Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan for Commercial Properties

Posted on: May 17th, 2017

The time is now to start developing your Emerald Ash Borer management plan. Will you be prepared when EAB hits your community? Partner with Colorado’s commercial tree service experts and we will guide you through the process.

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is aggressive and unforgiving – attacking all ash trees in its way. It is responsible for killing hundreds of millions of trees in the upper mid-west and eastern United States.

“On average we are seeing ash trees anywhere from in the single digits to as many as hundreds, depending on the size the HOA, retail, commercial, or office landscape,” said Swingle Commercial Landscape Care Consultant Matt Schovel. “Not being proactive can damage managers’ budgets in addition to the property. The scale of this event will be one of which we have never experience before.”

Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan

Swingle suggests taking action to protect ash trees in the Front Range from infestation.

• Consult an expert, such as a Swingle Landscape Care Consultant, to verify ash tree inventory, evaluate the trees for infestation and make any custom recommendations needed. Research has shown Emerald Ash Borer will destroy all ash trees if left untreated.
• Learn from what other commercial properties have experienced in other states. The cost to municipalities, property owners, and forest product industries nationwide is in the tens of millions of dollars, with more than 50 million ash trees destroyed and 25 states already affected.
• Determine the long-term impact to a community’s budget. If community trees die, the branches will become weak and will eventually fall due to severe storms or just naturally over time. The financial and safety responsibilities are incredibly costly.
• Emerald Ash Borer is considered the most destructive urban forest pest seen in North America. “With time all ash trees left untreated become infested with emerald ash borer and die,” say Swingle’s Plant Pathologist Steve Geist.

Should you treat, remove or replace your ash trees?

A Swingle Commercial Landscape Care Consultant can evaluate your property and help you plan for this long-term event. Emerald Ash Borer is here to stay, but there are preventative and proactive measures you can take now. Doing nothing is not an advisable option. Develop a cost-effective, sustainable emerald ash borer management plan for your trees, for it’s not a matter of IF, but WHEN emerald ash borer will strike your property.

Start developing your emerald ash borer management plan today!

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