The Emerald Ash Borer is now in Scarborough
I have written this notice to inform Guildwood residents of the situation and options available to us. It is my hope that many of us will be able to save many of our ash trees and preserve the beauty of Guildwood.
A new case of Emerald Ash Borer has been identified in the area of Military Trail and Kingston Road.
Parks, Forestry & Recreation has not made any information available as to its plans for the Emerald Ash Borer situation in our area. It is up to homeowners to protect living trees or remove dead trees on private property at their own discretion and cost.
A new natural injectable insecticide is available that is effective at killing the borer in its larva stage, under the bark. According to Van Dyke's Tree Care, it costs on average $200 per tree, and must be applied every 2 years; but the only surviving ash trees in Windsor are ones that were treated. This is cheaper than having a tree on private property cut down (ask any of your neighbours who have been given a quote for this!). Untreated trees are expected to die.
The site for the insecticide company is:
http://www.bioforest.ca/
And a TreeAzin service provider for the Toronto area (this information is provided by BioForest Technologies) is
Van Dyke's Tree Care
3415 Bethesda Rd.
Stouffville, ON
Contact: Larry Van Dyke
Phone: (905) 888-1166 or (905) 888-1658
Email: vandykestree@xplornet.com
The insecticide works best if the tree isn't heavily infested, or shows no signs of infestation yet. Early treatment is much better than late.
Thank you to Councillor Ainslie's office for sending me two memos from Parks, Forestry & Recreation. I have selected some excerpts here:
CURRENT SITUATION
On Friday, June 13 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed a new finding of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Toronto. The tree is located in the area of Military Trail and Kingston Road. The tree is heavily infested, and appears to have been infested for approximately 2 years. It is likely that EAB has spread over a much greater area than is presently known. It is typical to detect EAB 2 to 3 years after initial infestation.
This is the second discovery of EAB in Toronto. The pest was first discovered in November 2007 in the area of Highway 404 and Sheppard Ave.
The pattern of detection in Toronto is similar to what has occurred in other counties where EAB is established. After the first infested tree was discovered in November 2007, many more infested trees were found surrounding it. Seven months later, EAB is well established in another area of the city, approximately 14 kilometres away from the first detection site.
This summer, it is expected that many more infested trees will be found in Toronto and in areas outside of Toronto.
KEY MESSAGES
EAB is a highly invasive pest that spreads very quickly and is extremely difficult to detect. Its spread can be slowed but cannot be controlled.
When EAB is established in large areas, generally the removal of infested trees is not considered to be an effective tool in the management of EAB.
The TreeAzin pesticide may be injected into the stem of the ash tree to provide short-term protection and to prolong tree life, however, TreeAzin must be applied every two years and will not provide 100 percent control.
-from Parks, Forestry & Recreation, June 23, 2008. Thanks to Councillor Ainslie's office for forwarding this information.
The following notice is in regard to the infestation discovered in November 2007, in the area of Highway 404 and Sheppard Avenue:
ISSUE:
• Parks, Forestry and Recreation will host a public meeting on June 25 at Muihead Public School for residents to learn about the City's slow-to-spread program of control for EAB which includeds:
- using TreeAzin, a pesticide registered for injection into trees, and
- removing trees that are determined to be heavily infested.
• The public meeting will highlight measures that residents can take to more effectively contain the movement of EAB.
CURRENT SITUATION:
• Parks, Forestry and Recreation will treat approximately 200 ash trees with the TreeAzin pesticide to prolong tree life and slow the spread of EAB. Pesticide treatment is expected to begin in the week of June 23, starting with trees in parks.
• The trees are located on City property in the Highway 404 and Sheppard Avenue.
• Beetles have just started to emerge from trees, and it is expected that peak emergence will occur by late June.
• Pesticide treatment will not eliminate EAB, but will reduce the population level and
consequently limit the spread of the emerging beetles to other ash trees beyond this area.
• Based on experience in southwestern Ontario, it is expected that infested trees will die within a few years of being infested. At low EAB population levels, trees take longer to succumb to the injury; at high population levels, trees succumb within one year of infestation.
