Protect Your Ash Trees From the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle

There is a danger out there threatening the lives of our beloved ash trees. It is the emerald ash borer beetle. Already found in Louisiana since 2015, it is quickly barreling down on the state of Mississippi.

I think we can all agree that trees are an essential part of life. Whether you enjoy them or just know that they are there, they provide oxygen, shade and add beauty to our landscapes. One popular tree is the flowering, hardy ash tree. It is considered a deciduous tree and provides a multitude of beautiful colors in the fall. Its wood is used for multiple purposes, including making furniture, flooring, doors, cabinetry, tool handles, baseball bats, hockey sticks, and oars.

Unfortunately, there is an invasive beetle sucking the life out of ash trees across the country, known as the emerald ash borer beetle (EAB). EAB is a tiny, green metallic wood-boring beetle that was first discovered in Detroit in 2002. It is 1/2 of an inch long and 1/8 of an inch wide.

Why Is Emerald Ash Borer Such a Problem?

The beetle alone is not harmful; however, its young larvae feed on the bark of the emerald ash tree. While chewing, it involuntarily chews through the tree’s water and nutrient-carrying tissues. This prohibits them from being able to properly carry water and nutrients throughout the tree. If there is enough of an infestation, it will eventually strangle the tree. Within two years, most of the tree’s canopy will die.

EAB has already killed hundreds of trees in North America, cost municipalities, nurseries, property owners, and the forest industry hundreds of millions of dollars. It was first discovered in Louisiana in 2015. If you own a commercial or residential property in Louisiana, there are certain symptoms you can look for on your own property’s ash trees. 

Symptoms of Emerald Ash Borer Include:

• Canopy Thinning and Crown Dieback – It’s important to note, however, that other conditions can cause thinning of the canopy. Therefore, this symptom alone does not indicate EAB. 
• S-Shaped Galleries & Splitting Bark – Trees attacked by EAB have distinct S-shaped or tunnels beneath the bark. They are approximately 1/8 inch wide and packed with a mixture of sawdust and insect excrement.
• Epicormic Sprouting – As EAB larvae feed, trees attempt to create callus tissue around larval galleries, which cause the bark to split vertically. You can often see the S-shaped galleries and larvae beneath the split bark. 
• D-Shaped Exit Holes – Another symptom of EAB is the presence of D-shaped holes in the bark. When trees are stressed, they may try to grow new branches and leaves wherever possible. Stressed ash trees may have new growth at the base of the trunk or on the main branches.
• Woodpecker Sightings
  Have you noticed an increase in woodpecker activity on your property? This is because woodpeckers feed on the larvae and pupa of infected ash trees, causing flaking bark and uneven holes. If they are pecking at your ash trees, this could be a sign of EAB.

What You Can Do To Help Protect Your Ash Trees

Mississippi and Florida are the only states east of the Mississippi River that have reported no EAB infestations to date. However, it is only a matter of time. Regardless of whether your state has this vicious insect yet, there are things you can do to help prevent EAB infestations and things you can do to prevent it from spreading further. They include:

• Know what EAB looks like and watch any ash trees on your property closely. 
• Act quickly to report any ash trees that are declining.
• Only buy and burn local firewood. Be especially careful and do not move firewood. Invasive insects can sit on firewood for long periods giving plenty of time for the emerald ash borer to emerge. Hauling firewood, even a short distance, from one part of the state to another is a common way for these invasive species to infest new locations.
• Because most EAB beetles attack stressed or injured trees, continuing a tree and shrub care maintenance regime is important. Healthy trees are better able to resist these and all other insects.

Protect Your Ash and Other Trees and Shrubs With TruGreen Midsouth’s Tree and Shrub Care Program

At TruGreen Midsouth, we know how important our lawn ornaments are to the aesthetic appeal of our landscapes. We also know that consistent tree and shrub care is crucial to sustaining these beloved trees and shrubs. That’s why we offer a comprehensive 7-Step Tree and Shrub Care Program. Our 7-Step Tree and Shrub Care Program utilizes a customized treatment plan to fortify and protect your plants. Beginning in the early spring, it includes dormant oil applications, spring and fall root zone fertilization, and insect and disease protection. The best way to protect your ash trees from EAB is through a tree and shrub care program such as ours. Healthier, stronger trees are more adept at fighting off infestations and maintaining their strength throughout.

Start protecting any ash trees you have and all other trees and shrubs on your property from other diseases and pest infestations now. Visit our website and get a free quote. Or give us a call. If you are located in Mississippi, you can reach us at 1-662-330-1330. In Louisiana? Call us at 1-225-465-0665.

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