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EMERALD ASH BORER

Emerald Ash borer,  suspected in Wyoming since 2009, is now obvious at sites throughout Wyoming.  Known locations include:

-                      Wyoming Avenue

-                      Wilmuth Avenue

-                      Charles Street/Mt. Pleasant

-                      Brayton Avenue

-                      Sweetwater Drive

-                      Wilmuth Avenue

-                      Reily Road

-                      Hickory Hill Lane

-                      Chisholm Trail

-                      Congress Run (switchback area)

-                      Grove Avenue

EAB is also suspected on Ardon Lane, East Mills Avenue, and Flemington Drive.

In view of Wyoming’s widespread infestation, it is reasonable to expect that a great majority of untreated ash trees here will die in the next 3-5 years.  Ultimately, all untreated ash trees will die from EAB.

All residents who own ash trees need to have a management plan to deal with this pest.

For residents who have not yet taken action, but wish to save their ash trees, time is running out.  Contact a certified arborist in the next few days and arrange to have your ash evaluated for general health and structural soundness.  A list of certified arborists can be found on the ISA website at http://www.isa-arbor.com/faca/findArborist.aspx .  Healthy ash in locations with no obvious infestations can probably defer treatment until 2012, but no later.  In cases where ash are close to known hotspots or currently showing low levels of infestation, treatment may be recommended for 2011 yet.  Insecticide treatment, started early, is quite reliable.  In this approach, on-going protective treatment will be required for a number of years.  See https://sites.google.com/site/yourtreesourtrees/ and http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/neweab/userfiles/EAB%20Insecticide%20Bulletin%20June%202009.pdf for specific treatment information.

If your arborist indicates an ash is not a candidate for treatment or you choose not to protect certain tree(s), then arrange for removals.  Do not wait until the tree has died before removal.  Because ash become brittle as they die, removal costs for dead ash can be substantially more than removal costs for live ash.  Also, dead and dying trees can threaten persons or property.  For removal work, it’s always a good idea to obtain competing quotes from different tree companies.

Finally, if your arborist confirms EAB in a location not listed above, please let the City of Wyoming know by contacting Mike Lippert, 821-0037.  Thank you!