Naperville to Treat Healthy Ash Trees to Fight Against Emerald Ash Borer
Aggressive Citywide Treatment Program to Help Protect Ash Trees from Devastation
The City of Naperville continues to implement an aggressive multi-year treatment plan for all healthy ash trees located in the City’s parkways to reduce the devastating effect of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in the community. If the City does not treat any of the parkway ash trees, it is expected that all of the ash trees will be dead within five years.
Licensed contractors will be utilizing three types of treatments for the City’s estimated 16,300 parkway trees:
Xytect – (imidacloprid)
The City will be using this treatment for most trees that are less than 20 inches in diameter. This treatment is applied as a soil injection annually around the base of the tree.
TREE-äge® – (emamectin benzoate)
Used for larger trees, this treatment consists of a chemical application that is injected directly into the tree and lasts for two years.
Safari – (dinotefuran)
A limited number of trees will be treated with Safari. This product is reapplied every year.
Homeowners with parkway trees that receive treatment will be notified with a door hanger indicating what treatment has been used. Treatments are anticipated to be performed in April, May and early June to protect the trees for this season. By treating the tree in early spring, the chemical moves up through the tree and is ingested by the beetles’ larvae, which kills them and protects the tree from serious damage.
Badly infested parkway ash trees will be removed. Residents will be contacted if a tree in their parkway needs to be removed.
Residents can visit the City’s website at www.naperville.il.us/eab.aspx to view an interactive map that will allow them to track treatment progress of parkway trees in their area. Residents can find out the size of their parkway trees and what treatment, if any, has been completed.
“Should homeowners wish to attempt to save their private ash trees, treating them now is essential,” City Forester Jack Mitz said. “If homeowners have questions or concerns, they should consult with an arborist to help assess if the tree they have is indeed an ash tree and if they want to attempt to save it. Various treatment options are available, and one should weigh the treatment expense with the value that the trees provide in energy savings, property value enhancement and numerous environmental benefits against the removal and replacement costs if the trees are left untreated.”
Since 2008 when the EAB was first discovered in Naperville, the Department of Public Works has been implementing a containment strategy which consists of removing all badly infested ash trees; inspecting and treating parkway ash trees near infestations; and coordinating efforts with the State of Illinois, townships and the Naperville Park District. The City’s Forestry Division works with 10 certified arborists that are trained to look for signs of EAB presence. More information about the EAB, including symptoms of infestation and treatment options, is available at www.naperville.il.us/eab.aspx.
—Released from the City of Naperville, April 4, 2012 / Updated with link to Purdue Extension on March 3, 2019.
Ash trees create beautiful canopies along neighborhood parkways.
In the fall, they turn golden yellow.
The EAB was first discovered in Naperville in 2008 and has destroyed healthy ash tree populations throughout the Midwest. Ash trees are the most numerous species in the City’s parkway tree inventory, representing about 25 percent. The City is currently implementing an aggressive multi-year treatment plan for all healthy ash trees that are located in the City’s parkways to reduce the devastating effect of the beetle in the community. If the City does not treat any of the parkway ash trees, it is expected that all of the ash trees will be dead within five years.
Homeowners with parkway trees that receive treatment are being notified with a door hanger indicating what treatment has been performed. Treatments are being performed in April, May and early June to protect the trees for this season. The City will also be placing green ribbon around select ash trees throughout the community as a way to educate residents about ash trees and the EAB.
Badly infested parkway ash trees will be removed. Residents will be contacted if their tree needs to be removed.
Residents are encouraged to visit the City’s website at www.naperville.il.us/eab.aspx to view an interactive map that will allow them to track treatment progress of parkway trees in their area. The map also indicates the size of parkway trees and what treatment, if any, has been completed.
Alert! The information listed below is not from 2013. For some reason, PN was unable to delete it from this post when updated on May 4, 2013. Thanks.
