Wood Chips and Mulch
Did you know that the emerald ash borer larvae can live in a piece of wood as small as 2 inches by 2 inches? It can be hard to believe but lots of forest pests can be transported by small pieces of wood and mulch. But like logs, wood chips and mulch can be treated prior to transportation so that many forest pests cannot travel with them. For example, if a wood chip is 1 inch by 1 inch in 2 dimensions, it can be safely transported out of a quarantined county. If mulch goes through an adequate composting process, it also can be safely transported. Please take the time to find out where your wood chips or mulch are coming from so your yard doesn’t become the next site of an infestation.