We’ve all heard news stories since 2002 about Emerald Ash Borer. For many the adage “seeing is believing” applies now that numerous trees are visibly declining or dead in their neighborhood. The native tree Ash or Fraxinus was liberally planted along streets, lawn areas, golf courses, parks and commercial areas because of it’s adaptability. With tall majestic shade it lined streets and is one of the yellow leaved harbingers of fall with early fall color. The destructive uninvited non-native insect Emerald Ash Borer
has been busy and its dirty work is now becoming evident to all. Native Ash trees have little to no resistance to EAB and the evidence is now easy to see. Seeing is believing and West Michigan neighborhoods are now visibly dotted with dead and dying trees. It tends to be quite dramatic when the trees line a street in the public right of ways.
If your Ash tree is healthy you might be able to save your Ash….if you take action. Do a close visual inspection of your trees. If you see thinning or emergence holes along the trunk it’s probably too late.
If your tree is healthy and adjoins neighboring areas with other Ash trees in commercial lots or along public right of ways as an example, your tree is susceptible to EAB. I recommend yearly soil drenches of Bonide Annual Tree and Shrub which is an Imidacloprid systemic control. You may also opt to call an arborist who will for a fee inject a systemic control in the tree. Adult beetles do some nibbling on foliage but cause little damage that way. It is the larvae or immature stage of the bug that burrows and feeds on the inner bark of Ash trees disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. The vascular system of the tree is destroyed and by the time you see the decline it is generally too late.
Often the trees will flush clumps of foliage in areas of the tree as a last gasp for survival but at that point you can kiss your ash goodbye.
