Emerald Ash Borer in Cincinnati

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Presentation about Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) to the Cincinnati Home & Garden Show, March 2010 by Tim Back, Back Tree Service

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Emerald Ash Borer Agenda

Why I Took EAB Training Early• My Trip to Romeo, MI• Toledo Case Study• Local Perceptions• Mason Case Study• Identification & Treatment• Resources

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Cincinnati Home & Garden Show March 2010

Tim Back, Certified Arborist since 1997

Why I Took EAB Training Early

• Elm trees destroyed by Dutch Elm Disease

• Elm trees replaced by Ash trees

• EAB discovered in Michigan 2002

• EAB = total destruction for Ash trees

• EAB discovered in Warren County, October 2006

• EAB discovered in Hamilton County, May 2007

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Trip to Romeo, MI

Treated, Healthy Untreated, Dead Treated, Healthy Untreated, Dead

July, 2007

1970 1997

It took 27 years for trees to grow this big. They added beauty and increased property value

They would have been even bigger and more valuable today

Case Study 1: Bellevue Road, Toledo

Species

DBH Class (in)

12-18” 18-24” 24-30” 30-36” Total

Green Ash $853.75 $5,791.23 $60,476.72 $3,160.67 $70,282.38

Replacement or landscape value of 33 trees on Bellevue Road does not include tree and stump removal.

An Analysis of Aesthetic and Environmental Benefits Lost on Bellevue Road, Toledo, Ohio as a Result of an Attack by Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

By T. Davis Sydnor and Sakthi Subburayalu, Ohio State University

Case Study 1: Bellevue Road, Toledo

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This report from OSU did not give removal cost.

For removing trees this size the total cost could be double!

$70,282.38 x 2 = $140,564.76

Case Study 1: Bellevue Road, Toledo

This is the impact on just one street in Toledo

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In addition:

33 green ash trees are contributing a total of $8,455.10 annually

Case Study 1: Bellevue Road, Toledo

T. Davis Sydnor and Sakthi Subburayalu, Ohio State University

Early EAB Thought in Cincinnati

Article’s Key Points

“Ash trees… doomed to death from attacks by the emerald ash borer. Some say it will be within the next year; others predict the destruction over the next five to 10 years.”

“…we have little data to suggest that continual, annual applications will keep borers out of any specific ash tree.

“The best treatments are not 100 percent effective and, eventually, the insects will infest a treated tree and kill it.”

“seek a written guarantee… there are no guarantees.”

Early EAB Thought in Cincinnati

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Perceptions in 2006:

1. “Ash trees… doomed to death”2. “…little data”3. “The best treatments are not 100 percent effective”

Today’s Reality

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Perceptions in 2006:

1. “Ash trees… doomed to death”2. “…little data”3. “The best treatments are not 100 percent effective”

Reality: Michigan State University entomologists started a study in 2005 and discovered…

“TREE-äge gave 100% control of emerald ash borer larvae for 3 years after a single treatment.”

Today’s Reality

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Control on Street Trees, 2005-2008D.R. Smitley, K.F. Newhouse & T.W. DavisDepartment of EntomologyMichigan State University

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Another Perception in 2006:

4. “seek a written guarantee… there are no guarantees.”

Today’s Reality

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Another Perception in 2006:

4. “seek a written guarantee… there are no guarantees.”

Reality: Back Tree Service Written Guarantee

Today’s Reality

Case Study 2: Mason, Ohio

Beth Burwinkel, Cincinnati EnquirerSaturday December 1, 2007

“Back, an arborist, has studied the emerald ash borer and various methods of protecting trees. He is a supporter of injecting products into the trunks of trees, as well as aeration and soil remediation, vertical mulching and fertilizing.

A new product in 2008, Emamectin Benzoate, is expected to protect trees for at least two years, Back says.”

