MADISON, Wis. -- The emerald ash borer has made its way just 30 miles south of the Illinois-Wisconsin border, and some are searching for ways to protect their ash trees from the insect.

Homeowner Robert Hunt, of Janesville, said the ash tree on his lawn is 50 years old. Hunt said he knows about the ash borer but said he's optimistic.

"She's old faithful; I don't think anything could hurt that tree," Hunt said.

One Janesville Greenery said that up to a dozen customers have been asking about the ash borer and wondering how to prevent a possible infestation.

Kyle Aurit, nursery manager at K&W Greenery, said that one solution is a ground-soaking treatment from the Bayer Company for about $30.

"They've made it so simple and so effective that I think the average homeowner on their own could really do it. I mean, if you got your gardening, watering can, mixing that with water in the solution, you're talking maybe a five-minute project -- very simple," Aurit said.

It's a solution that K&W Greenery said it hopes could save one of its own, a 25-year-old ash that the owner planted himself.

"Well it's kind of like a child. It's grown with us, with the business, so we are a little sentimental about it," said Bill Williams, owner of K&W Greenery.

State emerald ash borer experts said that nothing scientific has proven the effectiveness of soil drench products.

State officials said they are not in a position to recommend or disapprove the use of such products, WISC-TV reported.