The Colorado Tree Coalition's

SELECT TREE EVALUATION PROGRAM (STEP) 2002 

• Application
• List of Species for 2002
• Introduction
• Program Description
• Requirements
• Background
• Inquiries

Frontier Elm during summer, fall, and winter.

Introduction:  (top)

The Colorado Tree Coalition has implemented the Select Tree Evaluation Program (STEP) in 2002. This program provides selected trees at cost to five communities each year to plant and conduct growth evaluations on. The information obtained through this program will be made available to Colorado Tree Coalition members and other interested in tree selection 

The purpose of the Select Tree Evaluation Program is to help evaluate the ability of new and underutilized trees to grow and survive in Colorado, and to educate program cooperators and others about the growth and performance characteristics of select trees. In addition, the program will help to diversify the urban forests of Colorado’s communities. Tree species or varieties that appear to have a good potential to perform well in Colorado, but need further evaluation, will be considered for the Select Tree Evaluation Program. 

Program Description:  (top)

The Colorado Tree Coalition selects one to three species of trees each year to be included in the evaluation program.  Five Trees of each species or variety are obtained for the spring planting season.  Applications for STEP may be submitted from January 1st through March 15th.  Five applications sites are selected for the program each spring.  Prior year selection for the program does not preclude an applicant from being selected again.  Applicants must agree to the following:

Requirements:  (top)

1. As a STEP cooperator, you must agree to purchase one of each species.  In 2001 there are three trees.
2. Each selected cooperator is asked to pay $65.00 per tree.
3. Handling and planting of trees must adhere to sound horticultural practices.
4. After planting care should be provided and must include watering and mulching.  A mulched tree ring must be maintained around each tree.  Pruning should be provided as needed.  Regular monitoring for biotic and abiotic problems should be conducted.
5. Trees must be planted on a site that is open to the general public
6. Trees must be planted in an area that has an irrigation system that will provide adequate water to the establishing tree and to hte area of its potential root system.
7. Growth measurements and performance evaluations must be completed annually on forms provided by the CTC
8. Trees must be picked up in Fort Collins between April 1st and May 15th.  Deliveries may be arranged under special circumstances.  Contact the program coordinator at least three days before a scheduled pickup.
9. Selected cooperators must provide CTC with a description and map of the actual tree planting locations.
10. The trees must be planted ASAP after the pickup and not later than May 20th.
11. CTC does not give guarantee or warrantee on trees distributed throughout the Select Tree Evaluation Program.  STEP will only provide healthy quality trees that meet nursery standards.

Tree species for 2002:     (top)

• Frontier Elm (Ulmus frontier)
• 1.75" -2.0" B&B
• $85.00 per tree (x3) = $255.00 total 

Background:  (top)

During this first year fourteen applications were received.  Applicants that were not selected have been encouraged to apply again in following years.  Many additional sites will be needed in future years.  These are the five sites that the Education Committee has selected for 2001:

• City of Greeley
• City of Sterling
• Mesa State College
• City of Longmont
• City of Grand Junction

Tree species for 2001:     

• Quercus shumardii
• Quercus muhlenbergii
• Picea glauca

Inquiries:  (top)

Please direct all inquiries to: 

Tim Buchanan, STEP Coordinator
281 North College
Fort Collins, CO 80524
PH: 970-221-6361
FX: 970-221-6586
email: tbuchanan@ci.fort-collins.co.us