Emerald ash borer threatens Seacoast

Emerald ash borer, the invasive beetle that is killing ash trees in the U.S. at an alarming rate, has been detected in North Andover, Mass., just 3 miles from the New Hampshire border, and 30 miles from Portsmouth.

As a result, Essex County, Mass., has placed a quarantine on the transportation of firewood and untreated lumber. EAB was detected in Concord in 2013 and a similar quarantine is in effect for Merrimack County. If we want to save our ash trees, it's time to start treating them on the Seacoast.

The discovery of EAB in North Andover was lucky, and it shows how we can all help keep an eye out for the spread of this pest. Matthew Mountzuris noticed a stand of trees with dead canopies and increased woodpecker activity and called the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts. Turns out they were all white ash, and all infected.

Here's what you can do:

If you find signs of infestation, you can submit a report at the N.H. Bugs site, http://www.nhbugs.org. If you see trees this spring that have dead or dying canopies, that's a great indication of a potential problem.

The Emerald ash borer has already killed millions of trees, and the spread has continued every year since it was first discovered in Michigan in 2002. Let's all make it a priority to protect our region against the spread of the EAB. In turn, we'll be protecting our forests, our Seacoast, our campsites, our fishing holes and our neighborhoods.

Dan Mello is a certified arborist and owner of Seacoast Tree Care LLC. His team provides expert prevention and maintenance of all tree and shrub species for homeowners, commercial clients, landscape architects and landscaping professionals. He can be reached by calling 431-0101 or visiting

http://www.seacoasttreecare.com.

Follow this link:
Emerald ash borer threatens Seacoast