Take action if you have ash tree on your Richmond Hill property

Yorkregion.com
April 29, 2016
By Dave Barrow

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and the damage it’s done to urban and forested areas throughout southern Ontario.

In Richmond Hill, this invasive insect has attacked and killed thousands of ash trees on public and private property. EAB will likely kill all of the remaining ash trees in town in the next three to five years.

If you have one, or suspect you may have one on your property, I encourage you to take action.

As of late 2011, when EAB was first discovered here, ash trees were the third most common tree in Richmond Hill - making up approximately 12 percent of the total tree cover, that’s around 300,000 ash trees. Many of these trees are, or were, on private property around our homes and in our yards.

Ash trees on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. It’s important to know that as ash trees decline, they become fragile and therefore, hazardous.

If you have an ash tree on your property, you should consult with a professional arborist about management options that will protect your property and your safety.

You can find information about how to identify an ash tree, the signs of EAB infestation and guidelines for choosing an arborist at RichmondHill.ca/EAB.

If you’re looking for tree replacement options, you can take advantage of subsidized tree planting programs (while supplies last).

Until May 8, Richmond Hill residents can pre-order trees, fruit and flowering shrubs, wildflowers and rain barrels through the Town’s Healthy Yards Program.

Mix-and-match a two-tree kit for $10, a five-tree kit for $25, a wildflower kit for $22 (plus tax) or a rain barrel for $45 (including tax).

Residents can also purchase trees through our partner, LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests). For $150 to $220, LEAF will provide a 30-minute consultation with an arborist, a five to eight-foot-tall tree, delivery and full planting service. You can find information about both of these programs at RichmondHill.ca/HealthyYards.

The town is responsible for ash trees on public property. Since 2012, we’ve been implementing a plan to manage the impacts of EAB through a combination of monitoring, pesticide treatment, tree removal and replacement and public education.

To date, we’ve removed and replaced thousands of ash trees on streets and in parks and natural areas. The next set of removals and replacements will take place this fall.