Contact Information 

Phone:

970.962.3625  

Mailing Address:

Parks & Recreation
Attention: Urban Forestry
200 N Wilson Ave., Building F
Loveland, CO  80537   

Planting and Watering

Water Conservation and Drought Condition Information: 

Please consult the City ordinances for watering restrictions that may be in place, or contact the Water & Power Department for further information. In addition, you can view the CSU Cooperative Extension-Water Publication web page for information about seasonal and extreme condition watering. 

The City of Loveland Water & Power Department has addressed water conservation and watering your lawn and garden on their web pages. They have also provided the following links for further information on water conservation and drought:

• Conservation Gardens at Northern Water
• Denver Botanical Gardens 
• Gardens on Spring Creek
• Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
• Turf Grass Care at CSU

Planting Information:

The City of Loveland has an extensive Spring planting schedule, and many new flowers, trees, and shrubs are added to the landscapes in and around public places.  We suggest that people do not use too many plants that require a large amount of water when planning their landscaping or planting their gardens. A good guideline of plants that are drought tolerant or require less water are those that can be found in the City's Xeriscape Garden.

You can also view the CSU Cooperative Extension publications web page for information about seasonal planting/yard and garden and insect information.

Specific to Flowers & Plants

Our City's parks have great displays of different types of flowers and plants, usually located in or near the areas where the sign pad depicts the park's name, or in sculpture and display areas. Please visit the parks and take a look at the great flower beds and plantings!

The flowers and plants in City parks are planted and maintained by park workers, and are also planted each year with help from our community! If you would like to volunteer services for planting flowers and plants in the parks and public areas, please contact us at 970.962.3625.

For more specific plant care information, we suggest looking at the following web pages: 

Plant Talk Colorado

GreenCO

Plant Select

The City of Loveland Parks and Recreation Department does not endorse any specific organization or website listed here. They are merely suggestions to assist with your yard & garden questions.

City of Loveland Tree Inventory

All City-owned trees are tracked HERE, which provides the tree type and location. This helps identify if a fallen tree is handled through the City of Loveland, or privately. 

Approved Street and Right-of-Way Tree List 

The City of Loveland has the authority and responsibility to assure that trees planted on public streets and right-of-way meet certain standards. This list provides guidance for appropriate species that will ensure a diverse and resilient urban forest, while also providing a long-term benefit for our community.

The list below includes trees that are favorable for Loveland based on climate, soil and water requirements, and provides guidance for homeowners and developers. Trees selected for street tree and right-of-way locations should be from this, unless otherwise approved by the City of Loveland. 

 City of Loveland Street Tree List

Additional Resources:

Development Center Plant List

Front Range Tree Recommendation List

Colorado Tree Coalition

Colorado State University Extension

Colorado State Forest Service

Emerald Ash Borer 

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a highly destructive, non-native insect that infests and eventually kills ash trees. In Colorado, EAB was first detected in Boulder in 2013, in Longmont in 2016, unincorporated Larimer County southwest of Berthoud in September of 2019, and just north of Fort Collins city limits in May of 2020. In 2024, it was detected in the City of Loveland. 

Loveland has prepared for this inevitable arrival by treating selected trees and removing others, but will face many challenges ahead. With ash trees making up about 20% of Loveland's public and private tree canopy, the resulting loss of the ash population could reduce 40% of the City of Loveland's urban tree canopy.

The Urban Forestry Section recommends that homeowners determine if they have ash trees on the properties, and decide on future treatments or removal strategies for their trees. The only way to treat a tree is before it is infested, and treatments must be applied every 2-3 years for the life of the tree.

General Symptoms

Ash trees in Northern Colorado can decline for a number of reasons, including other insects, soil compaction, and most recently drought stress and winter injuries. Ash trees declining from many of these reasons may show symptoms similar to those associated with EAB, which may make early detection challenging.

The following symptoms are most typically associated with EAB infestation:

• Canopy Thinning and Crown Dieback: Larvae feeding underneath the bark damage tissues responsible for transporting water and nutrients, which initially reveals thinning in the upper portion of the tree and branches dyeing back over time.

