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Protecting Ash from Emerald Ash Borer in Illinois

Purple ash planted; emerald ash borer approaching. Owner asks about protection and alternative shade trees for clay soil.

DIY Systemic Protection

Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control (imidacloprid/Merit) — soil drench, not spray. Mix in watering can, pour at base. Roots absorb; moves up to where larvae feed. 12-month protection. Treats large trees without ladders.

Timing

Apply early spring. Distribution takes 1 week–3 months in large trees.

Alternative Trees

Michigan State replacement list or contact IL Forestry for local recommendations.

Protect existing ash; plant diverse replacements now.

Trees: Mountain Ash Berry Failure and Tip Dieback: Pollination and Twig Borer; Ash Tree Basal Decay: Irreversible Heartwood Rot on West Side; Bonita Ash Slow to Leaf Out: Normal or Borers?; Ash Tree with Cauliflower Clusters and Peeling Bark: Need Photos; Mushrooms on Ash Trunk: Internal Decay, Not a Death Sentence; Ash Tree Borer Treatment in Idaho: Can This Tree Be Saved?; Sapsucker Damage on Mountain Ash: Prevention with Tanglefoot; Peach Tree Borer Fatality in Mature Plum Tree; Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica): Fast-Growing Shade and Windbreak Tree; Emerald Ash Borer: Identification, Signs, and Management Options

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