• Trees on private property will not be treated. At the public meeting, residents will be
encouraged to treat private ash trees, or if these trees show symptoms of infestation through summer 2008, to remove trees after the beetle flight season and destroy EAB contained within stems and branches by grinding the wood.
TREEAZIN PESTICIDE:
• The Pest Management Regulatory Agency has recently granted an emergency registration for tree injection application of TreeAzin for use against EAB. TreeAzin contains azadirachtin, a naturally occurring substance found in the Neem tree. The pesticide is formulated to be injected into tree trunks and blocks the insect's production and release of hormones involved in metamorphosis. Tree injection minimizes the likelihood of any adverse effects on applicators, the general public, or non-target organisms.
• Insecticides and other controls are less likely to protect trees due to the pressure of a large population of EAB. If trees are heavily infested and already show EAB symptoms, insecticides will be less effective and tree removal is soon required.
• Insecticide treatments must be repeated every second year, causing injuries from injection sites that may not be sustainable in small trees. For small trees, it is more cost-effective to remove and replace a tree rather than to treat it.
EAB information is available on the City of Toronto website at
http://www.toronto.ca/trees
and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at
http://www.inspection.gc.ca
Information can also be found at the Ministry of Natural Resources web site:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Newsroom/LatestNews/STEL02_200042.html
I found this information on the Ministry site:
ONTARIO PROTECTS FOREST HEALTH
McGuinty Government Approves Of New Tool To Fight Emerald Ash Borer
NEWS
A new product based on a natural chemical will help in the fight to protect trees from the emerald ash borer.
TreeAzinTM is an environmentally safe insecticide that can be used to protect yard or street trees, as well as trees in arboretums and golf courses or in isolated infestations. When injected into the trunk of a tree, it inhibits the growth of larvae and prevents the emergence of adult emerald ash borer.
I fear that Guildwood will look like just another Toronto suburb neighbourhood without its ash trees. All I ask is for people to make an informed and considered decision on whether to try to save their trees - not leave this to chance, and not to leave it too late! I hope you will find this information helpful when making your decision on how to manage your own trees.
Jane Whitney
Somerdale Square
I have written this notice to inform Guildwood residents of the situation and options available to us. It is my hope that many of us will be able to save many of our ash trees and preserve the beauty of Guildwood.
A new case of Emerald Ash Borer has been identified in the area of Military Trail and Kingston Road.
Parks, Forestry & Recreation has not made any information available as to its plans for the Emerald Ash Borer situation in our area. It is up to homeowners to protect living trees or remove dead trees on private property at their own discretion and cost.
A new natural injectable insecticide is available that is effective at killing the borer in its larva stage, under the bark. According to Van Dyke's Tree Care, it costs on average $200 per tree, and must be applied every 2 years; but the only surviving ash trees in Windsor are ones that were treated. This is cheaper than having a tree on private property cut down (ask any of your neighbours who have been given a quote for this!). Untreated trees are expected to die.
The site for the insecticide company is:
http://www.bioforest.ca/
And a TreeAzin service provider for the Toronto area (this information is provided by BioForest Technologies) is
Van Dyke's Tree Care
3415 Bethesda Rd.
Stouffville, ON
Contact: Larry Van Dyke
Phone: (905) 888-1166 or (905) 888-1658
Email: vandykestree@xplornet.com
The insecticide works best if the tree isn't heavily infested, or shows no signs of infestation yet. Early treatment is much better than late.
Thank you to Councillor Ainslie's office for sending me two memos from Parks, Forestry & Recreation. I have selected some excerpts here:
CURRENT SITUATION
On Friday, June 13 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed a new finding of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Toronto. The tree is located in the area of Military Trail and Kingston Road. The tree is heavily infested, and appears to have been infested for approximately 2 years. It is likely that EAB has spread over a much greater area than is presently known. It is typical to detect EAB 2 to 3 years after initial infestation.
This is the second discovery of EAB in Toronto. The pest was first discovered in November 2007 in the area of Highway 404 and Sheppard Ave.
The pattern of detection in Toronto is similar to what has occurred in other counties where EAB is established. After the first infested tree was discovered in November 2007, many more infested trees were found surrounding it. Seven months later, EAB is well established in another area of the city, approximately 14 kilometres away from the first detection site.
