Emerald Ash Borer
As the landscape changes across the country from Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) it amazes us the lack of effort by some Tree Services to find balance. Some treat the tree religiously, others lets nature (manipulated by humans) do its thing. Olson Tree Care is not saying either side is right or wrong, we are only saying there must be a better way. Taxes to build roads, schools and infrastructure, yet control of a spreading tree killer in the form of the Emerald Ash Borer is not on the list.
What are some simple solutions?
1. Funding to assist with Emerald Ash Borer treatment costs for home owners in need. This cost can be reduced by tax dollars bringing down the high cost of arborist, tree services and insecticide.
2. Programs to assist with tree services, tree removal and replacement for those who do not wish to treat. This cost could be reduced by a municipality developing Arborist Tree Care specific to the need.
3. Regulations (ordinance) on the time frame one is allowed to leave an Emerald Ash Borer infested, untreated ash tree standing.
4. Continuing research on biological controls. There is Arborist research ongoing that the ash tree population may survive the attack through sapling or retrenchment. While this study by Olson Tree Care in Des Moines, Iowa and others is ongoing, we must not remove every ash tree before the data is in.
5. Education of public on the Emerald Ash Borer. Olson Tree Care in Des Moines, Iowa meets people every week who do not know that their tree was even an ash. Or we can sit back and let the Emerald Ash Borer ravish our country, eliminating ash trees from the landscape while home owners and the environment foot the bill. The bills in this case is..
.. OVER 55 MILLION ASH TREES IN IOWA ALONE
Signs your Tree has the Emerald Ash Borer
The infestation in Iowa is extreme to say the least. 1 week of evaluating Ash Trees in Des Moines provides a full work load.
What are the signs your tree has the Emerald Ash Borer?
1. D shaped holes (by the time you see #4 its often too late as it occurs in upper section first, trunk last)
2. Epicormic shoots.
3. Twig dieback
3. Woodpecker damage (debarked areas)
Cutting cost?
Many times your injection for EAB control may not be done correctly. Below are a few of the inconsistencies we have noticed.
Tree tags are common in the world of EAB control. While use of aluminum tree tags and nails is the norm, some have found savings in using galvanized roofing nails.
These zinc plated nails are not corrosion resistant as evidenced in this tag I removed that was 2 years old. Unfortunately ISA Certification is not a requirement for tree care in many parts of the world. Understanding tree biology, morphology and physiology should be a basic pre requisite for any tree care provider.
To save a few cents on every injection, the tree is subject to contamination making the “caretaker” negligent in their primary duty, the care of the tree.
More and more we are coming across incorrectly placed plugs in the treatment of EAB. The Emerald Ash Borer in the Midwest has caused a work force to develop as it has become the most costly Invasive Insect ever in the United States. Everywhere tree owners are scrambling to find an affordable option for treatment while the regulation for application of insecticides varies from state to state depending on statutes and local law. While training is generally required, it in most cases, this does not include education of tree biology.
Incorrect placement of tree injection plugs delay occlusion and misplaces the insecticide reducing effectiveness and distribution into the canopy. Understanding uptake and the empty tubes (vessels) that transport uptake is essential to properly injecting a tree for EAB. Certification with the ISA is a great start along with public education as to proper injection.