Trees in jeopardy

[John Palmer]

I just wanted to alert people to an increasing problem for Lakewood trees and tree owners. Over the past 6 months, I've seen a decided increase in Ash trees affected by Emerald Ash Borer. Many people are aware it's a problem and may have seen signs posted about not transporting firewood. As an Arborist, I am seeing a frightening progression, and by the time it's obvious there's something wrong the borer may have been at work for a couple of years. EAB larvae will kill a tree in 2 to 5 years. I just took down another dying Ash this week. Over the past year I've seen affected trees in North Olmsted, Bay, Rocky River, Lakewood, Middleburg Heights and the Metroparks. Female beetles lay around 70 eggs in the spring and larval galleries can do significant damage before the effects are noticed.

If you have an Ash tree, look for dying branches and/or a thinning of the tree crown. Also, check the trunk for the telltale 'D' shaped exit holes the larvae make as they leave the tree as they become adults. Also, look for areas the bark has split that may reveal serpentine "trails" the larvae have made. In the spring, the adults are fairly easily recognized (if you see them!) by their metallic green color, long bodies and flat back.

Don't take this pest lightly. So far, it has no known natural predators, save Woodpeckers, and I don't think we have enough of them handy! It's estimated EAB has already killed over 50 million Ash trees in North central America and Canada, and it was only first identified less than 15 years ago! This could end up worse than Dutch Elm disease that nearly wiped out Elm trees 75 years ago.

John
PlanetCare Landscape and Arboricultural Services

[Meg Ostrowski]

Thanks for the "heads up" on this issue.

Mayor Summers mentioned recently that Lakewood's aging trees are posing some real challenges (and threats) to our city.

As a homeowner who has had to have three trees removed in fifteen years and has seen neighbors' homes severly damaged by falling branches and uprooted trunks, I hope the city and residents are committed to replacing our losses.

I simply cannot imagine Lakewood's homes without a canopy and our narrow streets without their arches and borders throughout the seasons.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Thanks for the "heads up" on this issue.

Mayor Summers mentioned recently that Lakewood's aging trees are posing some real challenges (and threats) to our city.

As a homeowner who has had to have three trees removed in fifteen years and has seen neighbors' homes severly damaged by falling branches and uprooted trunks, I hope the city and residents are committed to replacing our losses.

I simply cannot imagine Lakewood's homes without a canopy and our narrow streets without their arches and borders throughout the seasons.

Meg

For decades, Lakewood proudly proclaimed themselves as...

"The City Of Trees"


.

[John Palmer]

I'm glad I can help. I really don't want people to think that in a few years Lakewood is going to look like stretches of South Dakoda. That won't happen. Ash trees only comprise anywhere from 5 to maybe just shy of 20% of the tree population of a given area. EAB only attack Ash, so your Oaks, Maples, Dogwoods, Lindens, Horsechestnut, Magnolias, etc. are all safe.

Technology is improving our ability to assist in tree health without endangering the surrounding environment. That combined with a better understanding of how trees grow will go a long way. I hope to be a significant part in the process.

Now back to my 700 page Tree Biology textbook...

[Betsy Voinovich]

We said goodbye to an old friend this morning--the huge old tree in on our neighbor's tree lawn. It's been losing about one big branch a year, and has been getting smaller and smaller. When the City came to move the last branch after the last windstorm (it was that big) we were watching and one of the workers said to me, "Why haven't you called about this tree?"

And he was right, the tree had reached the end of its time, and he put it on the list. And the reason we hadn't called is that we knew it would be taken down, and it has been such a great part of our lives: from the kids hanging a rubber skeleton on a string from it to lower down on unsuspecting trick or treaters, to shimmying up it to make a cardboard nest for three orphaned baby squirrels, to just its shade, and its presence. In this weird Springlike January, it was already starting to show signs of its new leaves.

Anyway. Time to plant a new one.

Betsy Voinovich

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From this morning: Last picture with one of my kids. It is one of many pictures with that tree. My daughter was sad and not very enthusiastic about this last picture. "One picture only! And from far away!"

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This is from about fifteen minutes ago.

And now they're done, everybody's gone. I have to say the City does a great, safe and efficient job of it. I'm not going to take a picture of the stump.

Again, sorry the pictures are sideways. Hoping Meg comes on here and turns them around for me, like she did with the snowpants. Thanks Meg.