Multiple Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Infestations Found in Minneapolis & St Paul MN

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is responsible for millions of dollars of damage to ash trees and nowmultiple infestations have been found in Minneapolis & St Paul Minnesota again. With the Emerald Ash Borer’s ability to infest and kill ash trees, its confirmed presence is something you need to take very seriously! Some researchers fear an even larger outbreak is coming soon. The question now: where else has the beetle migrated?
Continued from part 1 of Multiple Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Infestations Found in Minneapolis & St Paul MN

Why Should You Care About EAB?

EAB kills ash trees. All ash trees are susceptible to EAB and millions of ash trees have been killed in infested areas already. Minnesota has the highest volume of ash trees in the U.S. with almost a billion forestland and urban wood ash trees. The potential economic and environmental impact of losing these trees is substantial. The cost of removing and replacing a single tree can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars – how many ash trees are in your yard?
There is a value calculator for urban trees created by Purdue University, http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/treecomputer/. This can help determine what trees are worth to a city or neighborhood, and is useful in determining which trees should be removed /replaced, and which trees are worth saving.
Treatment is most appropriate after EAB infestation has been detected within 15 miles, and is most effective when applied before trees are infested. However, treatment can also save ash trees with a low level of EAB infestation. Spring is the ideal time for treatment, but soil application in fall can be effective in some situations. Different treatment regimens will be optimal under different situations — no one treatment plan or application method is best under all circumstances.
If a tree has lost more than 50 percent of its canopy, it is probably too late to save the tree. Studies have shown that it is best to begin using insecticides while ash trees are still relatively healthy.
A program of sustained treatment will be needed to conserve trees through peak EAB infestation. However, as the local EAB population declines due to death of untreated ash, it is possible that treatment frequency may be reduced. Research on this question and other aspects of EAB management is ongoing.

Ash Borer Risk Management and Education Workshop

To stay current Rainbow Tree Care is presenting Ash Borer Risk Management and Education Workshop – Feb 12, 2013
All towns and cities with significant ash populations will be eventually invaded by the Emerald ash borer. How a town or a city prepares for this arrival is important. Having no plan will mean trees will die quickly. Dead ash trees will be everywhere, faster than expected. Dealing with this scenario carries a very high cost. However, having a planned management strategy will cost far less, spreading these costs out significantly longer. In addition, important ash trees will be alive for many years – for less expense than removal and replacement.

Ash trees before EAB devastation

You have to be on top of it. You can’t afford to sit back and even let it go for a year because the consequences of that just multiply as you go forward in years. That’s been something that’s played out again and again other in other cities.

Untreated ash trees after EAB – The cost of doing nothing!

The bottom line is:  whether you notice these signs in your ash trees or not, call Tree-Mendous Tree Care immediately and our Licensed Arborist will provide you with a free inspection!
If our Licensed Arborist determines that EAB is not present in your trees, he will recommend preventative measures such as application of appropriate pesticides via our state-of-the-art stem injection technique that can be administered without ever exposing your tree to the trauma of drilling into it.  If EAB is not present these measures will help prevent its spread.