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Homeowners Save Bug-Infested Trees07-27-07 | News

Homeowners Save Bug-Infested Trees






Tri-County Tree Experts employee Phillip Warner injects an ash tree with insecticide. The treatments have shown promising results.
Photos Courtesy of Todd McInturf / The Detroit News
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As far as trees are concerned, coming into contact with the emerald ash borer is a death sentence.

However, Joe Trompeter of Sterling Heights, Mich. wishes a better fate for the ash tree that stands at the end of his drive. It is one of three ash trees ?EUR??,,????'??? all in the public right of way ?EUR??,,????'??? he hopes will be saved with the help of an experimental treatment from the city.






Instead of cutting down his tree infected by the destructive emerald ash borer, Joe Trompeter tried an alternative treatment of insecticide.


?EUR??,,????'??We?EUR??,,????'???ve been here for 29 years,?EUR??,,????'?? he said. ?EUR??,,????'??That tree was here when we moved in. The builder put it in there. It gives us great shade.?EUR??,,????'??

City officials allowed Trompeter and his neighbors to try to save the trees by treating them with insecticide. The results have been promising.






Sterling Heights residents Beverly and Joe Trompeter discuss the experimental method with Bob Brinker of Tri-County Tree Experts.


?EUR??,,????'??You can still see the zigzags in the bark from the ash borer,?EUR??,,????'?? he said. ?EUR??,,????'??But right now, it?EUR??,,????'???s showing some improvement.?EUR??,,????'??

Roughly, 70 to 80 ash trees still stand on public property. Tree professionals administer insecticides to trees in three different ways: by spraying the outside of the trunk, injecting insecticides into the soil and injecting them directly into the tree. Recently, the tree at the Trompeter home got a dose of all three.

Source: The Detroit News

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