Before 2002, no one had ever even heard of the small green beetle known as an Emerald Ash Borer. By 2009, this small beetle had killed over 58 million ash trees over the span of 13 states. In the early years of dealing with EAB, everyone thought that when you were infested with this beetle, your tree was done. Now, we know that the issue can be treated and trees can be saved. Eager Beaver Tree Service is here to talk about EAB treatment and how you can save your tree when you find these beetles have taken over.
Emerald Ash Borer Treatment Options
When it comes to treated EAB, there are four different options: soil injection, trunk injection, bark spray and canopy spray. Since the most destructive phase of the Emerald Ash Borer is the larvae as they tunnel throughout the trunk of the tree, soil injection and trunk injections are the most effective forms of treatment. These methods both evenly disperse the pesticide throughout the tree and kill the larvae that are causing the biggest issues. Canopy sprays are sometimes effective because they kill the adult beetles and prevent them from feeding as well as laying eggs on the tree.
Tree Inspection is the First Step
Before any treatment can be done to your tree, it needs to be inspected by a professional for any signs of other issues. Once it has been examined thoroughly, the best course of action can be taken against EAB. Treatment has to be applied at the right time, with the right method and by someone who has extensive training in dealing with EAB.
Avoid DIY Emerald Ash Borer Treatments
While it may be tempting to try and get rid of the problem on your own, you can end up losing your tree if you aren’t careful. Even though you have access to the same pesticides that a professional does, you aren’t able to get them with the same concentration. Without the right concentration, the treatment will render useless and the problem will get out of hand. This could result in losing the tree completely.
Effectiveness Depends on Proactive EAB Treatment
If there is any reason to believe you have a problem with Emerald Ash Borers, you shouldn’t hesitate to start treatment. They work quickly to infest and you will have a much better chance at saving the tree when the problem is caught early on. Here are some signs of EAB:
• Crown Dieback– The top of the tree starts to die because it isn’t getting the nutrients needed caused by EAB.
• Epicormic Sprouting– New sprouts showing up at the bottom of the tree where they shouldn’t because the tree is fighting to survive.
• Bark Splits– Vertical splits in the bark caused by larvae galleries.
• Increased Woodpeckers– These birds eat the larvae under the bark. If you see more woodpeckers, have your tree inspected.
Emerald Ash Borer Treatment & Tree Removal & More in Roseville & St Paul, MI
At Eager Beaver Tree Service, we have the experience needed to effectively treat your tree for Emerald Ash Borers. If your tree is beyond preserving we can remove it for you before the problem spreads any further. Call us today!
