Emerald Ash Borer

Prior to June of 2002, the emerald ash borer had never been found in North America. It was first discovered in southeast Michigan and has been spreading ever since. On June 9, 2006 the emerald ash borer was discovered in northern Illinois and has been moving south every year. During 2012, a confirmed infestation was found in Marion County, IL and recently (May 2015) the emerald ash borer has been confirmed in the St. Louis, MO area.

The emerald ash borer can kill ash trees within two years after an infestation. Making matters worse, ash trees usually do not even show symptoms until at least 1 year after an infestation which can be too late or results in significant die-back of a tree.

At TurfGator, we have been monitoring this devastating invasive pest for several years, and in a proactive approach, knowing that healthy tress do not show early signs of infestation we started offering preventative treatments in 2013.

Emerald Ash Borer - FAQ's
Ash tree identification

After significant research and advice from industry experts and state authorities, we chose to offer our customers an annual basal trunk spray application which is non-destructive and very effective in comparison to other treatment options. When sprayed on a tree's trunk, the insecticide will penetrate through the bark into the tree’s vascular system which is transported upward to where the emerald ash borer feeds. This method has been proven to provide systemic pest control of the emerald ash borer without invasive damage to a tree.

State Campaign - "Do not move firewood - Help stop the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)" - You may notice public billboards with this message, this is because the Emerald Ash Borer is spreading at an alarming rate to new counties and new states every year. As with many trees that have died, people tend to cut up the wood for the use of firewood. However, in the case of ash trees the Emerald Ash Borer can still be feasting on the tree underneath the bark. Moving the firewood to a new location can allow the Emerald Ash Borer to emerge from the log and now spread to a new area. Currently, Illinois is a Federally Quarantined state by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) - Typical Service Dates:

The insecticide application is required only once per year and needs to be applied during the month of June.

Our GatorGuarantee for all customers: If you're not satisfied with our service, we'll return to your property, free of charge. And if you're still not happy, we'll refund your last application and pay you $25 for your trouble!

Let's Get Started

There are no obligations and estimates are always free. To get started we will need some basic address and contact information filled out and then we can provide you with pricing.

Recommended Services

Pruning Service

As a full-service ornamental tree & shrub care provider, we provide the service of pruning and can provide this service at anytime during the year. Proper pruning can maintain overall health, improve the quality of blooming flowers, restrict unwanted growth.

Mulch

Mulch adds aesthetics with a uniform color and gives any landscape area a finished natural look. A mulched area conserves water by preventing evaporation, lowers the soil temperature during the summer and builds beneficial organic matter.

Pest Control

We offer Pest Control Services operated under the company name of The Pest Guys, which is State licensed by the Illinois Department of Health. We offer several pest control solutions to keep those unwanted pests away like mosquitoes, ants and spiders.

Emerald Ash Borer FAQ's

In 2002, the emerald ash borer was first reported in Michigan, but has since spread to other states. Currently this devastating pest has been confirmed in 20+ states.

The adult beetle is dark metallic green in color, ½ inch-long and 1/8 inch-wide.size of emerald ash borer next to a penny

The natural range of the emerald ash borer is from eastern Russia, northern China, Japan and Korea. Before June of 2002, it had never been found in North America.

No one knows for sure, but it most likely came in ash wood used for stabilizing cargo in ships or from the wood used for packing or crating heavy consumer products.

All types of ash tree species are susceptible. Larval galleries have been found in trees or branches measuring as little as 1-inch in diameter.

The below guide should help in identifying ash trees, however, feel free to call our office anytime and we will send out a technician, free of charge, to check the trees you have on your property and let you know if you have any ash trees.Ash Tree Opposite Branches

The canopy of infested trees begins to thin above infested portions of the trunk and major branches because the emerald ash borer destroys the water and nutrient conducting tissues under the bark. Heavily infested trees exhibit canopy die-back, usually starting at the top of the tree. One-third to one-half of the branches may die in one year. Most of the canopy will be dead within 2 years of when symptoms are first observed.

Healthy ash trees are also susceptible, although beetles may prefer to lay eggs or feed on stressed trees. When emerald ash borer populations are high, small trees may die within 1-2 years of becoming infested and large trees can be killed in 3-4 years after becoming infested.

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