You probably haven’t seen the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on your ash trees yet but you will soon. This highly aggressive pest was found in Wyandotte County, KS and in Parkville, MO in 2012 and will be found over most of the metro area in 2013.
Over the next 3 – 10 years we will witness the death of most of the ash trees in the metro area. So whether your home is in Olathe, Overland Park, or other cities within the Johnson County area, now is the time to protect any ash trees on your property.
The EAB attacks and kills all species of ash trees in their wake except those that were specially protected. The beetle mates in early summer then the females lay eggs in the bark of ash trees.
As soon as the eggs hatch the borers tunnel into the cambium layer where they tunnel throughout the summer and fall. The tunneling kills the cambium layer and interrupts the flow of water and nutrients.
The adults emerge from a “D” shaped hole in the bark the following April through June. In the adult stage, the beetles feed on the edges of ash leaves. Once EAB find a tree they can kill it within 2-3 years. Again, no tree is spared that is not protected.
Where this pest has been established, communities that were once shaded by beautiful ash trees are now barren.Custom Lawn & Landscape cares about your trees and our urban forest and we have a plan to help.
5 Step Ash Tree Protection Plan
Step 1 Do not transport firewood or buy ash trees.
Step 2 Know your ash trees and those in the neighborhood. Look for chewed leaf edges, “D” shaped holes in the bark, suckers on branches and trunk, thinning canopies and woodpecker damage. Report a sighting immediately to us or another competent plant health care professional.
Step 3 Keep trees fertilized, properly pruned and pest free. Water to a depth of 6-9 inches, or more, during dry weather. Control Clearwing Borers (another serious pest of ash trees), if present.
Step 4 Develop a secession plan for the trees that you do not plan to protect. Strategically select and plant a diversity of well-acclimated, pest-resistant trees around your property. ( See our list of recommended trees on the next page.)
Step 5 Preventive care is critical. Consider calling us or another professional to have your trees protected.
Begin Protecting Your Most Valuable Trees Now
The following guide can help you evaluate the relative value of your trees based upon their position in the landscape, their condition, and the cost of removing and replacing them vs. the cost to keep them alive over time.
Value Recommended Action Plan
Low: Plant locally adapted, pest resistant trees. Cull out ash trees that die or that are in poor condition or unimportant to you.
Moderate: Begin planting well adapted, pest resistant trees as eventual replacements. Maintain or improve tree vigor. Begin pesticide treatment and maintain until other trees establish.
High: Maintain or improve tree vigor. Begin pesticide treatment.
Trees Recommended for Our Area
The following replacement trees are pest resistant and recommended for our climate and soil conditions. We will sell and plant a select number of these trees at significant discount each fall (prices to be announced). Contact us if you would like to be on our call list. 913-782-8315
Deciduous Trees under 20 feet @ maturity
• Amur Maple – nice autumn foliage (Acer tataricum var. ginnala)
• Oklahoma Redbud – attractive flowers(Cercis canadensis subspecies texensis
• Winterberry Euonymus attractive fruit & flowers (Euonymus bungeanus)
Medium Deciduous Trees 20-40’ @maturity
• Hedge Maple – excellent pest resistance (Acer campestre)
• Goldenraintree – nice fruit & flowers and very pest resistant (Koelreuteria paniculata)
• Chinkapin Oak – very pest resistant (Quercus muehlenbergii)
• Western Soapberry – nice fruit, flowers, bark, pest resistant (Sapindus drummondii)
• Persimmon – edible fruit, nice bark (Diospyros virginiana)
Large and Very Large Deciduous Trees 40’ +
• Ginkgo – pest resistant, nice fruit (Ginkgo biloba)
• Thornless Honeylocust – light shade easy on turf (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis)
• Kentucky Coffeetree – pest resistance, nice autumn foliage (Gymnocladus dioicus)
• Lacebark Elm – attractive bark(Ulmus parvifolia)
Evergreen Trees
• Upright Chinese Juniper – height varies(Juniperus chinensis)
• Eastern Red Cedar – 20 – 40 + feet(Juniperus virginiana)
We will make a bulk purchase of trees this fall for the benefit of our customers and will have prices for these trees later in the year. Please contact us if you would like to be notified. You will be able to pick these trees up at our office or have us plant them in late November or December. Quantities will be limited to those that were pre-ordered.
Custom Lawn & Landscape is your trusted resource for Emerald Ash Borer Control. We cover the entire Johnson County area, so if you need ash borer protection in Overland Park, Olathe, or other surrounding cities, please give us a call. One of our professionals will be able to meet at your home and discuss your options for emerald ash borer infestation.
