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City of Woodbury
8301 Valley Creek Road Woodbury, MN 55125 (651) 714-3500 |
Emerald Ash Borer
Updated: May 18, 2010
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a tiny pest that causes huge damage to all varieties of ash trees.
Minnesota's first EAB infestation was detected in May 2009 in St. Paul. So far, it has not been found in Woodbury. However, based on the experience with EAB in other states, the infestation is expected to spread and eventually damage and kill ash trees in the city.
The EAB is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan in 2002. It probably arrived in the United States in wood packing material originating in Asia. According to the emerald ash borer Web site (www.emeraldashborer.info), adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae feed on the inner bark of the trees, however, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients.
EAB has killed millions of ash trees in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and many other states, and caused regulatory agencies to enforce quarantines to prevent its spread. In Minnesota, the Department of Agriculture (MDA) has imposed a quarantine for Hennepin, Ramsey and Houston Counties, prohibiting the movement of potentially infected items such as ash limbs, branches, and logs out of those counties.
Ash trees in Woodbury
Ash trees are numerous in Woodbury, particularly in the older neighborhoods such as Park Hills, Woodbury Heights, and Royal Oaks. Ash trees also were planted in newer neighborhoods like Colby Lake, and the species is prevalent in some city parks. In Ojibway Park, for example, an estimated 43 percent of the trees are ash.
The ash is a fast-growing tree that does well in the urban environment, so it has been used extensively.
Staff is conducting an inventory of trees on public land within the city. When the inventory is completed, the size, condition and distribution of the ash population will be known. At that point, the city will be able to decide on an action plan to best manage EAB on public lands.
The city currently is discussing ordinance changes to control the spread of EAB. For example, the city may prohibit the planting of ash trees in new commercial and residential developments.
Help fight EAB
Residents with ash trees on their property are encouraged to join the fight against emerald ash borer by monitoring the trees and looking for signs of EAB infestation. You should:
- Determine if you have ash trees on your property. There are numerous online resources (see below) to help identify the varieties of trees, or you can seek help from a trained arborist or reputable tree care specialist.
- Look for tell-tale signs of EAB damage, which include dieback of leaves in the upper one-third of the tree's branches, heavy woodpecker activity, D-shaped exit holes in the bark, S-shaped tunnels under the bark, or water shoots up the trunk.
- Report suspect infestations to the Arrest-the-Pest hotline at 1-888-545-6684. You can also send an e-mail to Arrest.The.Pest@state.mn.us.
- Do not plant new ash trees.
- Consider cutting down and replacing small ash trees. It's cheaper and easier to remove smaller trees. Ash trees that are not infested with EAB can be disposed of at the Woodbury compost site; disposal fees are charged. Call Composting Concepts at (651) 436-1213 for more information. Tree removal companies usually will dispose of the tree for you.
- Consider treatment with an insecticide for high value ash trees. Be sure to hire a certified arborist with a pesticide applicator's license to do the work because application can be complicated and could harm the tree if done incorrectly. Be aware, if you decide on this course, that treatment will be needed every one to three years, depending on the treatment used. Generally, the larger your tree, the higher the price.
- Do not remove ash trees in the public right-of-way near the street (boulevard trees), as these may be public property in some areas. Woodbury Heights, Park Hills and Royal Oaks are the neighborhoods where boulevard trees are most likely city trees. Call the Public Works Department at (651) 714-3720 if you have questions.
EAB resources for residents
Concerned about a possible EAB attack?
Treatment considerations:
- Emerald ash borer: Considerations for home owners before selecting a treatment strategy
(325 KB) - Minnesota Department of Agriculture: emerald ash borer insecticide selection, use and environmental protection
Minnesota Department of Agriculture EAB page for home owners:
Also, the national EAB Web site:
A good fact sheet on how to identify an ash tree can be found on the MDA Web site on the EAB page for home owners and also on the Department of Natural Resources Web site at:
List of recommended replacement trees:
(39 KB)Pesticide options for EAB prevention:
Finding a certified arborist:
Arrest-the-Pest hotline: (651) 201-6684 or 1-888-545-6684. Call with questions or to report a suspected EAB infestation.