After the Ash: Replanting Our Future in Belleville and Quinte West

As spring is now in full swing, you will begin noticing the buds on the trees and leaves starting to emerge. That is, unless you have an Ash Tree. Sadly, an insect called the Emerald Ash Borer has been infecting Ash Trees in Ontario since 2002. The infection has become significantly more prevalent in the last few years.

In the Belleville and Quinte West area, there are hardly any Ash Trees that have yet to be infected. Unfortunately, there is no "cure" for this infection. There are companies that inoculate Ash Trees; however, this needs to be done on a yearly basis. And once treatment is stopped, the Ash Tree is subject to infection pretty quickly thereafter.

If you notice that your Ash Trees are no longer producing leaves, or are producing significantly fewer leaves than in previous years, they are likely already infected. You can confirm this by looking for the beetle in your trees or spotting their tiny boreholes on the trunks. Fortunately, the Emerald Ash Borer cannot spread to other species of trees.

We all know how important trees are to our planet. So, if you find your Ash Tree dying and you are wondering what you can do, consider planting a new tree as a replacement. Our family's personal favorite is the Autumn Blaze Maple. It is readily available, quick-growing, and hardy, with beautiful foliage in the fall. There is no tree more Canadian than a maple!