This summer, it is expected that many more infested trees will be found in Toronto and in areas outside of Toronto.
KEY MESSAGES
EAB is a highly invasive pest that spreads very quickly and is extremely difficult to detect. Its spread can be slowed but cannot be controlled.
When EAB is established in large areas, generally the removal of infested trees is not considered to be an effective tool in the management of EAB.
The TreeAzin pesticide may be injected into the stem of the ash tree to provide short-term protection and to prolong tree life, however, TreeAzin must be applied every two years and will not provide 100 percent control.
-from Parks, Forestry & Recreation, June 23, 2008. Thanks to Councillor Ainslie's office for forwarding this information.
The following notice is in regard to the infestation discovered in November 2007, in the area of Highway 404 and Sheppard Avenue:
ISSUE:
• Parks, Forestry and Recreation will host a public meeting on June 25 at Muihead Public School for residents to learn about the City's slow-to-spread program of control for EAB which includeds:
- using TreeAzin, a pesticide registered for injection into trees, and
- removing trees that are determined to be heavily infested.
• The public meeting will highlight measures that residents can take to more effectively contain the movement of EAB.
CURRENT SITUATION:
• Parks, Forestry and Recreation will treat approximately 200 ash trees with the TreeAzin pesticide to prolong tree life and slow the spread of EAB. Pesticide treatment is expected to begin in the week of June 23, starting with trees in parks.
• The trees are located on City property in the Highway 404 and Sheppard Avenue.
• Beetles have just started to emerge from trees, and it is expected that peak emergence will occur by late June.
• Pesticide treatment will not eliminate EAB, but will reduce the population level and
consequently limit the spread of the emerging beetles to other ash trees beyond this area.
• Based on experience in southwestern Ontario, it is expected that infested trees will die within a few years of being infested. At low EAB population levels, trees take longer to succumb to the injury; at high population levels, trees succumb within one year of infestation.
• Trees on private property will not be treated. At the public meeting, residents will be
encouraged to treat private ash trees, or if these trees show symptoms of infestation through summer 2008, to remove trees after the beetle flight season and destroy EAB contained within stems and branches by grinding the wood.
TREEAZIN PESTICIDE:
• The Pest Management Regulatory Agency has recently granted an emergency registration for tree injection application of TreeAzin for use against EAB. TreeAzin contains azadirachtin, a naturally occurring substance found in the Neem tree. The pesticide is formulated to be injected into tree trunks and blocks the insect's production and release of hormones involved in metamorphosis. Tree injection minimizes the likelihood of any adverse effects on applicators, the general public, or non-target organisms.
• Insecticides and other controls are less likely to protect trees due to the pressure of a large population of EAB. If trees are heavily infested and already show EAB symptoms, insecticides will be less effective and tree removal is soon required.
• Insecticide treatments must be repeated every second year, causing injuries from injection sites that may not be sustainable in small trees. For small trees, it is more cost-effective to remove and replace a tree rather than to treat it.
EAB information is available on the City of Toronto website at
http://www.toronto.ca/trees
and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at
http://www.inspection.gc.ca
Information can also be found at the Ministry of Natural Resources web site:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Newsroom/LatestNews/STEL02_200042.html
I found this information on the Ministry site:
ONTARIO PROTECTS FOREST HEALTH
McGuinty Government Approves Of New Tool To Fight Emerald Ash Borer
NEWS
A new product based on a natural chemical will help in the fight to protect trees from the emerald ash borer.
TreeAzinTM is an environmentally safe insecticide that can be used to protect yard or street trees, as well as trees in arboretums and golf courses or in isolated infestations. When injected into the trunk of a tree, it inhibits the growth of larvae and prevents the emergence of adult emerald ash borer.
I fear that Guildwood will look like just another Toronto suburb neighbourhood without its ash trees. All I ask is for people to make an informed and considered decision on whether to try to save their trees - not leave this to chance, and not to leave it too late! I hope you will find this information helpful when making your decision on how to manage your own trees.
Jane Whitney
Somerdale Square
