MONROE - Green County municipalities are preparing for the advancement of the emerald ash borer, with many community leaders attending a workshop on the threat Thursday.
Another workshop geared toward homeowners is scheduled for 6:30-8 p.m. May 1 at the UW-Extension office in the Green County Justice Center.
It's important for homeowners to attend the free session, said Monroe city forester, Paul Klinzing.
Infestation of the emerald ash borer "seems inevitable," Klinzing said. "It may even be here and not detected."
The emerald ash borer, EAB, is a metallic-green, 1/2 inch long Asian beetle. Its larvae feed under the bark of ash trees, creating channels that cut off water and nutrients to the tree.
Foresters Klinzing and Rich Vogel in Brodhead are looking for D-shaped exit holes no bigger than pencil lead in diameter, usually a first sign of infestation.
Vogel said first infestations are hard to detect and may be limited to one or two trees. A couple trees may die in the second year.
"Once noticed, it's like a freight train hits you," he said. "Many smaller communities can't afford to remove trees as fast as they are dying."
Brodhead has about 400 ash trees on its terraces; Monroe has about 600. Another 50 ash trees reside in Brodhead parks and 75 in Monroe parks. Vogel said 30 percent of Brodhead's trees are ash.
The cost to remove a live tree costs about $500-$600, but the cost increases about 30 percent for dead trees, Vogel said.
"There's more danger and cleanup," he said.
To spread out the upcoming costs of removals, Klinzing and Vogel are planning early removals. Brodhead is now removing its poorest ash trees - the ill, dead or dying. However, the city is striving to spare one ash tree in the center of downtown, Vogel said.
"I try to get across to the board and council, the more we do now, the less negative effect it will have on the budget later," he said.
Klinzing is also gearing up an ash tree removal program, annualizing removals.
"There's no silver bullet," he said. "Even treatments just prolong" the inevitable removal, but it helps spread out the removal costs. "It's more costly if you don't prepare," he said.
Klinzing strongly encourages residents to prepare by attending the homeowners workshop.
Logs from felled infested trees can be ground for use as mulch or used as firewood, but will not be allowed out of the county for three years. The DNR quarantines counties where infestation has been verified. Both cities have the means and space to mulch and store felled trees. Homeowners may have to find a way to dispose of their trees, unless a local tree removal service takes the cleanup. The Green County transfer station is prepared to take felled trees.
For more information on the emerald ash borer workshop for homeowners, contact the Green County Extension office at 608-328-9440. Monroe residents may also contact the Monroe Parks and Recreation Department at 329-2465. If you suspect EAB in your ash tree, report your findings to your local forester. The DNR website - dnr.wi.gov - has more information.
Another workshop geared toward homeowners is scheduled for 6:30-8 p.m. May 1 at the UW-Extension office in the Green County Justice Center.
It's important for homeowners to attend the free session, said Monroe city forester, Paul Klinzing.
Infestation of the emerald ash borer "seems inevitable," Klinzing said. "It may even be here and not detected."
The emerald ash borer, EAB, is a metallic-green, 1/2 inch long Asian beetle. Its larvae feed under the bark of ash trees, creating channels that cut off water and nutrients to the tree.
Foresters Klinzing and Rich Vogel in Brodhead are looking for D-shaped exit holes no bigger than pencil lead in diameter, usually a first sign of infestation.
Vogel said first infestations are hard to detect and may be limited to one or two trees. A couple trees may die in the second year.
"Once noticed, it's like a freight train hits you," he said. "Many smaller communities can't afford to remove trees as fast as they are dying."
Brodhead has about 400 ash trees on its terraces; Monroe has about 600. Another 50 ash trees reside in Brodhead parks and 75 in Monroe parks. Vogel said 30 percent of Brodhead's trees are ash.
The cost to remove a live tree costs about $500-$600, but the cost increases about 30 percent for dead trees, Vogel said.
"There's more danger and cleanup," he said.
To spread out the upcoming costs of removals, Klinzing and Vogel are planning early removals. Brodhead is now removing its poorest ash trees - the ill, dead or dying. However, the city is striving to spare one ash tree in the center of downtown, Vogel said.
"I try to get across to the board and council, the more we do now, the less negative effect it will have on the budget later," he said.
Klinzing is also gearing up an ash tree removal program, annualizing removals.
"There's no silver bullet," he said. "Even treatments just prolong" the inevitable removal, but it helps spread out the removal costs. "It's more costly if you don't prepare," he said.
Klinzing strongly encourages residents to prepare by attending the homeowners workshop.
Logs from felled infested trees can be ground for use as mulch or used as firewood, but will not be allowed out of the county for three years. The DNR quarantines counties where infestation has been verified. Both cities have the means and space to mulch and store felled trees. Homeowners may have to find a way to dispose of their trees, unless a local tree removal service takes the cleanup. The Green County transfer station is prepared to take felled trees.
For more information on the emerald ash borer workshop for homeowners, contact the Green County Extension office at 608-328-9440. Monroe residents may also contact the Monroe Parks and Recreation Department at 329-2465. If you suspect EAB in your ash tree, report your findings to your local forester. The DNR website - dnr.wi.gov - has more information.