However, rototilling the garden will only bury some of the debris and leave much of it at or near the soil surface where it can start disease problems for next season. Organic waste from the garden makes excellent material to add to the compost pile. And, as long as the pile is active, the material will be safe to incorporate back into the garden next season as compost. In some instances the trees were moved last fall but died this summer despite pesticide applications made this spring. The infested trees usually remain green until the next spring or summer but they generally die before they candle out.
Pesticide applications made after the beetles have attacked the tree are ineffective.
If trees are moved in the fall from native stands, as opposed to nurseries, they should be inspected for recent borer attacks. Usually even the removal of a small patch of bark with a knife will reveal any activity. Wait at least a week before tilling. Dandelion can be treated very late. It doesn't freeze easily.