Don't Touch That Tree!

Flowers are bursting out of their buds, robins are bouncing along the ground...and hundreds of small green beetles are getting ready to wake up. 

That's right, Emerald Ash Borer is back, says the City of Minneapolis, and earlier than ever before. They've been enjoying the same early spring we have, and have started to become active again, weeks ahead of their typical first day back around Memorial Day. 

Because of this, the city and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture are urging residents to not trim their ash trees until after Labor Day. The Department of Agriculture has already issued a state quarantine on firewood, ash trees, and ash tree products in Hennepin, Ramsey, Houston and Winona counties to slow the spread of emerald ash borers. According to a city spokesperson, moving pruned ash branches or firewood about could help spread the Emerald Ash Borer around.

Around 20 percent of trees in Minneapolis are ash trees, meaning the rapid spread of ash borers could decimate tree cover.

If you're not sure if yours is an ash, the state has put together this list of tips for identifying your tree. For more information on emerald ash borers, visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture emerald ash borer Web page or the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s emerald ash borer Web page.