By Joshua Keeran, Current Editor
BELLE CENTER – For the past two decades, Bill Coyer has made a living tending to trees. To celebrate 20 years in the business, Coyer is giving back to nature by doing his best to help save ash trees from their biggest nemesis – the emerald ash borer.
After graduating from Indian Lake High School in 1983, Coyer spend nearly a decade working in factories while dabbling in tree work from time to time. In 1992, Coyer reached a point in life where he was tired of the factory life so he decided to open Coyer Tree Service and Stump Removal.
“That summer I decided tree work was all I was going to do,” he said. “I said heck with factory work and unions because of what they did to my dad.”
Coyer started his tree service business with a small chipper, a small pickup truck, two ropes, climbing gear, a chainsaw and a couple of hand saws. Over the years, his business grew to the point where he was forced to move from Lakeview to rural Belle Center in order to house all his equipment.
In fact, Coyer has gone from being best known for helping guide the Lakers to the 1982 state cross country meet as well as being a member of the 4×800-meter relay team which placed third at the state track meet in 1983, to being known today throughout the Indian Lake region as “Tree Man” or “Tree Guy.” With such a reputation, it’s no surprise Coyer has a place in his heart for trees, so when he notices ash trees in the area had come under attack from the emerald ash borer – an invasive species from Asia – that has reeked dozens of states in the country including Ohio, he decided it was time to act by offering his services to help save the trees.
“I studied different techniques for saving the ash tree like soil saturation, drenching of the bark and IV injection,” Coyer said. “Around Indian Lake, you don’t really want to do the soil saturation or bark saturation because it will run off into the water and kill the fish, so I looked at reports on the Arborjet injection and discovered it has the highest success rate on a consistent basis out of all the techniques when applied properly.”
The Arborjet system involved drilling three-eighths of an inch holes in the bottom trunk and inserting ports into the holes. From there, a pressurized bottle containing an insecticide called TREE-age is pushed through IV-like tubes connected to the ports in the base of the tree.
“Once injected, the TREE-age goes up the tree between the bark and sap ring,” Coyer said. “When the borer larva makes contact with the insecticide, it kills them. Also, when the ask borer tried to dig into the tree, the insecticide kills them that way as well. It’s just fascinating to watch how this stuff works once it enters the tree.”
According to Coyer, the TREE-age, which is mixed with water before being injected into the tree, is the key to saving the tree because unlike most insecticides, it contains emamectin benzoate, which has shown to have success against the borer.
“A lot of people say if an ash tree gets infested with the emerald ash borer that you must get rid of the tree,” Coyer said. “I don’t want to just get rid of every tree infected by the borer, instead, I would like to save some of them. Hopefully, we can catch a lot of them hear before it’s too late.”
Coyer believes there is still time to save the ash tree thanks to this newest treatment.
“In a couple of years from now when the trees I’ve treated are alive and others around here are dead, I’m going to be able to say I saved those trees,” he said. “My goal is to save as many ash trees as I can.”
To treat or not to treat It’s no secret the emerald ash borer has done a number on ash trees throughout Ohio and countless other states, which is why Coyer isn’t taking the exotic beetle lightly now that it has spread to the Indian Lake region.
“The infestation started over off of U.S. Route 68 and County Highway 111,” he said. “It is gradually coming to the Indian Lake area, especially the north side. A lot of ash trees died in Belle Center last year.”
So what’s the emerald ash borer secret?
“The borers really hit the ash trees hard,” Coyer said. “They kill trees by loosening the bard up on the limbs of each tree which stops the sap from traveling to all areas of the tree. Generally, the borers always start at the top of the tree because the limbs are thinner and easier to penetrate. From there, they travel down the tree, killing it along the way.”
In order to give an ash tree infested with the borer a fighting chance, Coyer said the tree must have at least 70 percent of its canopy alive and well. If more than 50 percept of the tree is dead, odds are it can’t be saved.
“If the tree is half gone, it’s almost as if you are wishing for a miracle,” he said. “Instead, you should treat the tree before it gets that far.”
In fact, Coyer recommends taking a preventative approach even if an ash tree appears to be healthy.
“You especially want to treat any ash tree that is in the area of other infected trees,” he said. “If you see ash trees in the area that are dying, then the borer is in the area and your tree might be infected whether the signs are there or not.”
The Arborjet system using TREE-age isn’t a one-time deal, Coyer cautioned.
“Each injection is good for up to two years, then you have to treat the tree with TREE-age again. In time, there is hope ash trees will adapt and develop a resistance to the emerald ash borer. Right now, the bug is a shock to the ash trees because they aren’t use to them, but experts say it’s possible the ash trees will eventually develop a resistances and no longer require insecticide treatments.
Treatment Costs TREE-age insecticide is a restricted-use pesticide, meaning it can only be sold to and used by a state-certified applicator.
In order to be legally allowed to treat a tree with a chemical like TREE-age, Coyer was required by law to pass a test in order to obtain a 6A ornamental pest control license, which he acquired last spring.
“The state wants to make sure you know what you are out there doing and that your not taking the public for a ride, Coyer said.
Treating ash trees with TREE-age isn’t cheap, but Coyer said the alternative is paying a higher cost to have the tree removed.
“On average, most people are charing $12 to $15 per inch in diameter to treat ash trees with TREE-age,” he said. “Since I just started offering this service this spring, I’ve decided to be between $10 and $12. This little trees I’m charging $10 per inch in diameter and $12 for the bigger trees because they require more of the insecticide in order to treat.”
According to Coyer, the price of the insecticide is the main reason the service isn’t offered at a cheaper rate. He noted TREE-age can cost as high as $560 per bottle.
“It’s expensive, but it’s the best thing out there,” Coyer said. “As the old expression goes, ‘You get what you pay for.'”
For those wondering whether or not it would be wise to treat their ash tree or trees, Coyer said he doesn’t mind making a trip to one’s home if it might help save an ash tree or two.
“There is no charge for me to come out to see if a certain ash tree can be saved or not,” he said. “I’d rather come out and tell the person up front whether the treatment is going to work or not. I’d rather be straightforward with them instead of just trying to sell the product.
“I’ve even told people if the application doesn’t work, I’ll give them a discount when it comes to taking the tree down if it ends up dying,” Coyer added. “I’m going to feel pretty bad if this stuff doesn’t work because I don’t like putting on name on things that don’t work.”
Coyer Tree Service and Stump Removal can be reached by calling 539-1435.
When asked if he ever imagined the business would be celebrating 20 years of service, Coyer responded by saying, “I thought it would be something I would go do until I got sick of it, but I haven’t gotten sick of it yet. I enjoy it, and I enjoy interacting with people.