Gaithersburg Treating Trees for Invasive Insect

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive, wood-boring insect that kills Ash trees, has been discovered near the city limits of Gaithersburg. The city estimates it has fewer than 400 Ash trees in the public right-of-way.

To educate the public about the EAB and what the City is doing to preserve its Ash trees, an informational web page has been created.

The city will be pre-treating Ash trees in public areas by using a soil injection method, which delivers a pesticide into the tree through the root zone. The fine feeder roots absorb the material, moving it upwards and distributing it throughout the canopy. The chemical is mixed with water and the amount applied is based on the diameter of the tree. The active ingredient is Imidacloprid, the same active ingredient in flea and tick treatments for pets. It should take less than a week to treat all of the public Ash trees in Gaithersburg, which will occur in early fall. Please note that the city will not be treating Ash trees in forests.
The city has begun working with neighborhood groups, Homeowners Associations and Management Companies where public Ash trees are present to advise them of the situation and keep them abreast of treatment plans. The city is also encouraging these organizations to develop their own action plans for trees on private and communal property.

Residents with Ash trees on their property are urged to educate themselves about EAB. Residents with specific questions about trees on their private property should contact a Certified Arborist from a reputable and insured tree company. There are numerous links on the city’s website to help residents identify Ash trees and determine if EAB is present. Information on where to report EAB is also included.

For more information please contact Gaithersburg’s Environmental Services Division at 301-258-6330.

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