Welcome, neighbors. In 2011 it occurred to me, as I heard more and more about the Emerald Ash Borer making its way closer and closer to Columbus that we have 43 large ash trees on our street. It quickly became apparent that if someone didn’t do something about it, we might lose the trees. I spoke to arborists, etymologists at Ohio State, a botanist, a micro-biologist and several other scientists. I finally got into contact with the gentleman who headed up the Emerald Ash Borer task force in Ohio. Incredibly, through all my research, I learned that although there are many invasive and costly treatments out there that require special certification to perform, studies showed that a soil drench treatment, that can be performed by homeowners, shows just as much efficacy against the EAB as the other treatments. I am happy to report that our efforts have been effective and our trees are healthy two years later.

I think we have created a streamlined and cost-effective process that anyone can execute, and I would love to share the process with other residents. The cost ends up being about $2-4 per tree, but the key is to mobilize, because the cost-effectiveness only comes into play if 25-50 trees are treated (and the chemical is bought in bulk).

Please do not hesitate to email me at cmcolucy@hotmail.com if you are interested in organizing a group. I have dealt primarily with trees in the city right-of-way, but I strongly encourage residents to treat their yard ashes at the same time. Any ash tree left untreated has a death sentence. The clock is ticking, folks. Our trees are part of what makes Clintonville Clintonville, and we are the stewards of our trees.

Cindy Colucy
5-25-2012

Friday, April 5, 2013

NEW POLICY ON CITY ASH TREES - SPRING 2013

Important new information regarding ash trees in the city right-of-way:

 As of Spring 2013, the City of Columbus has begun cutting down all ash trees in the city right-of-way ("tree lawn", "devil's strip")*.  The damage, or impending damage, due to the Emerald Ash Borer is so extensive that at this point the removal of these trees, removal of the stumps, and replacement of the trees is more cost effective than potential damage to person or property.  The Emerald Ash Borer situation is a tragic one, but is an example of how invasive species (Emerald Ash Borer) can cause damage to native species (Ash).

Please do not despair completely.  Rally with your neighbors.  The information in this blog still applies to healthy ash trees on private property.  The white ash and purple ash in Clintonville does not have to be eradicated because the city takes down street trees.  If you have an ash you think might be sick have an arborist look at it and have it treated.  If it looks healthy, follow the directions in this blog.

If you have had an arborist treat your tree or have been treating your tree yourself, please contact the City Forester's office at (614) 645-6648.

The arborist I recommend is Ahlum and Arbor, they are first in "Links."

*Wholesale cutting does NOT apply to East North Broadway and Oakland Park because those streets have been treating their ash trees for three years and the trees have the chemicals throughout their system.

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