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There’s new hope for ash trees in the Golden Horseshoe tonight. For more than a decade, they’ve been waging a losing war against an invasis species called the emerald ash borer but new treatments and a proactive approach to cutting infected trees mean that ash trees may survive in the long run, but it’ll take both action and money.
Ash trees are getting an injection called treeazin. It’s an organic pesticide you can only get if you’re a licensed professional. It contains an extract from the neem tree from India. It has minimal risk to bystanders, pets, soil and bees but is one sure way to kill the emerald ash borer.
“Once it’s ingested into the tree, the insect eats it, absorbs it and it goes in it’s gun and it stops the insect from eating, so it’s a food inhibitor and the insect starves.”
The first confirmed case of an emerald ash borer in North America was in 2002. It’s projected that in 10 years the economic impact to Canadians could reach 2 billion dollars.
The problem is before you notice that emerald ash borers have been killing your ash tree it may be too late. Trees all over the province are now on the chopping block. Oakville has had to cut down nearly 6 000 ash trees in the last 4 years. Hamilton’s lost more than 7 000 and St. Catharines has been forced to cut 2 100 trees.
