2014 brought some unexpected surprises, along with exciting opportunities for Swingle and we’re looking forward to 2015.
A few notable occurrences include the late spring freeze, which impacted many of our trees. There was widespread Fire Blight along the Front Range, Redheaded Sawfly attacked trees in Elbert and Douglas Counties over the summer months, and the great November freeze left a host of uncertainty for the spring of 2015.
An unusual amount of rain this summer provided the perfect conditions for ascochyta (a lawn fungus) to spread rapidly across the Metro area, while hot, dry spells earlier in the season left brown spots on lawns. In 2014, Swingle also continued its focus on Emerald Ash Borer. In July it was detected in additional trees in the Boulder area, and we believe it will continue to spread to the surrounding areas, if it hasn’t already. With 15-20% of our urban forests at risk, we’re working diligently to inform our customers of the risks and providing treatment solutions to best protect their ash trees by visiting every property. We had the opportunity to provide expert advice on these issues and more by being featured on local news stations, in particular 9NEWS.
Swingle also took a stance this year on pollinator protection and measures to help clients understand how our services have changed to reduce the potential impact on bees. As pollinators, bees are a critical part of our ecosystem and food supply, which is why Swingle believes it’s important to take precautions to look out for our honey-making friends while performing services for our customers.
The company as a whole participated in supporting and giving back to our community. This year we helped to sponsor events with the Denver Botanic Gardens, including their annual plant sale and continuing to donate tree care services to the Elm tree residing at the Ruth Porter Waring house at the Gardens. We supported Families First, raising over $3,000 for the organization and providing holiday lighting for the facility. This year, Swingle introduced our Making Spirits Bright campaign. After many nominations, Swingle provided holiday lighting for the homes of two deserving families along the Front Range.
We are excited that this year we had the opportunity to open a new branch. Strategically located between our Denver and Ft. Collins offices, the new branch allows us to better connect with the surrounding community. We continue to grow as Colorado’s local lawn and tree care experts and remain focused on our commitment to providing you the exceptional service you’ve come to expect from our team.
