The yellow and purple fall foliage of green and white ash trees are under threat. With the confirmed presence of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) last month, the West Windsor Shade Tree Commission is urging residents to manage any ash trees on their property. Since eradication is not feasible, the question is not whether to do something, but rather what to do: treat an infected tree or remove it?
“Is it worth treating or replacing?” asks Shade Tree Commission chair Ron Slinn. “The dilemma we face is what can be done in the town for the trees on public land and how do we reach out to the public to inform them about trees on their property.”
It is feared that non-action could result in massive ash tree die-offs. The township recently adopted a management plan and is finalizing a two-part strategy: the township’s multi-year response to the infestation and public outreach.
An estimated two percent of naturally occurring woodland trees in West Windsor are ash trees, and the township has adopted a proactive “selective management” response for its own trees. There are around 2,000 ash trees on township property, mostly planted street trees as well as trees located in parks. Under this approach, healthy trees deemed to be of high value, like those located along streets and in parks, will be chemically treated, while trees in decline will be removed and replaced.
To slow the spread of EAB, which are attracted to distressed trees, select ash trees will be sacrificed. These trees will be allowed to disintegrate and attract more EAB.
For trees located on private property, Slinn says there is an implicit cost with or without treatment. If lucky the ash tree will survive the infestation, but if the tree dies then money must be spent removing the dead tree, which could also pose a public hazard.
Township landscape architect Dan Dobromilsky estimates a tree removal costs at least $300, more for larger trees. An EAB infestation occurs over the course of eight years, so mass die-offs are expected in the next several years. When determining whether a tree is worth treating, Dobromilsky says, in addition to comparing the cost of treatment with the cost of removal, the value of the tree should be considered. A tree’s environmental benefits include shade, water absorption, reducing winter winds, and oxygen replenishment. Plus, there is the esthetic factor.
The Shade Tree Commission recommends residents first check whether an ash tree is located on their property, and then decide whether a tree is worth saving. If a property owner believes they have an ash tree on the premise, a certified arborist can inspect the trees and provide input on the best course of action. Dobromilsky says arborists typically provide a free consultation, and in this case a professional would confirm the tree species and evaluate its condition. Signs of an EAB infestation include die-off toward the top of the tree, new branches growing toward the bottom of the tree, below where larva are feeding, vertical splits in the bark, and woodpeckers feeding on the tree.
Based on the tree’s structural integrity and whether there is any insect damage, an arborist would determine whether the tree is worth saving and estimate the treatment cost. To prevent EAB spreading, any removed ash tree should be chipped or de-barked before it is transported outside the township.
Insecticide treatment method include yearly soil drenching or, for larger trees, biannual direct injection into the bark. Treatment costs start at $50 per year, based on tree size, and any treatment would last several years until the EAB infestation leaves the area. The best time to begin treatment is during the spring, when EAB eggs begin emerging, though direct injection can be done any time.
When hiring professionals, Dobromilsky says property owners should make sure the arborist and pesticide applicator are certified.
“Like with any consumer purchase, you have to be aware of who you are buying from,” Dobromilsky says. “The treatment chemicals you are putting in do have concerns. They could be dangerous to people and insects.”
The township considers the arrival of EAB a problem of significant magnitude, and this past spring the township selected 66 trees for pesticide treatment. Of West Windsor’s 17,235 acres, 40 percent is woodland cover. There are 137 acres of ash trees, based on the two percent forestry estimate for outer coastal plain areas such as West Windsor.
In addition to the safety, environmental, and esthetic value that trees provide, the township’s management plan cites the beneficial health effects. A U.S. Forest Service study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine discovered a correlation between the loss of trees and an increase in human deaths. The study examined data from 1,200 EAB-infested counties across 15 states, uncovering an increase in mortality related to cardiovascular and lower respiratory-tract illness in those counties.
#b#Cricket Update#/b#
The township received no outside bids for the construction of two regulation-size cricket fields at Community Park. According to Manager of Recreation and Parks Ken Jacobs, the proposal sent out last month will be adjusted and clarified in response to concerns from contractors. After reissuing a request for proposals, construction is estimated to begin in late fall.
The nonprofit West Windsor Cricket Association will manage the cricket fields alongside the township. Currently they play on a mixed-use temporary pitch at Conover Field. The sole use of new fields will be for cricket.
