What Are My Emerald Ash Borer Management Options?

Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Central Minnesota. This invasive species has finally found it’s way up the I-94 corridor, either by flight or by arriving in contaminated firewood.

If you live within a few miles of one of the zones it’s been found in, such as Sauk Centre, Grand Lake near Rockville, or Clearwater, you’re within flying distance of the EAB. So what are your Emerald Ash Borer management options?

There are five basic Emerald Ash Borer management options: Micro-Infusion, Soil Drench, Trunk Spray, Protective Cover Spray, and Removal. Let’s dive deeper into the options.

Emerald Ash Borer Management Options

Micro-Infusion*

*At Valley Green Companies, we consider the micro-infusion of insecticide the best Emerald Ash Borer management option for our clients in Central Minnesota, so it is the only option we offer.

Method

Our micro-infusion method is highly effective and reduces damage to the tree. Micro-infusion involves lightly drilling a tee needle about one-inch inside the tree and infusing the chemical directly under the bark. This allows the treatment to quickly spread throughout the tree.

It must be applied every other year.

Effectiveness

Because the insecticide is infused directly into the tree, it only takes 1-2 weeks for it to be absorbed and transported to the canopy, significantly faster than other methods.

An ash tree in Sartell, Minnesota receiving the micro-infusion method Emerald Ash Borer management option treatment.

Click For Micro-Infusion EAB Management

Soil Drench

Method

The insecticide is mixed with water and poured directly on the soil around the base of the ash tree trunk. Over time, the insecticide is absorbed by the roots of the tree and moves up the trunk to the canopy, where it can transfer to both larvae and adult Emerald Ash Borer.

Care must be taken when applying to reduce runoff, as the insecticide can have unintended consequences on other wildlife or pets/children in the area.

It must be applied every single year.

Effectiveness

Tests at Ohio State University and Michigan State University have been inconclusive on how effective soil drench insecticide treatment is. Overall, it seems as if soil drenching only works when done in the spring at a lower rate, or at a very heavy rate in fall. This treatment is generally much slower working than micro-infusion.

Trunk Spray

Method

Generally, trunk sprays are sprayed onto the lower five or six feet of the trunk. The insecticide penetrates the bark, then is transported through the trunk to the canopy where it can attach both larvae and adult Emerald Ash Borer.

It must be applied every single year.

Effectiveness

Trunk spray insecticide has been shown to move to the canopy at rates faster than soil drenching, but not as fast-acting as micro-infusion. The results are similar to micro-infusion.

Protective Cover Spray

Method

The insecticide is sprayed over the entire canopy and trunk as a way of preventing Emerald Ash Borer from infesting the tree.

Care must be taken when applying a protective cover spray, as the insecticide can drift with the breeze, causing unintended consequences on other wildlife or pets/children in the area.

It must be applied every single year.

Effectiveness

A protective cover spray has been shown very effective unless there is a very high concentration of Emerald Ash Borer, then effectiveness dissipates.

Removal

When a tree has lost more than 30% of its canopy from Emerald Ash Borer activity, removal becomes the best option as treatment effectiveness is basically zero.

Method

Safely cut down the tree, grind out the stump as deeply as possible, and dispose of the infected wood properly with local authorities.

Care must be taken to transport the wood immediately to a local facility that is qualified to deal with infested ash trees. If the wood can’t be transported right away, it needs to be placed within a sealed container so Emerald Ash Borer cannot escape the wood to infect other trees.