Madison, Wisconsin
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Madison
The City of Madison treats more than 10,000 public ash trees on a three-year rotation to protect them from emerald ash borer. Ash on private property is the owner's decision, and the city's own guidance is blunt: emerald ash borer is fatal to untreated ash, and a live tree is easier to remove than a dead one.
- County
- Dane
- Tree rules
- City of Madison Forestry manages street and park trees; private trees are owner decisions
- Key local rule
- Public ash treated every three years; private ash treat-or-remove choice rests with owners
- Electric utility
- Madison Gas and Electric
- Main hazards
- Emerald ash borer, oak wilt, summer thunderstorms, heavy snow
Madison's ash program
Emerald ash borer was found in Madison in 2013. Ash were a large share of the city's street trees, planted after Dutch elm disease emptied the same streets decades earlier. The city chose a mixed approach: treat ash that met condition criteria and remove the rest over time.
In the 2024 treatment rotation, city crews injected 3,264 public ash with emamectin benzoate, part of a program covering about 10,500 trees along streets and in parks. Each tree is treated once every three years, and trees that no longer meet the criteria are marked for removal.
Private ash are outside that program. Owners decide whether to treat, remove or let the tree go, and the city encourages consulting a certified arborist.
Should I treat my Madison ash?
If it is healthy, a good tree in a good spot and you are willing to treat every couple of years, yes. If it is already declining, has woodpecker damage or stands where its loss would not matter much, removal while it is still alive is safer and simpler. The Wisconsin DNR notes treatment is more likely to work when woodpecker damage is low or moderate.
- Value
- Large ash shading the house are the most worth treating.
- Condition
- Light thinning only.
- Timing
- Spring injections while the tree is in leaf.
City guidance and state rules
The city's homeowner guide recommends getting several estimates, checking that contractors carry workers' compensation and property damage insurance, and hiring a certified arborist or city-prequalified contractor. Street trees and park trees are city property and must not be treated or removed by residents.
Wisconsin allows homeowners to apply some ash borer products themselves. Others must be applied by a certified commercial applicator.
Southern Wisconsin warning signs
Ash with sprouts along the trunk
A stress signal from a dying crown.
Red oak wilting in early summer
Possible oak wilt. Wisconsin advises no oak pruning April through July.
Silver maple limbs over roofs
Common storm failures on the isthmus.
Snow-bent arborvitae and birch
Heavy wet snow splays them open.
Options for a private ash
| Choice | When it fits | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Treat | Healthy, valued tree | Injection every one to three years for as long as the borer is around |
| Remove now | Declining or low-value tree | Simpler and safer while wood is sound |
| Remove later | Rarely advisable | Dead ash become brittle and harder to remove |
| Replant | After removal | Choose species unrelated to ash |
Madison settings and tree work
- Isthmus and near east side
- Old houses, tight lots and mature maples and oaks.
- West side neighborhoods
- Mid-century ash plantings and large oaks.
- Lakeshore lots
- Wind off Mendota and Monona, and shoreline rules.
- Newer edges of the city
- Young trees needing structural pruning, often planted in heavy clay that stays wet in spring.
- Arboretum and park edges
- Native oak woods where oak wilt timing and buckthorn control shape the work.
Madison tree questions
Will the city treat my private ash?
No. The city treats public ash. Private trees are the owner's responsibility.
Who do I contact about the ash in my terrace?
City Forestry. Terrace trees between sidewalk and street are city trees.
Can I keep ash firewood?
Burn it locally and do not move it to other areas.
When is the safest time to prune oaks in Madison?
Late fall and winter. Wisconsin guidance is to avoid oak pruning April through July.
How long does a treated ash need treatment?
As long as emerald ash borer remains in the area. Most programs plan on a treatment every one to three years for the life of the tree.
Reach a tree service in Madison
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Madison area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Call now
Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.
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