McMinnville has begun the process to protect some of its municipal trees from invasion.
Warren County was recently placed under quarantine for the emerald ash borer, an invasive species that digs into ash trees. The insect is spreading across the United States and has resulted in the destruction of millions of unprotected trees.
Last month, Gary Clendenon, a plant inspector from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, urged officials to treat city ash trees.
“It’s not a matter of if it’s going to happen, it’s a matter of when,” said Clendenon, of when the emerald ash borer would be seen here.
The city Building and Grounds Committee met Tuesday night and received an update from city landscape manager Hank Patton, who said there are 36 ash trees on city property.
Patton says he considered different treatment options and not all the ash trees were treated.
“We had to determine how many of the trees we were going to treat,” said Patton. “If the trees are over 50 percent damaged or aren’t healthy, there’s no reason to treat them. They are on their way out anyway. A lot of our old ash trees have a lot of dead wood in them. They’ve been hit by lightning. We treated about 20 trees of the 36 we were able to locate.”
Clendenon specifically urged officials to treat the ash trees at Riverside Cemetery. Due to their proximity to a saw mill that brings in lumber from other communities, those trees are prime targets for emerald ash borer infestation.
Patton said about a dozen trees were treated at the cemetery. He said another six or eight there are in bad shape and not worth treating.
Patton explained in detail the process undertaken in treating the trees, as well as the cost.
“This year, we spent $420 in insecticide,” he said. “Next year, we should spend about $240 because we understand now which chemical to use and how to do it. Next year should be easier.”
Clendenon estimated the cost of treatment would be $500 per tree, while the city’s average cost was $21 per tree.
“The good news is that this is way less expensive than what Gary estimated,” said Alderman Steve Harvey.
Patton explained the cost savings was because the process wasn’t bid out and the city didn’t use the soil injector process.
“If we had brought somebody in and they brought in a soil injector, they would have charged you a lot of money to do it,” said Patton. “As you read, it also says that no matter what you do it may not be 100 percent effective anyway.”
Patton has offered to help city residents learn what they need to treat their own ash trees. If interested, McMinnville Public Works Department can be reached at 473-2553.