How to Control Emerald Green Ash Borer
Hailing from Asia, the emerald green ash borer feeds between the bark and wood of trees, and can cause the tree to girdle and die. According to the USDA Forest Service, this pest has infected 5 million ash trees in Michigan alone. Nursery trees in Virginia and Maryland have also been infested with the emerald green ash borer. Because this pest is so dangerous for trees, it is essential for gardeners to employ the right methods for controlling it. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Monitor your ash trees in June when the emerald green ash borer is at its highest population. Examine your ash trees for signs of infestation. Look for wood peckers feeding on larvae, D-shaped exit holes made by adults, split bark and wood discoloration. You may notice entire branches defoliated and dead.
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Identify the pest. Examine the insect as it is flying around your ash trees. Emerald green ash borers do not travel far away from ash trees. Generally, they stay within half a mile of their emergence site. Their bodies are from 3/8 to 3/4 inch long. When their wings are spread, they look purplish metallic red.
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Prune off dead or damaged branches. Make a 45-degree downward angle cut 1/4 inch above a healthy bud. To find out if the branch has been killed by the green emerald ash borer, scrape the bark and look for whitish green underneath. If you see brown or black, you know the tree limb is dead.
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Mix up an insecticide that contains imidacloprid based on the directions. Choose a time in mid-June to spray your tree and any surrounding trees to prevent them from becoming infested. Pick a day that is free from rain and wind to spray the entire canopy down to the base of the tree.
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Repeat the insecticide application in four weeks.
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Tips & Warnings
Treat your trees with insecticide every year after they have become infested with emerald green ash borer.
Wear shoes, mask, gloves and goggles when spraying your ash tree with insecticide.
