New Year's Resolution

Please help stop the spread of Emerald Ash Borer! Resolve to buy firewood locally, in the greater Rochester area, whether for home use or camping. Be sure your firewood provider resolves not to transport firewood more than 50 miles from its source!

Community Tree Inventory

Does your community have an inventory of its trees? The first step in a management plan to deal with Emerald Ash Borer infestation and its implications is to determine which trees should be treated, which should be removed and when. Many municipalities are prepared - some with complete inventories, including trees on private property, others with at least an inventory of street and/or park trees. For those communities without an inventory in an area affected by EAB, this will become a necessity. Professional firms can be hired to perform this task, volunteer groups can help, or one low-cost option is provided by Cornell University. Cornell's SWAT (Student Weekend Arborist Team) Team is a group of trained students who will travel to a community and perform an inventory for a relatively low cost. For more information: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/commfor/inventory/swat.html

Predatory Wasp for EAB

In this picture from the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, a Cerceris fumipennis wasp is shown with it's prey, an Emerald Ash Borer. The wasp will take the prey back to the ground hive for food for the hive. The University of Guelph in Ontario Canada has been studying the wasps and have determined that they are an excellent tool in the early detection of the beetle. Researchers placed hives near suspected areas of infestation and monitored the wasps, intercepting them as they returned to the hive to discover whether or not they returned with the beetle as well as how long it took. The wasps found the beetle very quickly if it was present in the area. This wasp may replace the purple sticky traps that have been used to monitor EAB's progress and help with early detection.

EAB Community Preparedness Workshop this Friday!!

Central New York ReLeaf is presenting a workshop this Friday, 12/10/10 from 8:30 am - 1:00 pm entitled "Emerald Ash Borer & Community Preparedness: What Every Community Needs to Know!" Don't miss this opportunity to hear Mark Whitmore and Rebecca Hargrave from Cornell, Steve Harris, Syracuse Forester, Rochester Forester Brian Liberti and Urban Forestry Educator Fran Lawlor discuss strategies and answer questions regarding the devastating impacts of the EAB. Lunch is included, ISA and DEC credits are available. Meeting will be held in the Grange Building, 100 Grange Place, Cortland, NY 13045. (Venue changed due to immense response.) Contacts: DEC Forester Matt Swayze 607-753-3095 and Mary Kramarchyk 518-402-9425. See you there!

Winter Wonder

Following an early December snow, larch and oak lend subtle color to the landscape.

EAB update in Rochester, NY

See this article regarding the City of Rochester's plan to treat, remove and replant as a response to the EAB infestation that is about to occur: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20101127/NEWS01/101126014/City-wants-to-treat-some-ash-trees--cut-down-others

Winter Pruning

What is going on in this example? This amalanchier has been sheared in the past, as is obvious from the tight, sucker-filled top growth. By pruning in the winter when the tree is dormant it's possible to correct some of this improper growth without much harm to the tree. Deep cuts were taken to reduce the amount of 'witch's broom' growth, thereby thinning the canopy.

Tree Excavation

Unfortunately, it has become common practice to create mulch 'volcanoes' around trees. It is so common that many people think this is the correct way to mulch a tree. In fact, mulch should not touch the trunk of the tree, as this causes excess moisture to build up on the bark. This presents an ideal situation for insects and disease to thrive. In excavating the excess mulch and soil around the base of this Japanese maple, 4 full wheelbarrows of mulch and soil were removed and the proper depth of soil and mulch- at ground level - was achieved.

Firewood and EAB

One of the ways Emerald Ash Borer has spread is by traveling in firewood. It's imperative that firewood for camping be purchased locally. Also, commercial firewood distributors must obey the restrictions in place and only deliver firewood locally. By preventing the transport of firewood we can help slow the spread, inevitable as it may be, of EAB.

Emerald Ash Borer ID

Emerald Ash Borer - it's tiny, as you can see. Bright, metallic green. The adult beetle emerges in the spring, resulting, due to the shape of it's head, in D-shaped exit holes. The adult feeds on foliage throughout the summer, but causes little damage. Eggs are laid under the bark of the ash tree from Mid May to mid-August. The larvae cause the fatal damage.

