In the greater Denver area and throughout the region, Emerald Ash Borer has become a persistent and problematic pest.
We receive calls at Arbortec Tree Service about ash trees that may be infected, while other property owners simply want to understand how to protect their healthy trees. We can help you with both options & everything in between.
Copyright Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry , Bugwood.org. Used by permission.
Copyright Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry , Bugwood.org. Used by permission.
In the greater Denver area and throughout the region, Emerald Ash Borer has become a persistent and problematic pest.
We receive calls at Arbortec Tree Service about ash trees that may be infected, while other property owners simply want to understand how to protect their healthy trees. We can help you with both options & everything in between.
Call or fill out our online form to request your Free Estimate
Why You Should Care about the Emerald Ash Borer
A native of Asia, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infects ash trees under the bark, tunneling into and destroying water-carrying tissues. Unfortunately, signs of infestation can take two to four years to become evident. By then, depending on how much dieback has occurred, opportunities for protective action may come too late.
It’s hard to imagine how a bug half an inch long can do so much damage. It cannot fly far but is instead carried from location to location on ash firewood, large wood chips, or nursery plants. This hitchhiker arrives in egg form. As the larvae hatch, they burrow through the bark and into the softwood underneath. Then, they feast.
Tens of millions of trees have been killed by EAB throughout the US and Canada. According to the City and County of Denver's Parks and Recreation Department, about one in six trees in the urban landscape are the ash varieties on which this pest thrives. Imagine what our city would look like after losing a million and a half of these beautiful trees!
How You Can Fight EAB
At Arbortec, our Certified Arborists assess the risk to your Denver landscape from the Emerald Ash Borer. The signs of problems are subtle, until it’s too late. However, preventative care is possible and should be undertaken for all ash trees.
The most obvious sign of infestation is dieback in the crown of the tree. Other signs include wavy trail lines on major branches and the trunk, larvae under the bark, D-shaped exit holes, and Northern Flickers tapping at the tree, going after one of their favorite tasty treats.
Call or fill out our online form to request your Free Estimate
Before you see these signs, it’s best to call us for a free assessment of your options. These include:
Preventative care: For ash trees that show no signs of infestation, taking a proactive approach offers the best protection. A professional-level insecticide applied annually stops a problem before it occurs. The good news is that this same treatment works for trees with minimal infestation that may not yet be showing signs of trouble.
For minimal damage: According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, minimal damage is defined as less than a third of the tree dead from EAB. (Dieback also results from other causes, which is why a professional assessment is so important.) Treatments are then applied more frequently. The risk is that the infestation may be too significant to save the tree, and only time will tell if the problem has been caught early enough.
For significant damage: In cases of major damage, tree removal is the best option. We remove the ash tree safely and dispose of the wood properly to keep insects from spreading to other ash in the area. Stump grinding, replacement selection and replanting are also available.
Proactive replacement: Some property owners prefer not to take the chance that someday, their ash could be next in line for destruction. Our Denver tree service can take down the at-risk tree, grind the remaining stump, recommend a replacement variety, and plant the new tree for you.
Request Treatment
It is important to know that treatment is best applied during the months of March to June, with a secondary period being September to November. We use professional-grade chemicals to treat these pests. Some aftercare of the tree such as regular deep watering is required.
Call the experienced tree service in Denver to understand what can be done to stop Emerald Ash Borer from infecting your trees or treat an existing problem. Arbortec will provide you with a free assessment with a plan for treatment and mitigation, protecting your property and your ash trees.