Beware Infestation Of Ash Trees
By Phran Novelli
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - People have been asking about rust spots on ash tree leaves (seen in the photo here) but ash rust isn't really much of a worry - it can cause leaf drop but it doesn't kill established trees. A much bigger problem is that the Emerald Ash Borer is here, an invasive beetle from Asia which has already destroyed tens of millions of ash trees across the USA!
Once these insects bore into local ash trees, they can devastate them in just a few years - as they've already done across the Midwest. Now they're here in Pennsylvania where, besides killing shade and street trees, they're also threatening to obliterate the ash trees that make the very best baseball bats too!
There are some treatments that may be successful against the Emerald Ash Borer, but they need to be started early. So, you need to keep an eye on ash trees near you and call an arborist at the first sign of trouble so you can decide whether to try to treat the tree or remove and replace it.
Visit The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources so you'll know what signs and symptoms to look for and to learn more to help save the ash trees in our area from being completely wiped out by the Emerald Ash Borer.
Report possibly infested trees in Pennsylvania to the The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: 1-866-253-7189.
