City begins annual EAB treatment

Metro Wire Staff

The city parks department on Monday will begin treatment for Emerald ash borer.

EAB was found in Stevens Point two years ago, prompting city forestry personnel to contract with Trugreen to begin specialized chemical treatment of the 550 ash street trees throughout the city.

Trees being treated are located in the city right-of-way.

Residents with an ash tree on private property are encouraged to have their trees treated.

According to City Forester Todd Ernster, trees less than 10 inches in diameter can successfully treat their own tree with products bought at home and garden centers.

Ernster recommends products such as Ortho Bug B Gone Year-Long Tree and Shrub Insect Control or Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Protection.

A city-endorsed demonstration video of using one of these products can be found here.

Residents larger trees should contact an arborist to have their ash tree treated, Ernster said.

“There are other insecticides that are effective to protect larger ash trees which require special training and certification to apply,” he said. “It is advised to get a couple estimates.”

Ash trees left untreated will be infested to some degree within five years, according to Ernster, and will begin to die off in large numbers within a decade.

For more information regarding EAB, go to stevenspoint.com/eab.