RTEC Treecare

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Emerald Ash Borer Protection Program

RTEC’s Emerald Ash Borer Protection Program utilizes special insecticides designed to kill Emerald Ash Borers living in your tree and prevent new ones from infesting your ash tree. 

 

Emerald Ash Borer Protection ProgramAbout The Emerald Ash Borer Protection Program:

  • 1 treatment provides protection for 2 years
  • Treatment applied through soil injection or trunk injection (depends on your tree’s location).
  • Safe for the tree, humans, animals, and the general surrounding environment including other trees and plants.

Pricing:

Pricing depends on the volume of trees/shrubs, type of application needed, and how big your Ash trees are. Schedule a consultation with a certified arborist to find out what your Emerald Ash Borer Protection Program would cost.

Why Is Emerald Ash Borer Protection Important?

  • EAB is an invasive pest that has already killed over 50 Million Ash trees in 20+ states.
  • Once your Ash tree is infested with Emerald Ash Borers it has a 99% mortality rate. 
  • Prevention is key: once you see the signs the tree has most likely been infested for years.
  • Ash trees are home to over 43 different species which will be adversely affected if your ash tree dies.

Emerald Ash Borer Map
Emerald Ash Borer has spread to over 20 states.

Without treatment your tree has a 99% mortality rate.
Without treatment, your tree has a 99% mortality rate.

Emerald Ash Borer Signs & Symptoms:

  • Canopy dieback, beginning at the top and progressing downward.
  • In later stages, ash trees may form sprouts from the trunk and roots.
  • Increased woodpecker activity.
  • The tree’s bark can split, exposing “S”- shaped galleries underneath.
  • “D” Shaped exit holes in the tree’s bark about 1/8 inch in diameter.

“S”-Shaped Galleries

“S” Shaped Galleries

emerald ash borer

Woodpecker Activity On An Ash Tree

sick tree entry and exit holes

“D” Shaped Exit Holes

Frequently Asked EAB Questions

How Do I Know If My Tree Is Infested?

First, determine if your tree is an Ash tree by using our Ash Tree ID Guide. Once you know your tree is an Ash tree look for the Common Signs and Symptoms of Emerald Ash Borers.

Can My Ash Recover On Its Own?

No, once infested ash trees will die if not treated.

I’ve Treated My Trees In The Past For Borers. Are They Safe? 

No, there are many different types of borers that range in severity and each treatment is unique to the type of borer. Emerald Ash Borers are highly invasive and kill trees rapidly. In order to prevent them, specific treatment is needed.

Is It Better To Treat Or Remove My Ash Trees? 

Treatment is typically better than removal for a couple reasons.

  • First, it is the cheaper option. It is 4 times more expensive to remove a tree than to treat it, and 10 times more expensive to remove and replace the tree.
  • Secondly, ash trees are home to 43 different species which will be adversely affected if you remove your ash trees.
  • Lastly, mature trees add to home values. Removing your ash trees will decrease the value of your property.

However, not all ash trees are good candidates for treatment. As a common rule of thumb if 30% or more of the tree’s canopy has declined or died back the tree can not be saved by treatment and should be removed as soon as possible. An Emerald Ash Borer infestation weakens the structure of Ash trees which makes them more likely to fall and cause property damage. These trees are likely to be dangerous to remove and should be taken down by experience professionals using techniques other than climbing and tying into trees.