Emerald Ash Borer

Bob McCarty

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Staff member
EAB has been in Colorado for several years. None has appeared in our rural neighborhood, but I think that is just a matter of time. The treatments I'm aware of are expensive injections done by a tree service good for two years, or a ground application done annually by the homeowner. Just wondered if anyone has any personal experience with either system and what chemicals were used. Hate to lose 20 year old trees as they grow slowly at this altitude.

Bob
 
Not to discourage you, but the ash trees here in the east are gone. On the brighter side, if you have just a few ash trees to protect, Bayer Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed has done an excellent job of protecting the Eastern Hemlocks in our yard from Wooly Adelgid. It is certified for Emerald Ash Borer, also. It is a systemic that is applied to the drip line of each tree. Very expensive, though. Good luck.
 
I don't think there is enough ash left around here to make a tooth pick let alone a ball bat. Any time trimmers have to clear under power lines here they remove the entire tree if it is ash.
 
The ash borer rode through Michigan and turned a majority of the leafed trees to standing sticks. Now 15 years later, most ash trees have fallen. Ya really had to watch where you park an RV or car. A good gust of wind can push down a dead tree really easily.
There are a couple of resistant ash trees out there. https://phys.org/news/2019-07-green-ash ... erald.html
I have a few very young ash trees that are growing naturally on the edge of my property. They are only about 6-8' tall at this point. Hoping these survive and maybe become a new crop that can spread throughout the woods again.
 
After losing all my ash trees, a few years ago, I have one that came up, volunteer, right outside the door of my shop. Not a real good location but I just can't remove it. It's looking good, so far, so I'm hoping for the best.
 
The chestnut blight wiped out the American Chestnut over 100 years ago. To this day, there are still chestnut shoots coming up from the old root systems. Unfortunately, since they already have the blight when they emerge, they only grow to about 25-30 feet, then die. There are some resistant original chestnut trees out there that are being used to try to restore the species. Maybe the same can be done with the ashes.
 
Bob
Try Dominion 2L. Generic active ingredient to what Bayer has. Cheaper, concentrated (you can mix your own strength) and applied same as the Bayer stuff. Available on Amazon. Been working for me on my one ash and crepe myrtles (aphids & scale).
 
Best I think we can hope for is a naturally resistant ash to develop in nature.

We still have a few holding on, and some new growth thats less than 5 years old I bet
 
had several emerald ash die on my 14 acres -- cut about 1/2 of 'em down for firewood this year..should have enough for firewood next year. they make a hole about the size of a 22 bullitt
 
Had 3 giant ones here ---- cut piled and burned on the stump then ground up the roots with the stump grinder and burned the grindings in another brush pile. wood was full of holes.
 
My house is from 1639 and it is a post and beam made out of American Chestnut with pegged connections. You can't screw into it or nail into it. It is great stuff and a shame that it got wiped out.
 
I have about enough ash milled up with a alaskan chain saw mill to make a complete 8x16 hay wagon deck!

Now I have to get it assembled!

Such a good wood its a shame of its demise! :(

Been thinking of milling up some ash for cub-22 pitmans!
 
I cut several boards from some of the solid parts of 1 tree, ---- not impressed with the wood. --- will probably toss the boards on the burn pile later on. ----- a friend took a couple 2"x16"'s 6' long to make a bench or sumpin with. I used 4, 3x4's 3' long for a outside work bench. --- still holdin up so far.
 
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