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Ornamental Tree & Shrub Care
Your trees and shrubs are a considerable landscape investment. Taking extra care with these valuable assets makes all the sense in the world. Our trained technicians are skilled to identify and treat most tree and shrub pests, including the Emerald Ash Borer (see more below). We have a program that can be scaled to cover all of your ornamental trees and shrubs (up to 15' in height) so they'll remain healthy and retain their value. Call us or use the form below to request your free Ornamental Tree & Shrub estimate.
Emerald Ash Borer
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a small insect about half as long as a penny is wide. The above photograph shows an adult. The adult emerald ash borer lays eggs in small groups on the surface of the ash tree bark. When these eggs hatch, they are a small worm-like larvae that buries themselves into the ash tree bark.
Once they penetrate just below the tough outer bark of the ash tree, the larvae gnaw at the softer tissue layers. It is these layers that carry nutrients up from the roots throughout the tree. As the larvae grows in size, so does its appetite. It continues channelling through the tissue.
The damage comes not from the loss of nutrients that the insect consumes, but in the damage caused by its tunneling. As the insect zigzags underneath the bark it is cutting a path of destruction through the cells that carry the nutrients necessary for the survival of the tree. In time the larvae can girdle the tree. You might first notice just branches that have suddenly dropped leaves for no apparent reason. Over a period of time, with repeated infestations, the insect will eventually kill the entire tree.
At one time when EAB infestations were suspected, the only response was to completely remove ALL of the ash trees within a certain radius of the infected tree. This was done in an effort to remove the insect's food supply.
Today, we can protect your ash trees from this invasion and for just a relatively small price, offer year long protection for your valuable ash trees against the EAB. Call our office or fill out the form below to request your free EAB estimate.