Case Study 2: Mason, Ohio

(Emamectin Benzoate is the Active ingredient of TREE-äge)

Tim,

I have been meaning for some time to send you pictures of the Ash trees that you have been treating to protect against the Emerald Ash Borer.

They are spectacular!!! The treatments seem to be working!!! It would cost us thousands of dollars to have them taken down if they became infested and we could not replace them due to their size.

Wanted you to see the results of your work. Use these pictures if you want to show people what can be done.

Dick Haley, Mason

Case Study 2: Mason, Ohio

These are the trees mentioned in Beth Burwinkel’s article.

Without Treatment

Recent Article,October 10, 2009

A lot of people still think remove, not treat.

(Who is this guy?)

This is the result of NOT treating

Still Living in the Past

To attack EAB is to treat trees, not remove them

A two inch tree is not a comparable replacement

Why not try a proven treatment?

My response…

“Elm trees were lost to Dutch Elm Disease and replaced mostly with Ash trees. Today Dutch Elm Disease is treatable – it took decades to get the right treatment and the right delivery system.

Today we have Ash trees threatened by the Emerald Ash Borer which was discovered in the Tri-State area in 2006 and is only just becoming a major local threat.

The big difference between Elm tree problems and the current Emerald Ash Borer problem is that technology was too slow to save Elm trees. But today we have proven technology to successfully treat Ash trees, so why don’t we use it?

Will the tree replacement for Ash trees succumb to a different insect or disease and require removal again?

The next major threat is the Asian Long Horned Beetle.  It chooses about 15 tree species and mainly targets Oaks and Maples.Euthanasia by chain saw is not the answer. It only gets repeated. Treating trees saves money over removal, upon removal, upon removal.”

Identifying the EAB

EAB makes unique “D” shaped holes

Close up of the EAB exiting the hole

Epicormic growth at base of tree shows stress

The end result, bark removed.

EAB starts at the top and outer reaches of the tree. If you see holes at ground level then it’s too late!

Detecting the EAB

• Be pro-active, do not procrastinate

• EAB Starts in the upper and outer parts of the tree, then works its way down.

• By the time you see those “D” shaped holes at ground level, it’s too late.

• Someone needs to get up in the tree to look for those holes.

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• Spray

• Soil Drenching

• Mauget

• Wedgel

• ArborJet with TREE-age

Treatment Methods

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(We’ve tried all these)

Current Research

“A new product that is effective for two years or even longer (emamectin benzoate) has altered the economics of treating ash trees…

Emamectin benzoate is the only product tested to date that controls EAB for more than one year with a single application.

It also provided a higher level of control than other products in side-by-side studies.”

Research Report, June 2009

OSU, Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue and Illinois Universities (Click here to see this report)

Trees treated are a minimum of 4 inches DBHThe active ingredient of TREE-age is Emamectin Benzoateand is proven to be 100% effective

Comparison of EAB Treatment Methods

Solution

Solution

ArborJet injection method with TREE-äge

(Active ingredient - Emamectin benzoate)

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Why Pneumatic Vertical Mulching?

Trees and soils are so ecologically independent that it is hard to imaging separating them from one another. Yet the processes involved with urban development disrupt this ecological balance, creating growing conditions that may range from unfavorable to antagonistic.

It has been said that the vast majority of tree decline situations can be attributed to an initial soil stress.

Trees are living systems driven by energy. They must obtain sufficient oxygen, water, essential elements and other components from the soil to meet their energy requirements.

Understanding soil is vital to arboriculture because soil is, quite literally, the foundation within which a tree grows.

Arborists’ Certification Guide, Sharon J. Lilly

1. Are they Certified Arborists?

2. Is the company ArborJet endorsed?

3. Do they have a written guarantee?

Selecting an EAB Treatment Professional

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Ask these questions…

Treated – all healthy Untreated – all dead

The Choice for Cincinnati

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End Result of No Treatment

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Resources

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One Final Thought

If you were sick, would you want the best doctor,

or the cheapest doctor?

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