Protect Your Pine Trees from Mountain Pine Beetles with SPLAT® Verbenone
Boulder Tree Service is now accepting reservations for 2027 applications Mountain Pine Beetles continue to threaten pine trees throughout Boulder County. Boulder Tree Service now offers professional SPLAT® Verbenone applications to help protect valuable pine trees without the use of traditional insecticides.

Help Save Your Pine Trees
In 2026, Boulder Tree Service successfully treated thousands of trees throughout Boulder County. Our biggest challenge wasn't effectiveness-it was obtaining enough SPLAT® Verbenone to meet demand.
If you'd like to protect your trees in 2027, we encourage you to reserve your spot early.
Contact us at info@bouldertreeservice.com to schedule an evaluation to join our 2027 application list.

Why Choose SPLAT® Verbenone?
SPLAT® Verbenone is a non-toxic, environmentally friendly pheromone treatment that helps repel bark beetles before they attack healthy pine trees. Unlike insecticides, Verbenone does not kill insects. Instead, it releases a naturally occurring pheromone that signals to beetles that a tree is already occupied, encouraging them to seek another host.

Benefits
" Helps protect valuable pine trees from beetle attack
" Non-toxic and environmentally friendly
" No conventional pesticides or herbicides
" Safe for people, pets, wildlife, and beneficial insects when used as directed
" Long-lasting controlled-release protection
" Ideal for residential properties, neighborhoods, parks, and open spaces

How It Works
Mountain Pine Beetles communicate using natural chemical signals called pheromones.
SPLAT® Verbenone mimics one of these pheromones, creating the impression that a tree has already been colonized and is no longer suitable for new beetles. As beetles search elsewhere for a host tree, the risk of attack on treated trees is significantly reduced.
When multiple neighboring trees are treated, the overall level of protection can be even more effective because beetles are discouraged from establishing themselves within the area.
For this reason, neighborhood-wide applications are often one of the most effective non-insecticidal strategies for reducing beetle pressure.

Trees That Can Benefit
SPLAT® Verbenone may be used to help protect many susceptible pine species, including:
" Ponderosa Pine
" Lodgepole Pine
" Limber Pine
" Whitebark Pine
" Western White Pine
" Southwestern White Pine
" Sugar Pine
" Pinyon Pine
" Loblolly Pine
" Other susceptible pine species

Beetle Species Targeted
SPLAT® Verbenone is primarily used to help protect against:
" Mountain Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae)
" Western Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomus)
" Southern Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis)
Research has also shown partial effectiveness against several Ips (engraver) beetle species.

Does Verbenone Work?
Verbenone has been used for many years as part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs across western North America.
Federal agencies, state forestry departments, national parks, municipalities, homeowners' associations, and professional arborists use Verbenone to help protect high-value trees.
Studies have shown that properly treated areas often experience significantly fewer beetle attacks than untreated areas. However, no treatment can guarantee complete protection, particularly during severe beetle outbreaks or when trees are already under significant stress.

Is It Safe?
SPLAT® Verbenone is considered a low-toxicity pest management product.
When applied according to label directions, it is:
" Non-toxic to people and pets
" Safe for birds and wildlife
" Does not harm bees or beneficial insects
" Environmentally responsible
" Suitable for environmentally sensitive areas
Unlike conventional insecticide treatments, Verbenone works by changing beetle behavior rather than killing insects.

Why Treat Entire Neighborhoods?
Mountain Pine Beetles move easily from tree to tree.
Treating multiple properties within the same neighborhood helps reduce the number of suitable host trees available, improving protection for everyone involved. Coordinated neighborhood applications are often one of the most effective strategies for reducing beetle activity.
If your HOA or neighborhood group is interested in scheduling a community application program, we'd be happy to help.

Important Safety Information
SPLAT® Verbenone Paste may cause mild skin irritation. Avoid touching freshly applied material. If contact occurs, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water.

Schedule Your 2027 Treatment
Protect your investment before beetle season begins.
Contact Boulder Tree Service today at info@bouldertreeservice.com to request an estimate or reserve your place on our 2027 treatment schedule.
Serving Boulder, Boulder County, and surrounding Colorado communities.

Cost
In 2026, the average treatment cost was approximately $14.50 per tree. Pricing for the 2027 season will depend on the cost of SPLAT® Verbenone Paste and the number of trees being treated.
Not every pine tree on a property requires treatment. Smaller trees (generally under 6-8 inches in trunk diameter) are less likely to be attacked by Mountain Pine Beetles and may not need protection. In areas with dense stands of pine trees, treatment strategies can often be tailored to protect groups of trees rather than treating every individual tree, helping to reduce overall costs while maintaining effective protection.
Please contact us for a property-specific evaluation and estimate.

Application Timing
For the best protection, we recommend applying SPLAT® Verbenone in May or June, before Mountain Pine Beetles typically begin their flight season. The exact timing may vary depending on spring weather conditions, which can influence when beetles emerge.
SPLAT® Verbenone provides approximately 90-120 days of controlled-release protection, so a single application is typically sufficient for the beetle flight season.

Disclaimer: There Are No Guarantees
While the purpose of the Splat is to reduce the risk of Pine Beetle attacks to your trees, the application of Splat does not guarantee prevention of these attacks. Splat application on your property will give your Ponderosa trees a better chance of not being hit by Pine Beetles. However, weather, environment, tree bark and beetles are unpredictable and not controllable, regardless of what mitigation efforts you have taken. Boulder Tree Service makes no guarantees or representations of any kind with respect to the effectiveness of any Pine Beetle mitigation efforts other than it will reduce your risk to Pine Beetle attacks.