Reforestation options for emerald ash borer
First tree sale
It is not necessary or recommended that homeowners remove healthy ash trees at this time. However, if there are mostly ash trees in your yard, you should begin to diversify your landscape now by planting new trees.
What is tree diversity? A good rule-of-thumb for tree planting comes from the late geneticist Frank Santamour Jr. from the U.S. National Arboretum. He advocated planting:
- No more than 10 percent of any one species (such as a bur oak)
- No more than 20 percent from the same genus (such as any type of oak)
- No more than 30 percent from within the same family (such as a tree related to oaks, including beech and chestnut trees)
To get started, participate in the city’s annual Tree Sale next spring. Since 2007, 6,291 trees have been sold in Minnetonka’s Tree Sale, representing 30 different species.
Reforestation on large wooded parcels
Owners or managers of large properties may want to evaluate their ash populations and create a more comprehensive plan to prepare for the arrival of emerald ash borer. This may involve prioritizing the removals of declining ash, reforesting before the loss of ash trees, and/or chemical treatment of select trees.
Useful resources on reforestation include:
