The Morton Arboretum Reveals The Latest Information On Emerald Ash Borer

Important Update For Property Owners

LISLE, IL (September 13, 2006) – As property owners begin their fall clean-up and other preparations for winter – is there something they can do to guard against the dreaded Emerald ash borer (EAB)?

Owners of homes and businesses, landscapers, and anyone interested in the Emerald ash borer problem can receive answers to their questions in a special Emerald ash borer seminar at The Morton Arboretum Thursday, September 28, 7 - 9 p.m., in the Thornhill Education Center auditorium. This destructive pest has left nearly 20-million trees dead or dying in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and parts of Canada.

“The Arboretum has fielded hundreds of calls from the public wanting to know what they should do about EAB,” says Edith Makra, arborist and Arboretum Community Trees Advocate. “We want to provide the very latest information available so they can make informed choices,” says Makra, who sits on Governor Blagojevich’s EAB management advisory team.

Arboretum experts will give a brief overview of the bug itself, and then explain the myriad problems that ash trees have experienced this year – problems that are often mistaken for EAB.

The panel will discuss how to tell if you have an ash tree, as non-ash species are sometimes confused with ash trees, and how to keep your ash trees healthy.

There will be a module on choosing replacement trees, and the importance of biodiversity.

“We should plant a diverse array of trees, in part to protect urban forests’ integrity against periodic and inevitable invasions by exotic pests and diseases,” says Clement W. Hamilton, Ph.D., Arboretum Vice President of Programs and Director of Research.

Finally, Makra will deliver an update on the state’s efforts to determine the size of the so-called “footprint” of the Kane and Cook County infestations, and explain some issues involved in managing the infestations.

Following the presentations, there will be a question-and-answer session.

Registration is required to attend the seminar. Cost is $7 per person for non-members, or $5 per member. To register, call 630/719-2468.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of more than 3,700 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission – the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CDT) and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CST). The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit www.mortonarb.org or call 630/968-0074 to learn more.

Media Contact:    Gina Tedesco, 630-725-2103, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marty Cusack, 630-719-5768, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it