Common Issues in the Landscape: Emerald Ash Borer

While ash trees have traditionally been a hardy landscape tree, the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, an insect native to Asia that specifically targets ash, has changed that for the foreseeable future.

Adult Emerald Ash Borer

The adult beetles lay eggs in crevices in the bark of the tree, when the larvae emerges it tunnels into the tree doing extensive damage to the vascular tissue under the bark.

Due to the fast spread of the borer, and the extremely high (near 100%) mortality rate to ash trees in an infested area, it is strongly recommended that homeowners take a proactive approach.

There are two options that most take in preparation, the first of which is preventative treatment. There are multiple methods of treatment including foliar/canopy sprays with insecticide, and systemic insecticides that can be applied to the trunk, soil, or injected directly into the trunk, these products then move throughout the vascular system of the tree. Preventative treatment is key, as often by the time the symptoms are noticed, extensive damage has already been done. It is strongly recommended that you contact a local professional when making choices related to treatment to maximize effectiveness, and minimize any ill effects to the environment, pollinators, and beneficial insect populations.

The second option is to remove the tree preemptively. Unfortunately due to the method of damage from the borer, declining trees lose structural integrity and very quickly become a hazard. Compromised trees are not only a risk to you and your property, they are also more costly for a tree service to remove due to the increased difficulty and risk.

The worst thing that you can do is nothing, this insect is not going away any time soon, and the risk of having hazardous trees in the landscape is not worth the money savings of holding off until the issue is urgent and every tree service is booked out with more dead ash tree removals than they know what to do with.