---

Orchard Brook EAB Efforts – Historical Information

12/13/14 – Lacey Creek Update

Village engineers have met recently with the pre-qualified contractors for the Lacey Creek stream bank stabilization program. Proposals are due in January and money has already been budgeted for work to begin in 2015 on the areas just east of Venard and Saratoga where the timbers are in a very bad state of repair. In 2016 the plan is to replace the timbers from Venard west to the back wetland area. Residents may soon see engineers from the bidding contractors poking around the creek basin, scoping things out. So, at long last this long stalled project may be on its way.

More information will be forthcoming once the contractor is selected.

(Update provided by Lance Herning)

---

 7/22/14

“The Axeman Cometh”

Unfortunately, as many of us have seen, ash trees are starting to come down throughout Downers Grove, and of course in Orchard Brook, despite many having been treated since 2008. I remember the enthusiasm we had in 2008 when we organized block committees to educate homeowners with ash trees on treatment possibilities to try to save these trees. We started treatment in the fall of 2008, and while trees were coming down in Lombard and other suburbs early on because of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), our trees looked good going into the 2012 growing season. Then we had the devastating drought of 2012, (one of the worst since records started in the Chicago area). Subsequently, our first tree in OB at a residence on Barneswood went down because of the borer, although in this case that tree had never been treated. Still, while whole neighborhoods in surrounding suburbs with large populations of ash were being devastated by EAB, we still felt were in good shape in OB. However, by the end of 2013, it was becoming clear that this beetle was much tougher than realized to stop and in conjunction with the effects of the drought, many of our OB trees were showing severe damage from the beetles infestation. Our second homeowner tree in OB came down in 2013 and in the winter of 2013-14 we took down 12 dying ash in our commons areas.

This spring we changed to a different company for tree treatment (same as that used by the village) and using a more robust treatment regimen, hoped to stem the die-off. The village was claiming 95% effectiveness on treated parkway trees, using this treatment prior to 2014. Now, we are seeing this summer that many parkway trees are dying, throughout the village and obviously the % of trees to survive is going to go down dramatically.

I know that the village has tried different treatment strategies on various sections in town, and I have not been privy to which treatments were used on which streets. According to Kerstyn Vanderheide, the village forester, they are still trying to figure out what works best and are working with the Morton Arboretum to see if they can come up with the best treatment strategy. It is interesting to see that some OB parkways are doing reasonably well; Snowberry and Plum Court come to mind, and to a great extent, ash on Golden Bell. However, Barneswood and Brookside have been hit very hard by the EAB as has Candlewood in a nearby neighborhood. Wood St. just to the south of OB, which is 100% ash in the parkways looks very healthy, on the other hand.

In our commons areas, some have been hit almost 100% and some are showing no effects of the EAB at all. Some homeowners have totally healthy trees and others are taking their trees down. Perhaps some are doing better from some combination of soil PH and or soil moisture in addition to 7 years of treatment of some kind or another. It is indeed somewhat mysterious.

Thus far in 2014, we have lost 10 more homeowner trees, plus several more are on the removal list, and we are scheduled to bring down 11 commons trees in the coming months. At the end of the summer, I will put out another update, and we will see if our April treatment plus a wetter than normal year to date has been able to finally stem the tide of destruction, or if inexorably, the beetle is going to eventually take out most of our ash trees. My feeling is that is not going to be the case, but so far the signs have not been encouraging.

This nasty ash business plus loss of a number of maples and linden trees to verticillium wilt in OB in 2014 has made for a sad year for so many of us.

Lance Herning
redhern@sbcglobal.net

---

1/30/2014

People, we have a new vendor this year to treat our ash trees, (Emerald Tree Care), those that are still viable for treatment in the vendor’s opinion.

The treatment plan for this year is to be much more robust than past years after 6 years of learning the appropriate levels of the insecticide, imidicloprid in combination with fertilizer, micronutrients and organic bio-stimulants to save ash trees. Unfortunately, as too many of us already know, in finding the proper treatment mix, we may be too late for many of our commons and homeowner trees.

