Emerald Ash Borer, a deadly pest, was confirmed in Warrington PA by the PA Department of Agriculture in 2012. Having already killed over 50 million Ash trees in 15 states since 2002, Emerald Ash Borers are a threat to all Ash trees within a 15 mile radius of Warrington PA which includes Bucks County, Montgomery County PA, Philadelphia and the Main Line.
Emerald Ash Borers kill Ash trees within three-five years after infestation. To give your Ash trees the best chance for survival against Emerald Ash Borer, early detection by an ISA Certified Arborist and professional Emerald Ash Borer Treatment by a PA Certified Applicator is essential. Watch the video below to learn more about this deadly pest.
What can you do about Emerald Ash Borers?
Early detection of Emerald Ash Borer and systemic Emerald Ash Borer Treatment is key. Have your Giroud Tree Service ISA Certified Arborist inspect your trees, determine if you have Ash trees and recommend the best Emerald Ash Borer Treatment protocol. Your Giroud ISA Certified Arborist will base his Emerald Ash Borer recommendation on the size of your Ash tree, its health and overall condition.
Emerald Ash Borer treatment should be given to any Ash Tree located within a 15 mile radius of the first Emerald Ash Borer detection site, which in our case is Warrington PA. Spring is the best time for Emerald Ash Borer treatment, but in some situations fall treatment can also be effective. Emerald Ash Borer Treatment must begin while the Ash is still relatively healthy. Otherwise, the tree will be unable to absorb the systemic treatment up through its trunk and crown.
Treatment options vary in performance and cost. In some cases, your Giroud ISA Certified Arborist may prescribe combining injection with spray treatments to increase the odds of success. Listed below in order of effectiveness, the treatments are:
Systemic Trunk Injection with Emamectin Benzoate: Killed the highest number of Emerald Ash Borer larvae in university and government research tests. The treatment protects the tree for two years and should be applied in early May-mid June or mid-Fall.
Soil Injection/Soil Drench with Imidacloprid:, EAB control has been inconsistent. Experience and research indicate that this treatment is most effective on smaller trees. The treatment must be applied annually in mid-late Spring or mid-Fall.
Basal Trunk Sprays with Dinotefuran: Control was variable in research trials. The treatment reduced EAB larval density by approximately 30 percent to 60 percent compared to heavily infested untreated trees. The treatment is effective for one year
Topical Cover Sprays: Provides good control, especially when the insecticides were applied in late May and again in early July when the adult Borer are feeding on the leaves
Take Action!
Early detection is key to saving your Ash Trees. Property owners in the “high risk zone” shown below, need to:
Have your Giroud Arborist complete a comprehensive Ash Tree survey and health inspection .
Determine which Ash Trees are highly valued in your landscape and warrant treatment.
Identify trees of lesser value that may be worth a lower cost treatment or be left untreated. Untreated trees may require removal in the future.
Have your Giroud Arborist develop a treatment protocol that matches the size, health and value of your Ash Trees.
Begin treatment at the optimum time and continue treating each tree on the schedule prescribed by the type of treatment.
Remove deadwood and promote healthy growth with regular pruning in combination with treatment.
Symptoms of Emerald Ash Borer in PA
Emerald Ash Borer typically are not detected in a tree until after populations have reached high levels and damage has occurred.
Usually the upper third of a tree will thin and then die back. Next, a large number of shoots or branches will emerge below the dead portions of the trunk. If a tree has lost more than 50% of its canopy, it’s probably too late to save it.
Other symptoms include: small D-shaped exit holes in the bark where adults have emerged, vertical splits in the bark and distinct serpentine-shaped tunnels beneath the bark in the cambium, where larvae effectively stop food and water movement in the tree, starving it to death.
Emerald Ash Borer High Risk Zone Map for 15 Mile Radius around Warrington PA in Bucks County PA
Local Communities in Danger Zone for Emerald Ash Borer
