Emerald Ash Borer | Tree Removal & Large Tree Plantings

Here in Bucks County, we’ve seen thousands of ash trees taken out by this tiny pest. According to an article from the Arbor Day Foundation, the Emerald Ash Borer was first discovered in the Detroit area in 2002. It is believed to have entered the country on wooden packing materials from China. The bright metallic-green beetle may be smaller than a dime, but it is capable of taking down ash trees thousands of times its size.

Millions of Trees

Ash trees are one of the most valuable and abundant North American woodland trees: estimates of the total number of ash trees in the United States alone range between seven and nine billion. Small trees can die as soon as one to two years after infestation, while larger infested trees can survive for three to four years. Heavy infestations of larval borers speed up the devastation of formerly healthy trees.

How to Prevent The Spread

Know the symptoms of EAB: thinning or dying of ash tree crowns, suckers at the base of the tree, splitting bark, tunneling under the bark, D-shaped exit holes, and woodpecker activity. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends the following to help manage this pest:

• Call the USDA Emerald Ash Borer Hotline at 1-866-322-4512 or your local USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) office if you think you’ve found an EAB infestation. Find contact information for your local APHIS office at the USDA’s website.

• Record the area where you found the insect and take photos of the insect along with any damage.

• Don’t move firewood from your property or carry it across state lines.

• Buy firewood from local sources and burn it where you buy it.

• Buy kiln-dried firewood.

• Before spring, burn your remaining firewood supply to eliminate the chance of EAB spreading to live trees.

Large Tree Plantings

If you notice damage to your ash trees, unfortunately, it is too late to try and save them. Removing infected trees is the best course of action. Many of our customers who are removing ash trees replace them with large shade trees. While there are hundreds of options available some of the most common include Japanese Zelkova, Maple, or Oak Trees. Planting large trees in the winter offers additional benefits including no watering! After a successful planting, the cold weather can help make the tree hardier, healthier, and create a strong root system. If your property is in need of ash tree removal and large tree planting, give us a call at (215) 794-8599 or get a quote at www.nurneylandscape.com/quote.