Local Community Volunteers Get Involved

Michigan State University Extension Wayne County in collaboration with the Wayne County Department of the Environment and Wayne County Master Gardeners established an Ash Alternative Demonstration Planting in the Bennett Arboretum located in Hines Drive Park in Northville on Saturday, November 5, 2005. This project was made possible with grant funding from the USDA.
 

The goal of this project is to encourage homeowners and municipalities to plant a diversity of trees to prevent future widespread pest infestations like the Emerald Ash Borer by establishing a showcase of the many different and beautiful shade trees that will thrive in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. 
 

The different tree species were chosen according to the Michigan State University Bulletin "Recommended alternatives to ash Trees for Michigan's Lower Peninsula" by Dr. Bert Cregg and Dr. Robert Schutzki.
 

We have used this project to develop a highly trained team of Master Gardeners (aka the Master Gardener Tree Team) to provide leadership and assistance in future volunteer tree plantings in Wayne County in an effort replace the thousands of trees lost to the Emerald Ash Borer.  To encourage stewardship and long-term sustainability of the Ash Alternative Demonstration Planting we have involved local community groups (such as high school groups, local garden and service clubs) in the installation and long-term maintenance of the trees.  We also aim to educate all the participants in the correct way to plant and maintain a tree - an important life skill!  We want every individual to successfully plant and grow trees in their lifetime to improve our lives and community.
 

Distinguished guests included Michigan Senator Laura M. Toy of District 6, Livonia Mayor Jack Engebretson and Dr. Bert Cregg, Associate Professor of Horticulture, Michigan State University.
 

Emerald Ash Borer was first discovered and identified in Michigan in the summer of 2002. Prior to that time, it had never before been found on the North American continent. This highly destructive pest causes near 100% mortality in ash trees and, at this writing, has killed approximately 25 million of Michigan's estimated 700 million ash tree population.