Ashes to Ashes

Ohio has something like 3.8 billion ash trees. That's a lot of ash… trees. But since 2003 those ashes have been in jeopardy from The Dreaded Emerald Ash Borer, an ash-destroying bug from Asia.

Benjamin Askren is Mentor's excellent contract arborist. The Tree Commission is in the middle of an ash tree inventory, conducting a survey of Mentor's ash trees. Ben has looked at 300 trees, and so far – fingers crossed - he's found no sign of the Emerald Ash Borer. 

If Mentor does escape without an infestation it can consider itself lucky because they're on our doorstep. The Ohio Department of Agriculture confirms the Emerald Ash Borer in Geauga and Cuyahoga Counties.

The EAB, as it's known, kills the host tree within three to five years. Some signs that the EAB is present include D-shaped exit holes in the bark, serpent-like tunnels beneath the bark, thinning canopy and maybe the most obvious – increased woodpecker activity. Spot the beetle and you'll see how it gets its name, from its dark, shiny green coloration.

The attempt to control the EAB is through quarantine. It is illegal to move ash trees, bark, wood chips, branches and firewood from areas with EAB to those without. It's most important to Buy Firewood Locally. There's also a federal restriction on moving any ash products out of the State of Ohio without federal certification.

For more information go to http://www.agri.ohio.gov/EAB/

If you suspect Emerald Ash Borer activity call 1-800-OHIO-EAB.