Photo at left: Michigan State University, photo at right University of Georgia.

EAB Larvae

Pictured are the little devils that do all the damage by eating away under the bark of the ash tree. Their feeding destroys the layer of the tree that transports water and nutrients, resulting in the death of the tree.
Photo credit University of Georgia

Emerald Ash Borer Damage

Back for more info on EAB? This photo was taken in October 2010 on Morgan Road in Chili, NY, following the discovery of several infested trees. Experts have determined that EAB has been in this tree for approximately 5 years. This is significant in that nearby ash trees, while not showing signs or symptoms, are almost certainly already infested.
Pictured here are the 'serpentine galleries' created by the feeding of the Emerald Ash Borer larvae. The larvae travel back and forth, feeding on the cambium of the tree, just beneath the bark. The cambium is where the vascular system of the tree is located. When this tissue is destroyed, the tree cannot transport water and nutrients and the end result is death.

I heart fall!

Just have to take a break from the EAB postings on such a beautiful fall day here in the Rochester/Finger Lakes region! Have you ever seen such a color? This is a weeping Black Tupelo - nyssa sylvatica- a native tree with the most glorious fall color. Growing here in moist, well-drained soil, it is obviously very happy. The summer foliage is very glossy and deep green - this tree is a winner!!

EAB - woodpecker damage

One of the earliest signs of damage caused by EAB on ash trees is woodpecker damage. The birds are experts at detecting infestation under the bark and will flake the bark off in search of the larvae. The tree with minimal damage is young and showing early signs of infestation, while the more heavily damaged tree is dead. Again, in the Rochester/Finger Lakes area we do not need to wait for signs of infestation. This deadly pest is on its way and the sooner we act to treat existing ash trees, the better success we will have.

EAB signs and symptoms

As Emerald Ash Borer continues to be spotted in the Scottsville/Chili area, nearby homeowners may be interested in what to look for on their ash trees. Pictured here is a 'D-shaped' exit hole, created when the adult borer emerged. This sign is not always present, however. In our area, all ash trees are at risk! A valued tree should receive preventive treatment in spring 2011.

Ash Tree ID: one last installment

Ash trees are one of a few types of trees where the branch arrangement is opposite. The branches are attached directly across from one another, or 'opposite.' This is especially easy to see in winter when the leaves are off the tree.

Ash Tree ID: another installment

Bark: on mature ash trees the bark is rough and diamond-shaped. Young ash trees may have smooth bark. (There is lichen on this ash tree - not harmful, just grows in moist, shady sites.)

Ash Tree ID

This is the first in a series of identification clues for ash tree, to help you determine if you have an ash tree on your property, or if you know of an ash tree of value in places you work or visit. Ash trees have compound leaves with between 7 and 11 leaflets. They are green in summer and may be yellow or shades of russet in fall.

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer has arrived in Western New York. This devastating pest will, over time, decimate the ash tree population in New York State as it has done in Michigan. As I write this in early October, it is easy to identify ash trees as they are exhibiting their yellow fall color. Imagine that many of the yellow trees you see now will be gone! Individual trees can be saved with pesticide injections, however. Spring is the best time to inject, giving individuals time to prepare. Get ready! And, please do not transport firewood! This is one of the ways EAB is spread.

Rainy days

Rainy days in Fall (while not as exhilarating as sunny days in Fall) offer some benefits. After a summer of hot days, the extra moisture of a Fall rain benefits new as well as existing plants. Colors in the landscape can be so rich in the soft light of a cloudy Fall day, and some plants just shimmer with collected raindrops as is the case with this hypericum Albury Purple.

Spectatular Fall Plant

Sweet Autumn clematis - so well-named - is in full bloom now. Masses of tiny white flowers float on this very vigorous climber. If you cut it back in spring you'll have flowers like this along the entire plant. Remember this for next year - be fearless! Cut it back!!

Fall Planting

Why is fall such a great time for planting? Trees, shrubs and perennials benefit from the warm soil and additional water available in fall. They will become established before the soil freezes and have a head start in spring!