Arlington Heights neighborhood successfully treats more than 400 trees

One Arlington Heights neighborhood made an effort to treat more than half of its ash trees to try to save them from the invasive emerald ash borer.

So far, it’s been a success.

Residents of Northgate, a large subdivision in central Arlington Heights, treated 450 of the 700 ash trees in the subdivision, according to Seth Eisner, board member on the Northgate Civic Association.

“We believe we ran the largest nongovernmental ash tree treatment program in America,” Eisner said. “Not a single one has been taken down or is scheduled to be taken down because of EAB.”

Without treatment, infected trees have to be removed, which can have a strong visual impact on neighborhoods like Northgate where ash trees exist in high numbers.

Of the 250 untreated trees, about 70 have been removed or are slated to be removed, Eisner said.

The civic association collected money from interested residents and hired an arborist to treat trees in the neighborhood. Eisner said they will continue the program next year.