Now that cooler nights are upon us, many homeowners with a fireplace are pondering where they will get firewood for the coming heating season.
Purchasing a cord or two can be expensive.
The offer of free firewood sounds very enticing, but loading up the trunk of the car may mean bargain hunters will get more than they anticipated.
Not only will they bring home firewood, but a few destructive hitchhikers may travel with them.
Naturally, many insects bore into trees or simply hide under the bark. They may overwinter in the woodpile or seek out other living trees.
The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is a very noticeable green beetle. It is a wood-boring, non-native species, originally from Asia.
It has killed millions of ash trees in southwestern Ontario. Similar to a contagious disease, it is easily transferred to new, previously unaffected areas by simply transporting the insect in firewood from infested areas.
It has been suggested that the damage will eventually be similar to the Dutch Elm disease. It was a fungal disease spread by a bark beetle whose larvae tunnelled under the outer bark.
The results of the disease were catastrophic. Large stands of elms were wiped out.
Similarly to elms, ash trees grow abundantly throughout North America. All 12 members of the genus Fraxinus (botanical group name) are at risk.
It should be noted that the mountain ash (Sorbus) is not affected. Although this horticultural favourite has similar leaves it is not related to the Fraxinus botanical grouping.
Obviously, the unanticipated loss of any tree is a huge concern for gardeners. Often a magnificent tree is the center of the total garden presentation.
At a recent meeting of the Fergus Horticultural Society, Roberta Vlietstra, president, discussed the latest publication from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). It updated the community about the alarming rate of infestation of the emerald ash borer.
“It has moved closer into the area, which includes Wellington,” said Vlietstra. “[It is a] huge reason for concern, as it is moving much faster than anticipated. Many of the trees in our towns are at possible risk. They are a valuable landscape resource.”
Vlietstra continued to explain that many people are completely unaware how they may be contributing to the artificial spread of the borer when they transport firewood from an infected area.
The emerald ash borer has spread throughout Toronto. Ash trees once dominated an upscale neighbourhood near the Scarborough Bluffs.
In just a short period of five years, 80 per cent of the trees are dying or have died. Once glorious, full-grown trees have been destroyed or cut down to prevent further spreading.
As a precaution, residents were specifically instructed to place infected tree limbs with yard waste. Larger pieces must be moved to a designated collection area for disposal.
Any moving of ash wood outside a federally regulated area in Southern Ontario is illegal.
According to OMAFRA, “Federal regulatory measures prohibit the movement of specific materials including any ash material and firewood of all species from specific areas of Ontario and Québec.”
The borer was accidentally introduced during the 1990s. Once detected in 2002 it had become a huge threat as it “ate its way through” the northern United States and adjoining regions of Canada.
Currently it is responsible for the destruction of 7.5 billion trees.
When people move infested firewood to new areas, they allow insects to quickly spread to other regions of Canada.
As the emerald ash borer has such a foothold, eradication is near impossible. The only hope is to slow down the spread by using local firewood. This simple act will assist greatly in the preservation of any trees that have not been affected.
Ron Stevenson is a member of the Fergus Horticultural Society
