Bismarck, North Dakota
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Bismarck
City forestry crews found emerald ash borer in Bismarck in late August 2026 while removing declining ash, the first detection in central North Dakota. A quarantine now restricts moving ash wood out of Burleigh County. The city had prepared since 2008, cutting the share of ash among boulevard trees from 36 percent to 22 percent.
- County
- Burleigh
- Tree rules
- City of Bismarck Forestry; North Dakota Department of Agriculture quarantine
- Key local rule
- Ash wood may not be moved out of Burleigh County under the 2026 quarantine
- Electric utility
- Montana-Dakota Utilities
- Main hazards
- Emerald ash borer, blizzards and ice, drought, strong winds
What does the ash borer mean for Bismarck owners?
Ash in Bismarck are now at risk. Healthy ash worth keeping can be protected with treatment. Declining ash should be removed. Under the quarantine, ash logs, branches and firewood must not be moved out of Burleigh County, and adults of the beetle are spread mainly by people moving wood.
- Treat
- Healthy, valued ash.
- Remove
- Declining ash, before they turn brittle.
- Do not move ash wood
- The county quarantine prohibits it.
Deciding about a Bismarck ash
Confirm it is ash
Opposite branches and compound leaves.
Check the crown
Healthy, thinning or declining.
Treat or remove
Treatment in spring when in leaf.
Handle wood under the quarantine
Keep it in Burleigh County.
Replant
A hardy non-ash species.
Years of preparation
Bismarck started preparing long before the beetle arrived. Since 2008, city forestry has removed boulevard ash in poor condition and planted other species, bringing ash from 36 percent of boulevard trees down to 22 percent. The city also set money aside in a reserve for the year the borer was found.
Green ash was a mainstay of Northern Plains towns because it survives cold, wind and drought. Replacement species must handle the same conditions: bur oak, hackberry, American linden, Ohio buckeye and disease-resistant elms are common choices.
For owners of private ash, the next few years are the window to decide.
Bismarck's winters and dry summers are hard on newly planted trees, so replacements need deep watering through the first two or three growing seasons and protection from mowers and string trimmers. A replanted boulevard tree that dies in its first year sets the canopy back several more.
What infested ash look like in Bismarck
Thinning canopy
Starting at the top of the tree.
Sprouts from the trunk
A stress response.
Bark splits and woodpecker damage
Over larval tunnels.
D-shaped exit holes
About an eighth of an inch across.
The detection and quarantine
Bismarck forestry staff found the beetle in late August 2026 while removing declining ash. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture's quarantine followed immediately, restricting movement of ash wood materials out of Burleigh County. The borer had already been found in Cass County around Fargo and in LaMoure County.
Statewide, ash make up between 20 and 80 percent of trees along city streets and in parks, according to the state, so the borer is a major threat to North Dakota towns.
Hardy replacements for Northern Plains ash
| Tree | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bur oak | Native, very cold and drought hardy |
| Hackberry | Tough boulevard tree |
| American linden | Shade and fragrance |
| Ohio buckeye | Hardy, smaller |
| Disease-resistant elm | Fast and adaptable |
Bismarck tree questions
When was emerald ash borer found in Bismarck?
Late August 2026, by city forestry crews removing declining ash.
Can I take ash firewood to the lake?
Not out of Burleigh County under the quarantine. Buy firewood where you burn it.
Will the city treat boulevard ash?
The city manages boulevard trees under its plan. Contact Bismarck Forestry about trees by your property.
How far does the beetle fly?
Adults usually move only a mile or two on their own. Long-distance spread comes from moving firewood, trimmings and nursery stock.
Does Mandan have the same quarantine?
Mandan is in Morton County. Check with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture for current quarantine boundaries.
Reach a tree service in Bismarck
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Bismarck area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
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