Revised approach to ash borer

I  want to address some information that was misleading or outdated in the March 29 Gazette edition on the emerald ash borer threat in Iowa.

Perhaps the most misleading tip was waiting until an infestation is within 15 miles before treating your trees. This was the advice given by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the ISU Extension before the ash borer was being found in Iowa.

However, this advice needs to be revised now that emerald ash borer infestations are being found with greater frequency. As evidence of the need of this revision, consider this: With the exception of the very first discovery of the ash borer in Allamakee County, none of the other ash borer infestations has been found within 15 miles of another. If the ash borer follows the same pattern as it did in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois, there will not be a living (non-treated) ash tree in residential Iowa in 15 years. The time to treat is now. Once your tree shows symptoms, it is probably too late.

The next most misleading tip was to be suspicious of expensive treatments. The insurance/licensing, equipment and chemical necessary to perform these treatments are very expensive. Accordingly, you should be suspicious if the treatment is not expensive.

True, but still slightly misleading, was the warning to be wary of promises of cures. Yes, there is presently no ”cure.” However, Michigan and Minnesota have been studying biological controls for the ash borer. Although, they are only a couple of years into this study, all indications are very promising.

Most promising is a parasitoid wasp that preys on ash borer eggs. So, a way to manage this pest below infestation levels, may be coming in the relatively near future.

Finally, was the warning to beware of 'fly-by-night” companies offering treatment services. This is always sage advice. However, please be cognizant that this current/impending ash borer infestation has created a great demand for this service. Consequently, many people from related arboricultural and forestry fields are trying to fill the gap - myself included. These people are often without fancy equipment or slick uniforms but may still be very knowledgeable professionals.

You can help ensure you're dealing with a professional by checking for professional accreditations. The Tree Care Industry Association accreditation is a good one to look for. Minimally, the person doing the treatment legally is required to have a Category 2 Commercial Pesticide Applicators license and certification. Be sure to check for this documentation.

It's best if you can get a certified arborist to perform the treatment. You can check if someone is a certified arborist by going to the International Society of Arboriculture website (isa-arbor.com) where there is a credential verification section. You can search by state, name, or certification number to verify if someone is a certified arborist.

l Aaron Trezona of Ossian operates Treedoctorservices.com. Comments: treedoctorservices@gmail.com