City will Continue Emerald Ash Borer Efforts
The City of Dublin will continue treating and removing select ash trees along streets this year in response to the presence of emerald ash borers in the city.
The Emerald Ash Borer is a non-native insect that burrows into ash trees, eventually killing them. The insect is spreading throughout Ohio and is killing millions of ash trees in the Midwest.
The City has been treating select ash trees and planning other efforts to try to curtail the insect’s progress into the Dublin area since 2008.
During full leaf expansion to the end of June, the City will treat street trees with a chemical injected in the tree trunk. That treatment will happen along Adventure Drive, Blunden Road, Chatelaine Drive, Chatterfield Drive, Chippenham Drive, Dublin Road, Ernest Way, Great Novel Court, Manteo Drive, Missy Park Court, O’Connell Court, Old Pond Drive, Shady Nelms Drive, Starkey’s Court, Stover Court, Wellston Court and Willow Run Drive.
In some cases, it is less expensive to remove and replace the street trees with other species rather than treat with chemicals. The City will remove and replace ash trees along Avery Road, Marmion Drive, Metro Place North, Park Center Avenue, Post Road, Shier-Rings Road, Wall Street and Woerner-Temple Road.
Residents in these areas will receive notices from the City before the work begins.
The City can take steps to treat some trees, but the sheer number of ash trees in town mean some will die because of the insects. There are thousands of ash trees in town, including approximately 2,750 street trees along roadways and 1,500 in City parks.
What can residents do?
There are many arborist companies and some landscape companies that can perform trunk injection and soil treatment. Homeowners can purchase soil treatment chemicals at home improvement stores, but tree injections must be done by professionals. The City recommends that arborists be ISA Certified.
Residents also should not transport ash wood from their property. For more information, go to ohiodnr.com/tabid/5066/Default.aspx
The decision to treat, remove or retain ash trees on private property belongs to the property owner. When evaluating replacement options, remember to consider the appropriateness of specific species in terms of size, location, access to utilities, and other factors.
Questions?
Contact the City of Dublin Forestry team in the Division of Parks and Open Space at 614-410-4701.
What does an Ash Tree look like?
Follow the Ash Tree Identification Guide: http://www.anr.msu.edu/robertsd/ash/ashtree_id.html
Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan
Introduction
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an introduced pest that is killing ash trees in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Delaware and Ontario. Since its discovery in Detroit, Michigan in 2002, the borer has spread, killing virtually all ash trees in its path.
As of 2007, Dublin inventories show approximately 3200 (15%) of the City’s 21,000 street trees are ash trees. 1500 ash trees are planted in parks. Thousands more ash trees are growing on other city property in wooded lots and stream beds as well as private property. The City of Dublin must prepare and manage for the arrival of this pest on three fronts – street trees, park/public trees, and trees on private property.
Street Trees
During the spring of 2007 ash trees were removed from major arterial roads such as Emerald Parkway, Rings Road and Woerner Temple Road. Since then systematic ash removal has been suspended. If there is a problem with an ash and it is not deemed a good candidate for treatment then the tree will be removed. Ash trees will be evaluated on their health, vitality, and location.
A soil injection program was started in the spring of 2008 in the Wedgewood Hills subdivision where ninety one ash were treated. Additional treatments will continue during the following spring months when the insect is most vulnerable to insecticides.
Contact the City Forester at 614-410-4701 should a resident like to provide pesticide treatments to the street tree (s) adjacent to their property. This will be done at the residents’ discretion and expense. Treated trees will be removed by the City if treatments fail and EAB infests the tree.
Park Trees
There are many specimen ash trees in City parks, as well as thousands of ash in wooded park areas. In the spring of 2008 one hundred specimen ash within numerous parks were treated. These trees will be monitored as others in the parks. Ash trees in a wooded park will be left alone. These trees will die once infested by the EAB. They will be left in the woods to decompose unless they represent a hazard to public safety to park users, in which case they will be felled and left.
Wood Disposal
Parks and Open Space staff will not dispose of any wood outside the quarantine area except at approved sites.
Canopy Replacements
As budget permits, all removed ash trees will be replaced with non-host specific species that will enhance the planting site, are appropriate for the planting site, and add diversity. Trees will be planted in accordance with the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association/Ohio Division of Forestry Planting Specifications and be in the 2” to 2.5” caliper. All new plantings will conform to the “10-20-30” tree Species diversity rule – no more than 10% or any species of tree, 20% of any genera of tree, or 30% of any one family of tree.
Trees on Private Property
There are many thousands of ash trees on private property in Dublin. No inventory exists and ash density varies by neighborhood.
Property owners are urged to monitor the EAB’s movements. The decision to treat, remove, or retain private tree rests with the property owner. Residents should consider many variables when evaluating options, including tree size, location, and condition; access to the tree; potential targets should the tree fall; property value; shade, heating and cooling values; treatment techniques, efficacy, and costs’ proximity of EAB infestation; and intangible costs.
The City will enforce the relevant section of the Ordinance 153.134, Section K, through its Code Compliance program should it receive complaints about hazardous private trees. Private trees that are a threat to private property will be inspected only as complaints are received.
When hiring for insecticide control or tree removal it is encouraged to contact a qualified ISA Certified Arborist. Contractors should be able to provide proof of liability insurance and worker’s compensation coverage. The City also encourages residents to replace trees lost with species appropriate for the site, or to plant new trees in advance of EAB infestation and ash removal.