Treatment Methods:

A systemic pesticide is injected into the ground under the tree or directly into the trunk of the tree. The tree then absorbs the chemical and moves it into all parts of the tree. This kills any borers inside the tree and keeps borers from entering healthy trees

This chemical is safe and legal throughout New York, except Long Island.

Some Ash trees in poor health may require fertilization as part of the treatment process.

Is the treatment guaranteed to work? Trees are living organisms and thus many factors come into play such as the health of the tree and the pressure from pest populations. However, 5 year longitudinal studies have shown nearly 100% prevention of infection in trees treated before they were attacked. Trees treated after infection also responded quite positively. The smaller trees showed the greatest ability to recover after infection. Large decayed Ash trees may have difficulty moving the chemical around effectively and are more prone to infection as a result. To guarantee best results all work will be performed by an Internationally Certified Arborist and a Licensed Pesticide Applicator.

Keep in mind...

EAB spread quickly and leaves slowly. In order to protect your trees you must treat them once a year. This could be necessary for 10 years or more.

Please consider this when making arrangements to have your trees treated. The average tree will cost $100/year to treat. There is a minimum charge of $150 and discounts may apply to properties with large numbers of Ash trees.

Emerald Ash Borer Treatments:

Selecting a treatment method, what to expect and pricing per method.

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB for short) has been found in Randolph, Pembroke, the Rochester area, and all across the Niagara Peninsula as well as numerous locations in the eastern part of the state. It is very likely that the distribution of this insect reaches far beyond these confirmed detections. The borer is difficult to detect andtree dieback and death often does not occur until years after initial infestation."

This insect and its response to various treatment methods has been studied extensively in Michigan - ground zero for EAB. Below is a summary of treatment methods and their effectiveness in scientific studies. These studies were conducted in heavily infested areas of Michigan.

Trunk injection method using the ArborJet: Chemicals are injected into the trunk of the tree at one time during the growing season, preferably spring or fall. This provides effective control for two to three years. Trunk injections provide the most effective control against EAB according to studies conducted at 4 universities.

Soil drench/soil injection method: Chemicals are mixed and poured around the base of the tree or are injected into the soil at the base of the tree. This is done each year for best control. Some studies have had excellent results with this method while other studies have had more inconsistent results. This is an appropriate treatment method when pest populations are low – at the beginning of infestation or when most Ash trees are dead and EAB populations are in decline.

Foliar/Trunk spray: Chemicals are sprayed on the trunk and canopy of the tree. This is done each year in June. This method does provide fair control and is appropriate for large lots of Ash trees where some mortality is acceptable.

These studies were performed in an area where EAB presence was well established and insect populations were high. The study concluded that "although trunk injection treatments gave the highest level of control, soil drench or soil injection treatments are a good choice for managing smaller ash trees (less than 15" diameter trees)".

Pricing chart (volume discounts available):

Soil injection/soil drench = $5/diameter inch each year.
  • Trunk injection = $10/diameter inch every 3 years.
  • Foliar/Trunk spray = $3/diameter inch each year.
  • We now have the newest and most effective product, Tree-age, to use for all trunk injections. This product provides 99% effective control for 2-3 years.

The Tree Doctor Summary and treatment plan:

The Tree Doctor has used all treatment methods in the past for a variety of insects. We have had similar results as those described above for other types of borers and beetles. However, on occasion we have had issues with even distribution of the product when using the soil injection method. We believe that this is because heavy clay soil can "bind-up" the chemical slowing its absorption. Because of this The Tree Doctor recommends using the trunk injection method. While trunk injections can restore infected trees to good health, results are much more likely to be effective when injections are done preventatively - before infestation. For homeowners with large lots of ash trees there is a spray application that is 70% effective. This method is the least effective and least costly but still significantly better than not treating trees. Last, infected trees can be treated and saved. If an infected tree shows less than a 50% dieback then there is a 50% chance that trunk injection treatments will save the tree.

Disclaimer: Trees are living organisms and each tree has a unique root and vascular system and lives in a unique landscape. Tree health is a continuum with some trees being healthier than others. Because of these factors there can be variations in how trees respond to treatments. In short, some trees will die despite treatment. Without treatment most, if not all, ash trees will die.

Insects are living organisms and their behavior can be unpredictable. EAB may be currently in your neighborhood or it may take several years to arrive. However, it will arrive at some point. From our experience in Michigan, EAB takes many years to build to a critical high level after which its numbers begin to decline. No one knows how long the insect remains in an area but researchers expect that EAB takes about 5 years to build its population in an area before it begins to decline. If you plan on protecting your trees from EAB, plan on a long fight.

The decision to treat your Ash trees is a big one. This is one of the more expensive services we offer due to the cost of the product and the need for repeated applications. There are a variety of opinions out there regarding treatment options. For that reason we encourage homeowners to familiarize themselves with the information contained at the following websites.