A tree that has been treated for Emerald Ash Borer (right) compared to one that has not.

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has finally arrived in Southeastern Pennsylvania and that is leading to some tough and costly calls about preservation by local governments. The pest has been slowly making its way across the state and was first documented in our area in 2012. It had already been in the infected trees for two or three years at that point. The EAB has been found in area trees and parks (although it is believed to have not yet crossed the river into New Jersey). The invasive species is widely considered to be one of the most destructive forest pests ever to come to North America. In the end, the total costs to the country, particularly to states and municipalities, could total in the billions.

While many Ash trees in the Southeastern Pennsylvania may not yet be infected, it is only a matter of time. Unfortunately, Ash trees make up nearly 20 percent of the local tree population in Bucks County. While it can be devastating for homeowners to discover the pest, the costs for local governments can be exponentially more, simply due to the number of trees they must manage. Planning ahead can help blunt the impact of the EAB infestation and save your community money.

Making the Call on Public Trees

Unfortunately not every tree can or should be saved. Treatment can be costly and sometimes an alternative management plan is called for. A consultation with a Certified Arborist is the best way to decide on a plan to preserve or eliminate certain trees in parks or on public land. The Arborist can also consult with you on a management and removal plan for trees that cannot be preserved. Your municipality should also have a treatment or prevention plan in place for any trees you wish to preserve.

When a Tree Can Be Protected

When it comes to Ash trees that need to be managed, it is best to assume that the insect is nearby and likely to strike at any point. Thankfully, there are steps that can be taken to protect or save trees that are affected by the EAB. The first step is to have your Certified Arborist inspect individual trees and make sure that they are good candidate for preservation. When the decision has been made, there are a few different courses of treatment available, including soil applications, bark sprays, and tree injections. The Arborist will make this determination based on the size and current state of each individual tree.

When treating for the EAB, it is best to start preventive treatment as early as possible. Infestations by this pest generally do not show symptoms until the problem has progressed significantly. The EAB larvae quickly destroy the tree by blocking the vascular uptake of water and nutrients. You should begin inspecting the trees in your municipality immediately.

An Ash Tree Guarantee

Peter Benz Landscaping also offers a guarantee for Ash trees treated using the TREE-äge® product. If your Ash tree dies from an EAB infestation while under guarantee, you will be refunded your EAB treatment cost(s) for up to the previous four years.

• We will deliver treatments using research tested products using the most up to date protocols to provide for optimal effectiveness.
• We will visually inspect your protected tree(s) every 1-2 years to examine for evidence of Emerald Ash Borer infestation. This inspection may take place at the time of re- treatment. We are available to look at your tree at any time should you be concerned about its condition.
• This guarantee is fully transferable to a new property owner.

Contact Peter Benz Landscaping today to protect the valuable Ash trees in your community.

Our native landscape designer, Beverly Auvil shared with us her suggestions on how to attract butterflies to your yard:

Butterflies are attracted to “butterfly bushes” or the Buddleia davidii, so it’s natural that people buy these plants trying to bring more butterflies onto their property. Butterflies are attracted to these plants because they feed on the nectar, but the Buddleia is an exotic invasive plant. Exotic plants are species that evolved in different ecosystems and have few native predators and diseases. According to Michael Dirr, a professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia and expert on landscape trees and shrubs, both Buddleia alternifolia and Buddleia davidii are native to China.

The biggest problem with the Buddleia, or the butterfly bush, is that it is indeed invasive to Bucks County and surrounding areas. Since it is an exotic plant and has fewer predators and diseases, it can out- compete native plants, altering the balance in native habitats. It will produce seeds and the seeds will travel through birds, wind and other animals to additional locations. When an exotic, invasive plant invades our local ecosystem it takes the place of a native plant. When more and more exotic plants replace native plants on our properties and natural areas, our habitats begin to become compromised. This causes our indigenous butterflies and other wildlife to decline in population, or even become extinct.

To truly understand how to attract butterflies to your property, it’s important to also understand the life cycle of butterflies. Here is an example using the Monarch butterfly:

1. A Monarch lays her eggs on a milkweed plant, or the Asclepias
2. A Monarch caterpillar develops from the egg and feeds on the milkweed (also referred to as the larval food or the host plant)
3. The caterpillar then creates a cover for itself, called the pupal case
4. The butterfly emerges from the case when its ready

Once the butterfly is out of the case it feeds on nectar from flowers. Although they are able to get nectar from a variety of flowers they need milkweed to lay their eggs on because it is the only thing the caterpillar can feed on. If you don’t have milkweed, you won’t have any Monarchs.

Here are some alternative plants to the butterfly bush that you could plant on your property to attract butterflies:

Want to add some of these butterfly-attracting plants to your property? Contact Peter Benz Landscaping and we can provide an on-site consultation and create a landscape design accordingly.