Pests & Diseases

Identify what you're seeing.

Start from the pest, the disease, the plant or simply what the problem looks like. Covers trees, shrubs and lawn.

I know the plant
I know the pest or disease
I only know the symptom

Symptom filters narrow the library. They are a starting point for reading, not a diagnosis — several problems can produce the same appearance.

6 entries

Colorado's trees, shrubs, and lawns face a wide range of pests and diseases driven by the state's unique climate, variable moisture, temperature extremes, and growing urban stress, making early identification, proper care, and seasonally timed treatments essential to preserving healthy, resilient landscapes year-round.

Tree Pests & Diseases

Colorado trees face a unique mix of pests and diseases driven by the state's dry climate, high elevation, temperature swings, and periodic drought stress. Insects such as bark beetles, emerald ash borer, aphids, and spider mites often target trees that are already weakened by lack of water or compacted soils, while fungal diseases like cytospora canker, fire blight, and various needle casts take advantage of environmental stress and poor growing conditions.

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Shrub Pests & Diseases

Colorado's shrubs face a unique set of pest and disease pressures shaped by the state's high elevation, intense sun, alkaline soils, and wide temperature swings. Stress from drought, winter desiccation, and late spring freezes often weakens shrubs, making them more vulnerable to insects and pathogens that might otherwise be secondary concerns. Many issues don't appear overnight; they build over seasons, gradually reducing vigor, thinning foliage, and increasing susceptibility to more serious decline.

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Lawn Pests & Fungus

Colorado lawns contend with a range of pests and diseases influenced by the state's dry climate, alkaline soils, intense sun, and dramatic temperature shifts. Insects such as white grubs, billbugs, sod webworms, and chinch bugs can damage turf by feeding on roots or blades, often becoming most active when lawns are stressed by drought or improper watering. Lawn diseases — including necrotic ring spot, dollar spot, brown patch, and snow mold — are frequently tied to moisture imbalance, compacted soils, and poor airflow.

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Content families

Browse by problem family

Tree, shrub and lawn problems are tracked separately — the terminology and management context are not interchangeable.

Lawn & Turf

17 turf problem profiles — insects, fungus and environmental stress, with seasonal activity and treatment timing.

Open Lawn & Turf

Plant Health Profiles

16 landscape plant profiles covering the pests, diseases and disorders diagnosed on Front Range shrubs and evergreens.

Open Plant Health

Related Species

Great Western Tree Care

Not sure what you're looking at?

A Great Western arborist can diagnose the problem in person before anything is treated.