Because the treatment is now more robust, the cost has gone up considerably over last year’s flat rate of $11 per tree regardless of diameter. The cost this year will be $2.5 per inch of tree diameter. We realize that for some with large diameter trees or trees with multiple trunks this cost increase will be a jolt. The alternative is even less attractive though, as tree removal could run well over $1000 per tree and may be as high as $2000 for very large trees. There will be some tough decisions to be made by homeowners in Orchard Brook, I am afraid. In the commons areas, we have identified 53-54 trees that we will treat this year. Twenty eight more will be removed over a 3 year period and some of you have likely seen our tree removal service already starting in some areas to remove diseased ash.

As far as homeowners are concerned, last fall, the vendor owner, (Wayne White) and I looked at all the ash trees in our subdivision and measured their diameters, if we thought the tree was worth saving. Each homeowner that wishes to participate this year, (treatment will be done in April), will need to contact me to find out the cost for your particular tree or trees. You may find out that we decided your tree might not be worth saving and did not measure the tree. However, a homeowner still might wish to “roll the dice” and see if a diseased tree can be salvaged, by treating. In that case, I will measure the tree and add it to our list. It could be that the treatment will keep the tree alive even though extensive pruning might be required to remove dead areas. Wayne told me that in other subdivisions he has treated, some homeowners decided to treat even though only a couple of branches survived, just to keep from paying the huge removal cost. It will be something to think about anyway.

Once, a homeowner has learned the treatment cost and decided to participate in the treatment program, a check will need to made out to Orchard Brook Homeowners Assn. and sent to the clubhouse address, at 1089 35th St. with EAB treatment and address of the home shown on the memo line. For those homeowners not on our e-mail list, I will call to make sure that we don’t miss anyone. Deadline for sign-up will be March 15.

The treatment process must be done each year, at least for an extended period of time. We are hopeful that after 5 years, or so, the ash borers will die out, because of lack of trees to attack. Therefore, it is possible that we can stop treatment after that time period because all untreated ash will be dead and there will no longer be a ‘reservoir” of trees to promote breeding and egg laying in the area.

For people who want to comparison shop around, they can check out our old vendor, Spring Green and or Davey Tree Co. Spring Green quoted us a flat fee of $44 per tree regardless of diameter of tree, but that was to do the entire subdivision. My guess is that an individual homeowner would find the treatment cost to be much higher. Davey Tree charges $10 per inch, I understand, but their treatment only has to be done every other year. They inject directly into the trunk of the tree which might have long term adverse consequences. Emerald Tree Care uses a soil drench treatment only.

Please contact me for treatment cost info. and for any other questions you might have.
Lance Herning
redhern@sbcglobal.net
(630) 963-7395

---

Latest EAB Updates as of June 2013:

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation is fully upon us now here in Downers Grove, as witness the dying trees in the south part of Downers Grove and the problems seen in Lyman Woods.

To give some background history, we started a treatment campaign in OB in 2008, which included our parkway ash trees. We hired Spring Green to carry out the treatment program and using an insecticide by the trade name of Merit, (imidacloprid), we got started in September of 2008. Many homeowners participated in the initial treatment program and all commons area ashes were treated, as were all of our 130 parkway trees.

The village of Downers Grove also began to treat parkway trees that year and in 2009, because OB had been proactive in treatment, included our parkway trees in their program, which saved OB a significant amount of money.

In 2008 and 2009, the village also used Spring Green, with one difference being that the village chose in 2009 to start treating in April as opposed to the September time frame, “traditionally” used for imidacloprid. The Morton Arboretum show both time frames as effective in their EAB brochures. In 2010 and beyond, we continued to treat our trees in September and the village continued to treat in April, and although the village changed vendors, the same imidacloprid chemical formulation was used. The village also decided to only treat 2400 ash trees in the parkways, choosing not to treat around 1100 more, but continued to take care of OB parkway trees.

