Ash borer, letter to editors- Comments?

[John Paul Sanborn]

From Journal Sentinel readers
Posted: June 20, 2007
ASH BORER
Let's work to save at least some trees

As an arborist and property owner, I thank the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for printing the opinion piece by Paul Markworth ("Eradication is not stopping the emerald ash borer," Crossroads, June 17).
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Many people cannot picture the devastation this pest and the eradication solution will have on neighborhoods. In some areas, entire blocks will be essentially clear-cut, losing 80% or more of canopy. Many people will be left with nothing but small ornamental trees.

Allowing property owners to keep high-quality specimen trees will buffer the effect of the clear-cutting. Instituting a permitting and inspection process prior to the outbreak would smooth things out. Requiring chemical treatment be done by a state-certified applicator will ensure it is done properly.

Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources is silent on whether selective chemical controls will be allowed, sometimes citing federal guidelines for eradication funding. Since the problem is so large now, there are no guarantees of future federal funds.

If the state would allow communities to set up tracking systems, or if the DNR would take the lead through current pesticide application reporting, the green industry would be able to tell people they could keep a tree being treated. This could help drive down the cost of treatment and keep some large, healthy trees after a surge in cutting all the rest.

John Paul Sanborn
Franklin

 

[treeseer]

Way to speak out, john and treewizard. can you link paul's piece?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

From Journal Sentinel

By PAUL MARKWORTH
Posted: June 16, 2007

The emerald ash borer threatens all ash trees in the Midwest. It has not been found in Wisconsin as of June 12, but it is in northern Illinois.

The million-dollar question seems to be: "Can I protect my ash trees, and, if so, when should I start?"

Unfortunately, there are differing opinions, and the facts are not conclusive. Most of the money that has been spent on borer control - more than $100 million - has gone into removing trees with the hope of eradicating the pest. While some money has been put toward research into adult-beetle trapping methods, a better understanding of the borer's life cycle and biological controls, there still is much to be learned.

One thing that seems evident is that eradication is not working.

The great results that Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., has achieved by treating ash trees with pesticides show that there is an alternative to the eradication program. I also have talked with numerous arborists in Michigan who have successfully used pesticides to save ash trees in highly infested areas. Granted, there have been losses, but saving some is better than just cutting them all down.

Consider these things when thinking about treating your trees:

• Only valuable, important trees should be considered for treatment: specimen trees, trees shading your home or patio and so on. These trees should be healthy and vigorous.

• The systemic insecticide im-idacloprid has been shown to protect ash trees from emerald ash borers. It is not 100% effective - nothing in nature is. When used as a soil injection, studies suggest it is 85% effective. It is most effective if the treatment is in place ahead of the insect.

• If the state starts doing eradication cutting and the tree you have been treating falls within the eradication area, the state will remove your tree even if it is borer-free.

• Imidacloprid will not control most native ash borers - that is, clear wing borers - but will control leafhoppers, plant bugs and aphids. Proper diagnosis is important.

• Once treatments begin, they have to be done yearly or the tree will lose protection. This can be costly.

• Planting replacement trees is another option.

Some say people could be wasting money by treating trees when the emerald ash borer is not very close. Others will point out that early protection is most effective, since it can take several years to build up a reservoir of systemic pesticide in a larger tree.

Given the lack of good trapping methods, we do not know where the emerald ash borer is for sure. Everywhere it has been found, it had been present for two to six years before its discovery.

By then, it has killed hundreds or thousands of ash trees and doomed thousands more to the chainsaw.

Paul Markworth is a board certified master arborist working for Wachtel Tree Science & Service in Merton.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Posted the same day as Markworths

JS ONLINE



We can save valued ash trees
In Michigan, insecticides work
By DAVID SMITLEY
Posted: June 16, 2007

After four years of testing insecticide treatments, we are now confident of our ability to save individual ash trees as the emerald ash borer sweeps through and destroys unprotected trees.

Not everyone will want to treat trees with insecticide each year, but it is important for people to know that effective treatments are available.

The simplest treatment is a basal soil drench with an insecticide containing imidacloprid. For homeowners, this means buying Bayer Tree and Shrub Insect Control - or perhaps in the future other imidacloprid products labeled as a soil drench - pouring one ounce per inch of tree circumference into a bucket of water and drenching the solution around the base of the tree trunk once per year in May or early June.

For a tree with a 30-inch trunk circumference, this will cost about $25 per year. We have done this at several sites near Detroit with excellent results. With this treatment alone, we have saved all of the small ash trees - those less than 30 inches in circumference - and 60% to 90% of the larger ash trees.

We now have a test underway at Michigan State University in which we are drenching trees every year, every other year and every third year to find out whether we can use less frequent treatments.

There is no need to start treating trees until the emerald ash borer has been found in your county or your town. If you start then, you should still get good protection. Saving trees becomes less certain when treatments begin after they show obvious symptoms of borer infestation.
To learn more

Michigan State University is inviting arborists to see their research results at a field day Aug. 8 at the BayPointe Golf Club in West Bloomfield, Mich. Details will be available in late June at www.emeraldashborer.info

David Smitley is a professor of entomology and an extension specialist at Michigan State University.

 

[treeseer]

Laying out the facts without opinion--nice job treewiz. BCMA Power!

We have few ashes in nc, but still this letter is a great example to me of fighting for better tree care in the court of public opinion, and hopefully making agencies think more before acting.

 

[Dadatwins]

Unfortunatly government will almost always react to knee jerk reaction, 'cut them all down and that will stop the problem.' Good to see science getting involved and offering solutions, now the challenge is getting the right people to listen.