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Emerald Ash Borer Taking Over Indiana

Last updated on Friday, June 3, 2016

(EVANSVILLE) - Vanderburgh and Gibson are the only two counties left in the state of Indiana that do not have confirmed cases of an Emerald Ash Borer infestation.

However, officials say their arrival is imminent.

"Now that it's so close to us, we're taking action and we want the public to know that if they have an ash tree on their property, if they don't treat it, it will die," says Shawn Dickerson, Evansville City Arborist.

WFIE reports, the city of Evansville has partnered with the lawn care company TruGreen to launch the adopt-an-ash program where citizens can adopt an ash tree and pay for the expense to protect it.

"I think it's absolutely critical because I've watched this progress from Fort Wayne through Indianapolis, even my own block and it is devastating," says Bob Avenius with TruGreen.

It'll cost between $50 and $300 to adopt a tree. However, the cost to let a tree die and have it removed can cost a lot more than just saving the tree by having it treated.

TruGreen has treated over 25,000 trees and has a very high success rate. We are told that the solution they use resulted in 99% fewer larvae on them than trees that were not treated.

"Typically emerald ash borer is in an ash tree for 1 to 2 to 3 years before it's even detected," says Dickerson.

Officials say the borer are probably already here and we just don't know it yet.

Chris Cooke is responsible for hundreds of trees as the superintendent of cemeteries in Evansville.

"This is the summer where we need to start the treatments and this is the time for the public to get involved and start adopting trees," says Cooke.

If you would like to find out more on the adopt-an-ash program please visit Evansville.adoptanash.org.

If you would like to find out more about the emerald ash borer or treatment options, please visit www.evansville.in.gov/urbanforestry or contact Anthony Moffat about the Arborjet system at anthonymoffat@trugreenmail.com.

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