How to Save Your Ash Trees from EAB in Missouri

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a major threat across Missouri, putting many ash trees at risk. This small insect may not look like much, but it can cause serious damage to your landscape. If you ignore EAB, you might lose mature trees that have been around for decades.

As EAB spreads throughout our state, it’s important to understand the risks and take steps to protect your ash trees and keep your property looking beautiful with mature trees.

Key Takeaways

• EAB is a serious threat to ash trees in Missouri. Found in every county, it can kill trees if left untreated.
• Look for early signs like thinning leaves at the top of the tree, small D-shaped holes in the bark, and increased woodpecker activity.
• Regular check-ups by tree experts are the best way to catch EAB early and save your trees.
• Treatment options include insecticide applications and tree injections. These work best when used early, before major damage occurs.
• Keeping your ash trees healthy through proper care can help them better resist EAB infestations.

What is EAB?

The Emerald Ash Borer is a small, green beetle that came from Asia. Although it’s tiny, it can severely harm ash trees. EAB larvae dig into the bark and eat the tree’s inner layers, stopping water and nutrients from flowing through its vascular system. Over time, this weakens the tree, eventually causing it to fail.

EAB attacks all kinds of ash trees, including green, white, black, and blue ash. It doesn’t harm other types of trees, like mountain ash, which isn’t actually a true ash tree despite its name.

The Impact of EAB in Missouri

EAB was first found in the U.S. in 2002 near Detroit, Michigan. Since then, it has spread quickly, killing millions of ash trees across the country. Sadly, Missouri is one of the states hit hardest by this pest. EAB has been found in every county in the state, making it a widespread threat to our local trees, our urban canopies, and native forests.

Losing ash trees affects more than just how neighborhoods look. It harms the local environment and creates major costs for communities. Ash trees are common across the nation, especially here in Missouri. As big ash trees die, homeowners have to pay for expensive tree removal and replanting. Communities lose valuable trees that provide shade, lower energy costs, support wildlife, and reduce stormwater water runoff.

Many cities and towns are struggling to deal with removing dead or infested trees and are preemptively treating millions of public trees across Missouri. This shows why it’s so important for homeowners to protect their ash trees and help keep our urban and suburban forests healthy.

Identifying the Signs of EAB Infestation

Finding EAB early is key to saving ash trees. You can still save trees after EAB is found, but you need to act fast. Early signs can be hard to spot, so you need to look carefully. By the time you see late-stage signs, the tree is usually badly damaged and might not be savable. Knowing what to look for early on can make the difference between keeping your tree alive and losing it.

Early Warning Signs of EAB

It can be tough to spot EAB early because the damage often starts high up in the tree, where it’s hard to see. But there are a few signs to watch for:

• Thinning Leaves at the Top: One of the first things you might notice is fewer leaves at the top of the tree, as EAB larvae start eating and causing damage near the top.
• Green Beetles on the Tree: In early summer, look for small, bright green beetles on or around your ash tree. If you see them, it could mean an infestation is starting, and steps should be taken to prevent larvae from hatching.
• More Woodpeckers: Woodpeckers eat EAB larvae, so if you see more woodpeckers than usual around your ash tree, it could be a warning sign.

Late-Stage Indicators of EAB Infestation

As the problem gets worse, the signs become more obvious, but they also mean the tree is in trouble:

• D-Shaped Holes: When adult beetles leave the tree, they make small, D-shaped holes in the bark, about 1/8 inch wide. Once you start to see these near eye-level, the tree is already badly damaged inside.
• Dead Branches: If large parts of the tree have no leaves or dead branches, the infestation is probably advanced.
• New Shoots on the Trunk: You might see new, odd growths along the trunk and branches as the tree tries to stay alive.
• Bark Falling Off: In later stages, large pieces of bark might start to fall off, showing S-shaped tunnels underneath made by the larvae.
• Tree Death: If left untreated, a tree with EAB will die and become dangerous, needing to be removed.

