08-12-2008
Unsavory Businesses Can Arrive With EAB; Protect Your Wallet and Your Trees

MADISON--With the recent discovery of the emerald ash borer in Wisconsin, many homeowners will be wondering how to protect their ash trees from this invasive pest. Unfortunately, just as the borers emerge from the tree bark, unscrupulous businesses will likely emerge to take money from innocent victims.

"We have seen this happen in parts of Wisconsin that are infested with gypsy moth," said Lori Bowman, agrichemical management bureau director with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. "If you are a property owner who wants to begin protecting your trees, do your homework so you don't get taken by businesses who are more interested in getting at your money instead of the ash-boring beetle."

There are pesticides available to use against emerald ash borer but be wary of a business that claims 100 percent success with their products.

"Insecticides may help protect ash trees from being killed by EAB but their success is not guaranteed. There is no magic bullet," Bowman said.

Some pesticides can be purchased and used by homeowners while others must be applied by a professional pesticide applicator. Homeowners are reminded to read and follow all label directions before using the pesticide because the pesticide label is the law. If you choose to hire a professional, you can best protect yourself by hiring a company with whom you are familiar.

"Do not hire a business that comes to your door to solicit business. Contact one or more companies that you know and compare service and prices," said Dave Fredrickson, DATCP pesticide compliance program manager. "Lawn and landscape companies are an option as are tree care services including arborists."

Before hiring a pesticide applicator, ask to see their commercial pesticide applicator license and DATCP-issued certification number. The applicators are required by law to carry this information, and it should be current.

"Many arborists are also commercial pesticide applicators but you should verify this if you hire a tree service," Fredrickson said.

If you are hiring a tree service, ask how long the company has been in business, if they have references and if they carry liability insurance. Check out the references and call the company to verify that their insurance is still valid.

Wisconsin law also requires that the applicator inform you of your right to receive certain information before the applicator applies a pesticide. You can request certain information in writing such as the brand name, product name or common chemical name of each pesticide that may be applied, a copy of the product labels, the intended application date and the contact information of a person who can provide further information about the pesticides used.

"Pesticides applied to trees also fall under our landscape pesticide regulations so members of the Landscape Pesticide Advance Notice registry must be notified prior to the application, and the familiar red and white warning signs must be posted at the base of trees where pesticides were applied," Fredrickson said.

If you feel that a pesticide applicator is not properly licensed, please contact the state agriculture department at 608-224-4500. Certified applicators and licensed businesses are also listed on the DATCP web site at www.datcp.state.wi.us (search: pesticide database).

With any company that you hire, you can check with the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-422-7128 to see if there are any complaints filed against the business.
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