Diseases and pests can pose significant risks to plant health and survival. Plants should be selected that are resistant to common ailments, such as anthracnose (leaf spot), or that can withstand outbreaks. Several pests have caused significant issues over the years with various control methods deployed by city agencies. Some examples include:
Asian longhorned beetle or starry sky beetle, ALB (Anoplophora glabripennis), is an invasive beetle known to attack several species of trees. After 20 years of efforts to eradicate the beetle, New York City was declared ALB-free by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in October 2019. For more information, visit the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service webpage or the USDA’s APHIS publication regarding ALB in New York.
Emerald ash borer, EAB (Agrilus planipennis), is an invasive beetle that is destroying ash populations across the Northeast and Midwest. As such, the planting of ash tree species is no longer permitted within the city. Review Parks webpage on EAB for more information.
More recently, spotted lanternfly, SLF (Lycorma delicatula), an invasive plant hopper from Asia, has arrived in NYC. According to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, SLF has been found in New York State on Staten Island, all New York City boroughs, Long Island, Port Jervis, Sloatsburg, Orangeburg, Ithaca, Binghamton, Middletown, Newburgh, Highland, and the Buffalo area. SLF threatens the agriculture and forestry industries and is known to damage apples, grapes, hops, maple, walnut, and others.
NYSDEC and Cornell University both offer plant disease diagnostic services that may assist in the treatment of affected plants. For the latest information on diseases and pests please visit the UDSA’s APHIS webpage on Plant Pest and Disease Programs or the US Forest Service’s webpage on Invasive Species, Pests, and Disease.
Landscaped areas may also provide habitat for rodents. Care should be taken to avoid plants that support rodent populations. Particular attention should be paid to landscaped areas adjacent to sources of food or food waste. Keep landscaped areas clear of garbage and weeds and trim shrubs that are close to the ground. Visit NYC Health’s page on Rats and Rat Prevention Training for more information.
DOT encourages the use of Integrated Pest Management strategies to control diseases and pests within the ROW. While generally to be used as a last resort, application of pesticides (including herbicides, rodenticides, insecticides, and fungicides) is regulated by the federal EPA as well as NYSDEC. Pesticides may only be applied by a NYSDEC Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator or under the direct supervision of a certified applicator. Additionally, pesticides applied to property owned or leased by the City must comply with Chapter 12 of Title 17 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York (Local Law 37 of 2005). Note that this law does not apply to private property. For more information on this law, visit the DOHMH webpage or call 311.