Save Your Ash Trees From the Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is smaller than a dime, but it has killed tens of millions of ash trees in Michigan and in several other states.

"EAB is harming the look of many neighborhoods and it's spreading," says Bayer Advanced Garden Expert Lance Walheim, co-author of Landscaping for Dummies.

A Devastating Life Cycle

The Emerald Ash Borer begins emerging in mid to late May, or earlier if it's warmer. Females start laying eggs shortly after that. Heavy woodpecker damage on ash trees can be a warning sign, since they eat the larvae.

The larvae bore through the ash tree and feed just inside the bark, leaving tracks in the process. The insect disrupts the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients, so small trees can die within one to two years of becoming infested. Large trees can be killed in three to four years.

"A tree service could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars to cut down your damaged ash trees, but there are less extreme measures you can take." says Walheim.

• Check out the emeraldashborer.info Web site to determine whether you have ash trees in your yard.
• Take a preventive strategy. Bayer Advanced™ 12 Month Tree & Shrub Protect and Feed liquid concentrate is a DIY method to protect your ash trees from the Emerald Ash Borer or other insects listed on the product label. It's easier to use because it requires no ladders or spraying. Mix it in a watering can and pour around the base of your trees. It protects your trees from destructive insects top to bottom for up to 12 months. It also provides slow-release feeding. Always read and follow label directions. (This product isn't registered in Long Island, New York.)
• Don't move any ash firewood or logs outside of a quarantined area. It's illegal in many areas.
• Don't add ash trees to your yard if you live in a state that has EAB. Emeraldashborer.info or your local garden center can offer suggestions for other kinds of trees you can plant.

It's also a good idea to check your trees regularly for signs of damage and be sure to water and prune them as needed. You can learn other details about EAB, as well as tree-care tips, at bayeradvanced.com.

About Bayer Advanced

Bayer Advanced lawn and garden products are created by Bayer Environmental Science, a business unit of Bayer CropScience LP and part of the Bayer AG family, a Fortune Global 500 company that makes such well-known brands as Bayer Aspirin, Aleve® and Alka-® Research Triangle Park, NC, is the business headquarters of the company''s NAFTA Region. Kansas City, MO, is the company''s core technology center. The global headquarters of Bayer CropScience is located in Monheim, Germany.

Bayer Advanced products deliver Better Science. Better Results.™ and carry a money-back guarantee. They are available at major retailers and independent garden shops across the United States. You can learn more by visiting www.bayeradvanced.com or by calling 1-877-BAYERAG.