What I have noticed here in OB is that the parkway trees seem to be almost 100% free of EAB infestation, as far as I can tell, (it can take up to four years for an infested tree to show symptoms before the larvae inside the tree seriously affect the tree’s vascular system’s ability to keep the tree healthy). However, I see that some of our homeowner trees and commons area trees are showing some signs of stress, perhaps aggravated by last year’s serious drought. These include trees that have been treated for all five years to date. So, it appears
that the earlier treatment time may be working better.

 In talking to Spring Green, they are now recommending a new chemical formulation that they say is more effective than what they have been using before. They are recommending using a treatment with a trade name of Safari, (dinotefuran).

In researching, dinotefuran, I see that this chemical moves 3 times faster into the tree’s vascular system than imidacloprid and can even used to rescue distressed trees if at least 20% of the tree canopy is still left. The village still used imidacloprid for this spring’s program. Based on Spring Green’s recommendation, we should plan to switch to Safari.

 Safari should be used before July 15 to be truly effective. So, unlike past treatment campaigns, we need to get interested people signed up by July 1. The cost will be the same as last year, $11 per tree. People who wish to enroll in the program again, please make out a check to Orchard Brook, with a note in the memo line stating “EAB treatment”. Please send payments to Clubhouse, 1089, 35th St. Downers Grove IL 60515. Please make sure the address where the trees to be treated is indicated somewhere with your payment. Checks should be made out to Orchard Brook Home Association.

For those who think their ash trees might be beyond saving, please call me and I will come over and have a look. Also feel free to contact me with any other questions you might have. I recently, took a trip through Lombard and it is shocking to see all the dead and dying ash trees throughout that village, particularly on Main St. It is obvious that the treatment we have been using while perhaps not 100% effective, is in the main, working and looking at a street like

Golden Bell Court, working very well thus far.

 Lance Herning

---

Ash Tree Update From Lance Herning as of Sept 2012

On Wed. Sept. 19, I accompanied a crew from Spring Green and we treated 77 ash trees in the commons areas and did 60 on homeowners property which tied our old record of 60 in 2008, and was a nice bounce-back from the 39 treated in 2010. There are a total of 74 on homeowner property so this was a decent showing. Out of the 137 trees, I found 3 likely casualties for EAB infestation and 2 probable. Of the 3 likely, one had never been treated, one had missed one year, and one had been treated for all 4 years. Of the two probable, they had been also treated all 4 years, so it is obvious that our treatment program is not a 100% sure thing, but hopefully it will be effective in the long run for most of our tree population.

Of the over 130 trees in the parkways, I did not see any obvious problems. In talking to the village forester, they treat the parkway trees somewhat earlier than we do, using the basically the same chemical formulation as does Spring Green. It is their feeling that doing the treatment earlier when the trees are fully transpiring is more effective for uptake of the chemicals into the tree’s vascular system. Next year we will look at starting a bit earlier as well, perhaps by as much as two weeks.

 The village forester, said that of the original 4000 parkway ash trees, 500 have been taken out already, and of the 3500 left they are treating 2300, including ours. The 1200 untreated will likely fall victim to the ash borer in the next several years. The forester says of the trees they are treating they are getting essentially 100% protection thus far. I noticed that the EAB is now in Lyman Woods, so that is going to be a sad situation over there soon.

 In making the rounds, I saw some evidence of verticillium wilt striking linden trees, and sugar maples. That disease is essentially 100% fatal and the drought conditions make the trees much more susceptible to the disease. Dutch elm disease is also rearing it’s ugly head again on some mature elms, (American elms only so far, skipping slippery and Siberian elms, although these species can in unusual circumstance fall prey to the disease, so I am told). In addition, it appears that our box elder population in OB is going to take a major hit from the drought, and I expect to see a big die-off in the next couple of years.

 Speaking of box elders, you all may have seen an outbreak of box elder bugs this year after our mild winter. On one tree, I looked at there are thousands crawling around. The beetles are dark colored with some red stripes and the nymphs are bright red. These insects like female trees only because they feed on the seeds, and therefore they do not harm the tree itself. However, they like to overwinter in houses, so you will have to keep an eye out for them and like the Asian lady bug beetles be prepared to vacuum them up if you find them inside.

