Town treated 4,500 municipal ash trees this summer to protect against EAB

Tue, 23 Sep 2014

Removal and replacement of dead ash continues

The Town of Oakville treated 4,500 municipal ash trees this summer with the biological insecticide TreeAzin® to protect them against the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The town has completed treatment of all trees included in this year’s program as part of its goal to save 75 per cent of the municipal ash tree canopy on streets and in parks.

This is the fourth cycle for some of the trees since the town began its bi-annual treatment program in 2008. Nearly 2,000 of the trees are receiving annual treatment and an additional 102 trees qualified to receive treatment for the first time this year.

“Council is committed to continuing to expand our tree canopy and combating invasive species like EAB,” Mayor Rob Burton said. “As a town, we’ve made significant progress towards enhancing our canopy coverage for the benefit of Oakville residents now and for future generations.”

Dead and dying municipal ash trees that did not qualify for treatment are being removed over the coming years before they become safety hazards and will be replaced with different species of trees. Removing the trees before they fall not only reduces the risk to the public, it slows the spread of EAB and it allows room for new canopy growth.

Trees scheduled for removal are marked with an orange X. To raise public awareness of the removal program some of the trees will have a red ribbon around their trunks. The town’s forestry section recommends that residents follow suit to remove untreated ash trees from their property to reduce the risk of injury or property damage, and to plant a new tree. Green ribbons on treated municipal trees promoted the treatment program throughout the summer.

More information about EAB and the town’s EAB management program can be found on the EAB page or by following the Oakville Canopy Club on Facebook or Twitter.