An Unwanted Visitor is Coming
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| 303 North Saddle Creek Road Omaha, NE 68131 (402) 558-5900 |
| The Store |
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The Emerald Ash Borer was introduced into the United States in the late 1990’s from Asia. The borer was first
identified near Detroit, MI in 2002. It probably came over in wood packing material and has spread into Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois and one province in Canada. In Asia, the pest does not cause death to the trees it infests. However, due to
some genetic differences, it is proving deadly to all varieties of Ash Trees in North America. The Emerald Ash Borer
has not reached Nebraska, though many experts feel it is only a matter of time. The insect can only travel about ½
mile on its own, so it is most likely that the borer will travel by infected nursery stock or firewood being brought in by
vacationers.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has a plan in place to protect Nebraska from infected nursery material, but
the movement of firewood is much more difficult to control. The borer threat is a good reminder to maintain a very
diverse tree population making it more important than ever to continue planting a wide variety of trees. All varieties and
ages of ash trees are affected by the Emerald Ash Borer with the exception of Mountain Ash which is not a true ash
species.
The one thing that can be agreed upon by most experts is that the time to start protecting valuable Ash trees is while
they are healthy and before they are infested. The treatment can be done easily by the homeowner. Drenching the
area near the trunk of the tree with ferti-lome’s Tree and Shrub Systemic Drench (imidacloprid) once each year in
May or June will provide protection from Emerald Ash Borer as well as many other insects that might infect Ash
trees. A young tree can gain some protection with one treatment, but larger trees require at least two annual
treatments highlighting the need to have a proactive approach.
A survey of local nurseries finds some still selling locally-grown ash trees while others have removed them from their
inventory. Dutch Elm Disease, Pine Wilt, as well as Emerald Ash Borer, demonstrates the importance of planting as
many different varieties of trees as possible.
identified near Detroit, MI in 2002. It probably came over in wood packing material and has spread into Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois and one province in Canada. In Asia, the pest does not cause death to the trees it infests. However, due to
some genetic differences, it is proving deadly to all varieties of Ash Trees in North America. The Emerald Ash Borer
has not reached Nebraska, though many experts feel it is only a matter of time. The insect can only travel about ½
mile on its own, so it is most likely that the borer will travel by infected nursery stock or firewood being brought in by
vacationers.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has a plan in place to protect Nebraska from infected nursery material, but
the movement of firewood is much more difficult to control. The borer threat is a good reminder to maintain a very
diverse tree population making it more important than ever to continue planting a wide variety of trees. All varieties and
ages of ash trees are affected by the Emerald Ash Borer with the exception of Mountain Ash which is not a true ash
species.
The one thing that can be agreed upon by most experts is that the time to start protecting valuable Ash trees is while
they are healthy and before they are infested. The treatment can be done easily by the homeowner. Drenching the
area near the trunk of the tree with ferti-lome’s Tree and Shrub Systemic Drench (imidacloprid) once each year in
May or June will provide protection from Emerald Ash Borer as well as many other insects that might infect Ash
trees. A young tree can gain some protection with one treatment, but larger trees require at least two annual
treatments highlighting the need to have a proactive approach.
A survey of local nurseries finds some still selling locally-grown ash trees while others have removed them from their
inventory. Dutch Elm Disease, Pine Wilt, as well as Emerald Ash Borer, demonstrates the importance of planting as
many different varieties of trees as possible.
