pottorff said it is highly likely the Japanese Beetle made it to Colorado because an unregistered plant made it into the Colorado system.
For more information on how to landscape and plant correctly in your yard, click here.