Steps to Save Your Ash Trees

To protect your ash trees from EAB, you need to be proactive. Following these steps can help you save your trees and keep your yard looking nice.

Preventative Measures

The best way to protect your ash trees from EAB is to prevent infestation, especially in places like Missouri where EAB is everywhere:

• Regular Inspections: The best way to catch EAB early is to have a certified arborist check your ash trees regularly. Since early signs can be hard to spot and often happen high in the tree, professional inspections are important.
• Early Treatments: Using insecticides before you see any signs of EAB can help keep healthy ash trees from getting infested. This is really important in Missouri where EAB is everywhere.
• Keeping Trees Healthy: Taking good care of your ash trees with proper watering, mulching, and pruning can limit environmental stress and help them fight off pests better. Healthy trees are better able to handle stress, including pests like EAB.
• Avoiding Tree Stress: Try not to damage tree roots during construction or prune trees improperly. Stressed trees are more likely to experience an EAB infestation.

Homeowners in Missouri with ash trees on their property are strongly encouraged to apply preemptive treatment. With EAB present throughout the state, the risk of leaving ash trees untreated is simply too high. Waiting until signs of an infestation appear often means it’s too late, and the tree will likely be lost. Proactive action is the best way to protect your trees.

Treatment Options

If you aren’t preemptively treating your ash trees, and you catch signs of an EAB infestation early enough, you may be able to save the tree. The only way to do so is with insecticides, which can either be applied as a trunk injection or a soil drench:

• Trunk Injection: This method injects insecticide directly into the tree, where it spreads throughout the tree’s vascular system. Trunk injections kill EAB larvae as they feed on treated tissues. Injections typically last up to two years, depending on the specific formula used, and provide internal protection against the larvae that damage the tree.
• Soil Drenching: A soil drench involves applying insecticide to the soil around the base of the tree. The roots absorb the insecticide, which then moves throughout the tree, protecting it from EAB. Soil drenching is a preventative treatment that lasts for one year and is most effective when applied before infestation occurs.

When Removal is Necessary

Unfortunately, if EAB is found late, removing the tree might be the only option. As damage progresses, ash trees become unstable and dangerous to climb, often requiring heavy equipment like cranes for safe removal. This can increase removal costs, so the sooner it’s done, the better.

Dead or dying trees pose risks to property and safety, as they may fall unexpectedly. While losing a mature tree is difficult, timely removal is needed to protect your property and ensure safety.

It’s important to hire experienced tree removal professionals for this task. They can handle the removal safely and follow local regulations for disposing of infested wood, which helps prevent EAB from spreading further.

Why Prevention is the Most Effective Treatment

Preventing EAB is the best way to protect your trees, especially in Missouri where it’s found in every county. Using insecticides before you see any signs of EAB is very important. It protects your trees before they get infested. If your neighbors have EAB, your trees are probably at risk, too. The most important thing you can do is to know what’s going on in your area. Staying aware and acting early can save your ash trees from serious damage or death.

Working with Professionals

When it comes to protecting your ash trees from EAB, working with experienced professionals is very important. Certified tree experts know how to spot early signs of infestation and can suggest the best ways to treat it.

Mathias Precision Tree Service offers complete EAB management, from regular check-ups to preventive treatments and, if needed, safe tree removal. Trusting professionals helps ensure your trees get the care they need to survive despite the threat of EAB.

Take Action to Save Your Ash Trees

Emerald Ash Borer is a serious threat to ash trees in Missouri, but you can protect your trees from this damaging pest if you take action. Don’t wait until it’s too late—start protecting your trees now.

Contact Mathias Precision Tree Service to learn how we can help protect your ash trees and keep your property beautiful. Our team of experts is ready to help you create a plan to

defend your trees against EAB and keep your landscape healthy and valuable. Call us at 314-322-7690 today.