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What is the Garden doing about the emerald ash borer (EAB)?
What is the Garden doing about the emerald ash borer (EAB)?
The Missouri Botanical Garden's current protocol for emerald ash borer (EAB) is to make a complete inventory of the existing ash trees at the Garden and assess their condition. Based on that assessment those trees in decline, have structural defects or poorly sited are under consideration for removal. Pre-emptive removal will help ease the budget impact when ash in our area become infested and dead trees are widespread. It is best to spread out the cost and remove a few trees over time than to wait until the entire population needs removal. There are northern communities that absolutely killed their budgets because dead trees had to be removed as a matter of public safety.
The inventory and assessment will also identify significant trees that should be treated. Treatment might not completely control the EAB but it will buy some time, delay removal costs and slow the spread of the borer. Long term treatment can be identified for trees of historical significance, trees of prominence in the landscape or uncommon species of ash trees and budgets developed accordingly. Research is ongoing with materials that have potential for control.
For more information on the identification and for links to current control information see our Integrated Pest Management page, "Emerald ash borer" and the Missouri Departmetn of Conservation (MDC) webpage "Emerald Ash Borer Management."
MDC is working to identify a site where wood from ash trees can be taken and burned.