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Summary
Insecticide Options Are Available to Protect Ash Tress from EAB: Learn Pros, Cons, Whether Replacing Is Better Move (5/10/2009)
Now that the ravenous emerald ash borer (EAB) has been found in about half of Ohios 88 counties, residents have been left wondering if there are effective insecticides to protect their ashes and whether or not cutting down and replacing their trees may be a more cost-effective choice. To help homeowners make an informed decision, Ohio State University experts have come up with science-based recommendations about commercially available treatment options for EAB, including their effectiveness, application time and requirements, and the pros and cons of treating versus replacing ash trees. The recommendations are available online at http://ashalert.osu.edu; look for Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer and their Effectiveness under the Factsheets/Bulletins section of the Web site. You can also get a hard copy from your local OSU Extension office. Research and experience have shown that insecticides can protect trees from EAB, but success is not always assured, said Dan Herms, an Ohio State entomologist and OSU Extension specialist based on the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Centers (OARDC) Wooster campus. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to remove and replace the tree. Before rushing to the garden center or contracting a professional applicator, Herms said, folks should first consider whether or not they are in a quarantined area, the stage of their EAB infestation, budget and how much they value their ash trees. According to an OSU Extension recommendation, ash trees within Ohio Department of Agricultures (ODA) EAB quarantine, as well as those outside the quarantine but within the vicinity (i.e. 10-15 miles) of a known infestation, are considered to be at risk. Insecticide treatments, then, should be considered by those in these areas who want to try to protect their ash trees, Herms said. Trees elsewhere in Ohio are not considered to be immediately threatened, but this will change as EAB spreads and new infestations are discovered, so it is important to stay up-to-date. For up-to-date information about infested and quarantine areas, go to http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/eab. These treatments are not a one-time application, and it may be more cost-effective to replace the ash trees with other species, Herms pointed out. But some people have a strong emotional attachment to their trees, and for them it may be worth investing in these insecticide treatments. Insecticides tested to control EAB include imidacloprid (several brand names available), which can be applied by soil injection, drench or trunk injection from mid-April to late mid-June (time of application varies depending on product chosen and location in Ohio). Also available are Tree-age (applied as a trunk injection) and preventive bark and foliage sprays such as Astro and Tempo. These insecticides can only be purchased and applied by professional applicators. A treatment option is available for do-it-yourselfers, too. Its Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect Control, whose active ingredient is imidacloprid and is applied as a soil drench from mid-April to mid-May. Generics of this product are also available in the market now.
Now that the ravenous emerald ash borer (EAB) has been found in about half of Ohios 88 counties, residents have been left wondering if there are effective insecticides to protect their ashes and whether or not cutting down and replacing their trees may be a more cost-effective choice. To help homeowners make an informed decision, Ohio State University experts have come up with science-based recommendations about commercially available treatment options for EAB, including their effectiveness, application time and requirements, and the pros and cons of treating versus replacing ash trees. The recommendations are available online at http://ashalert.osu.edu; look for Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer and their Effectiveness under the Factsheets/Bulletins section of the Web site. You can also get a hard copy from your local OSU Extension office. Research and experience have shown that insecticides can protect trees from EAB, but success is not always assured, said Dan Herms, an Ohio State entomologist and OSU Extension specialist based on the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Centers (OARDC) Wooster campus. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to remove and replace the tree. Before rushing to the garden center or contracting a professional applicator, Herms said, folks should first consider whether or not they are in a quarantined area, the stage of their EAB infestation, budget and how much they value their ash trees. According to an OSU Extension recommendation, ash trees within Ohio Department of Agricultures (ODA) EAB quarantine, as well as those outside the quarantine but within the vicinity (i.e. 10-15 miles) of a known infestation, are considered to be at risk. Insecticide treatments, then, should be considered by those in these areas who want to try to protect their ash trees, Herms said. Trees elsewhere in Ohio are not considered to be immediately threatened, but this will change as EAB spreads and new infestations are discovered, so it is important to stay up-to-date. For up-to-date information about infested and quarantine areas, go to http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/eab. These treatments are not a one-time application, and it may be more cost-effective to replace the ash trees with other species, Herms pointed out. But some people have a strong emotional attachment to their trees, and for them it may be worth investing in these insecticide treatments. Insecticides tested to control EAB include imidacloprid (several brand names available), which can be applied by soil injection, drench or trunk injection from mid-April to late mid-June (time of application varies depending on product chosen and location in Ohio). Also available are Tree-age (applied as a trunk injection) and preventive bark and foliage sprays such as Astro and Tempo. These insecticides can only be purchased and applied by professional applicators. A treatment option is available for do-it-yourselfers, too. Its Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect Control, whose active ingredient is imidacloprid and is applied as a soil drench from mid-April to mid-May. Generics of this product are also available in the market now.
