How do you dispose of trees that have an Emerald Ash Borer infestation?
Question:
We have five Green Ash trees planted in 2018 that are now completely dead and the trunks are full of exit holes. I have never seen an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on the plants. They are scheduled for removal and replacement with apple trees. Considering the concern around EAB, are there removal and disposal procedures we should follow?
Answer:
You are inside the quarantine “hot zone” for EAB established by the state emergency order, so there are legal restrictions on the handling of ash trees (and the exit holes sound like textbook EAB). The order mostly controls transfer of the material outside the zone. However, the state does strongly recommend following best practices protocol, which are to process the material on-site (which may or may not be an option for you) or at least to limit its movement to 5 miles from the current location (though you’ll see this is a good time of year, if dead trees have to be removed). Not every ash is infected even in the quarantine zone and these recommendations are aimed at slowing spread. I don’t know how far away the disposal site is from your property, but you should at least try to limit the distance it travels, if it’s feasible, and ask that it’s processed into chips, mulch, or firewood, rather than just being dumped near standing trees. I would imagine none of this will be surprising to a ME-licensed arborist, as they are probably quite familiar with the EAB situation.
Best of luck, and happy gardening.