• Epicormic Sprouting: When ash trees are stressed, they try to grow new branches and leaves wherever they can. This creates suckering and sprouting on the lower branches and the trunk of the tree.

• D-Shaped Exit Holes: When adult emerald ash borers emerge from ash trees in late May to July, they leave distinct D-shaped exit holes that are approximately 1/8" wide and in any orientation. These exit holes are a very strong indicator, and more distinct compared to other native borers.

• S-Shaped Galleries: Trees attacked by EAB have very distinct S-shaped galleries under the bark. They can be seen after peeling bark, or in areas where the bark is visibly split. These galleries are usually 1/8" wide and filled with frass, which looks like sawdust.

Please visit the Colorado State Forest Service website for more information about EAB.

In 2023, the City of Loveland has seen a significant increase in spruce infestation and mortality associated with the Ips beetle, specifically Ips hunteri.  This beetle is native to Colorado and typically attacks stressed trees.  The main indicator is rapid decline in the top of an infested tree with browning needles followed down the tree leading to the death of the tree.  Ips beetles develop under the bark of infested trees and girdle the tree by creating engraved galleries that restrict food and water transport.   A yellow or red-brown dust accumulation in lower bark crevices and the base of the tree is another indicator of infestation.  Round exit holes indicate that beetles have left the tree and are most likely in nearby trees.

Prolonged drought stress over the last few years from abnormally dry, windy and warm weather has helped populations flourish.  Unfortunately, treatment is not effective for the tree after infection and symptoms progress quite rapidly, often within a few weeks.  Pesticides applied from a licensed applicator by the Colorado Department of Agriculture can prevent infection, but only prior to being attacked.  

The best preventative maintenance for the Ips beetle is to water spruce trees year-round including in the winter when the temperature is above 40 degrees.  Watering established spruce trees at approximately 15 gallons per diameter inch twice monthly during winter months when these trees are not typically watered helps to promote optimal tree health.  This standard applies for spring and summer watering also but should be done once a week.

Infected wood should be removed and chipped promptly by a licensed tree trimming company and logs should never be stored near other spruce trees or transported for firewood.  The City of Loveland Recycling Center and Larimer County landfill are the best locations for proper disposal of infected wood.

For more information on spruce Ips beetle please see references below or contact the City of Loveland Urban Forestry section at 970.962.3625.

https://csfs.colostate.edu/forest-management/common-forest-insects-diseases/ips-beetle/

https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05558.pdf

The City of Loveland does spray for mosquitos in the parks. We are aware of the fact that some people are particularly sensitive to anything sprayed and may need to be aware of those spray times/dates.  Therefore, we do utilize the Colorado Department of Agriculture Pesticide Sensitive Registry. 

Memorial Donations

As a result of its tax-exempt, nonprofit organization status, several donations are received through the Loveland Parks & Recreation Foundation each year for the parks system.

Donations range from cash to flowers, to benches and trees. The Foundation solicits grants and other private & public funds to enhance its efforts and stretch available resources. Many donors feel the Foundation is an excellent mechanism to provide community assets or to make contributions in honor of their loved ones.

• Tree Donations
  Each year the Foundation accepts a number of donations for trees to be planted at a park, in the cemetery, on the golf courses, or along the Recreational Trail System. Donors work with City staff to determine appropriate planting locations. A tree is a donation that keeps on giving to the community for years to come.
• Bench Donations
  Benches are a very popular donation item for parks, the cemetery, the golf courses and the Recreational Trail System. Often benches are donated in memory of a loved one. Appropriate bench locations are coordinated with City staff. Small plaques may be placed on the benches in accordance with the City Plaque Policies.

Parks available for donations can be found HERE!

Please view the Memorial Donation Brochure and the Donation Plaque Policy for more information.

Tree Trimmer License

To obtain a Tree Trimmer License, please fill out the Tree Trimmer License Application and submit it to the City Clerk's Office. 

Municipal codes related to trees can be found HERE.