View a video where Park Maintenance Superintendent Paul Edwardson explains why it is
critical that work isn't performed on ash trees during the summer.
Don't let its size fool you... the Emerald Ash Borer represents an enormous threat.
About the Emerald Ash Borer
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been found in St. Paul. What does this mean for Bloomington?
The City is working on putting in place a program to deal with this tree disease.
Quarantine in effect
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has implemented a quarantine in Hennepin and
Ramsey counties that prohibits the movement of the following items out of Ramsey and Hennepin
counties:
Firewood from any hardwood (non-coniferous) species.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture indicates that the active period for the Emerald
Ash Borer is May 1st through August 31st. Any pruning or removal of ash trees, branches or
stumps should be avoided during this period as doing this may contribute to the spread of
the Emerald Ash Borer disease. If ash tree work must be done for safety and hazardous
condition reasons the material removed to include the outer 1 inch of the bark/ wood should
be chipped on site or it should be transported in an enclosed vehicle to the nearest
facility that can process the material. (only the outer 1 inch of bark/ wood harbors the
EAB) A list of those approved disposal sites within the quarantine area are listed on the
Minnesota Department of Agriculture web page. Pruning and removal of ash trees/ wood may be
conducted from September 1st through April 30th.
Insecticide treatment information
Once EAB arrives in an area, it will remain a constant threat to ash trees for many years
to come. If you choose to use an insecticide, it is likely that protective treatments will
be needed for the rest of the tree’s life. Optimal timing for most treatment methods
is mid-April until the end of June.
MDA staff will conduct a thorough survey of trees in the surrounding area to assess the
extent of infestation. Information from this survey will help determine the response
strategy implemented by state and local officials. The MDA and MN DNR are working closely
with the USDA Animal and Plant and Health Inspection Service in the MDA response.
City staff tree inspectors licensed by MDA are prepared to include in our annual city tree
inspections the search for EAB in both public and private areas in the City.
The City's goal is to communicate the most current information available from the MDA, to
encourage residents not to plant ash trees, to recommend residents take extra care of ash
trees they are trying to retain, and assure residents our city tree inspection staff will
be including the inspection for, and possible detection of, EAB as we do our annual
inspections of trees in the city.
We do not anticipate a major change in how the City deals with ash trees and EAB until such
time as the MDA has completed its survey and makes a recommendation on how best to approach
this new tree disease.
Further information on the Emerald Ash Borer can be found on the following websites:
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