Finally, in this litany of woes, for those of you who have Scots pine and or Austrian pines on your property, they likely are in for a bad time in the next couple of years, due to a fungus like disease. If you have such and want an opinion, please give me a call and I can come over and have a look.

Lance

---

Emerald Ash Borer Still A Threat

Just because we haven’t heard anything on the nightly news recently we shouldn’t think the problem has gone away. The emerald ash borer is still a concern, and prevention is still way less expensive and more environmentally friendly the the cure (cutting down the ash trees).

A number of Chicago area municipalities have been in the news because of the discovery of the long expected and dreaded Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) which has been responsible for the deaths of millions of ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Accidentally introduced into the Detroit area in 2002 possibly from a boat from China, the EAB has spread rapidly into Canada and the Midwestern areas surrounding the Detroit area. Some of the municipalities in Chicagoland where it already has been found include Chicago, Hazel Crest, St. Charles, Batavia, Burr Ridge, Glendale Hts., Huntley, LaGrange, Lombard, Naperville, Oak Park, Evanston, River Forest, Sugar Grove, Wilmette and Carol Stream.

While this insect is expected to cause tremendous devastation in our forest preserves and many communities, there are steps that can be taken to protect some of our ash trees. Spring Green Lawn Service (among others) has a root injection system that has apparently been very effective in Michigan in warding off the EAB from entering the inner bark of ash trees. Last fall (2008) we (Orchard Brook) treated all our parkway and common area ash trees, and most homeowners with ash trees had their trees treated as well.

For 2010, the Village of Downers Grove has already treated the parkway trees in the Orchard Brook area.

The OBHA board contracted with Spring Green to treat the common area trees and will again coordinate the treatment of trees on residential property. Spring Green will treat homeowner trees at a cost of $10 per tree per injection regardless of tree diameter, as long as the treatment was done at the same time as the common area trees. The injections must be done in the early fall and then repeated each year for the rest of the life of the tree, (one injection per year).

The board based their decision on aesthetics and economics. The loss of around 100 (220 if we count the parkway trees DG has already treated) mature trees would certainly detract from the beauty of our surroundings, and possibly have a negative impact on property values.

The cost or removing diseased trees is also overwhelming. There are about 80 ash trees on Orchard Brook common property. If we are required to remove these trees, the cost would be approximately $64,000 (80 trees x $800 each). A cost that would be passed along to the homeowners. In comparison, the $1,000 per year that OB might spend on prevention seems like a good investment.

 Homeowner Participation

The board again invited interested homeowners who wish to protect trees on their property to join in the 2009 treatment program at homeowner cost of $10 per tree.In 2008 more than 60 privately owned trees were treated under the program. In 2009, participation fell somewhat – to around 45 homeowners.

We would love to have everybody back on board for 2010!

Homeowners are not required to participate, and you can always choose to have Spring Green or another company perform the service, but it will probably be more expensive to contract individually.

 What Will The Village Do?

That was a big question in 2008, but the concern at the village government level and our proactive 2008 campaign lead to the treatment of the trees on village property in the spring of 2009 and again in the spring of 2010. We hope they will continue to treat the parkway trees annually.

 Do you have an ash tree on your property?

During the 2008 effort, we located most, if not all, of the ash trees on private property. Most Orchard Brook homeowners, as a result of the 2008 effort, already know if they have an ash (or not) on their property.

For your reference:

1. Ash trees have leaves with opposite twigs, (that is rare in the tree world in northern Illinois, as only maples, dogwoods, buckeyes and horse chestnuts other than ash have opposite twigs).

2. Ash leaves have 5-7 lanceolate, (oval and pointed) leaflets for each leaf (compound leaves).

If these two criteria are met, and the homeowner still has any doubts about the identity of a tree, give Lance Herning a call and he can the confirm the species. Also, see the link below:

http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/E2942.pdf

 People wishing to get more information on this exotic pest can type in “Emerald Ash Borer” into the Internet search engine of your choice and get a wealth of websites on the subject.

We would like to thank our resident Naturalist, Lance Herning, for making us all aware of the problem, researching potential solutions, and all the time and effort he has put into addressing this issue.