Tree removal · Ash
Ash Tree Removal
Emerald ash borer has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees since it was found near Detroit in 2002. Dead ash turns brittle unusually fast, so a tree that could be climbed safely one year may need a lift or crane the next.
Call availability varies by area and time of day. Calls are answered by an independent tree service provider.
Signs of emerald ash borer
Thinning upper crown
The top of the tree has fewer leaves each year.
Woodpecker blonding
Woodpeckers strip outer bark to reach larvae, leaving pale patches.
D-shaped exit holes
About an eighth of an inch across, made by emerging adults.
Shoots from the trunk
Epicormic sprouts along the trunk as the crown dies.
Vertical bark splits
Over the S-shaped tunnels larvae carve underneath.
Should I remove or treat my ash tree?
Treat if the tree is healthy or has lost less than about a third of its crown and you want to keep it. Remove if it has lost more, or if it is not worth treating for years. Waiting too long makes removal more dangerous.
- Treatment window
- Systemic injections protect trees for one to three years per treatment.
- Removal
- Plan it while the wood is still sound enough to climb.
- Replanting
- Replace with a different species. All North American ash species are susceptible.
Why dead ash is unusually dangerous
Arborists across the Midwest report that ash killed by emerald ash borer dries and becomes brittle faster than other dead hardwoods. Limbs snap with little warning, and climbers have been hurt when branches they tied into broke.
Because of this, many companies use bucket trucks or cranes for dead ash rather than climbing. A tree dead for two or more years is often treated as a hazard tree even if it looks intact.
If an ash in your yard has died, do not wait several seasons. See hazardous tree removal for how compromised trees are handled.
How emerald ash borer progresses
| Stage | What you see | Recommended step |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Healthy crown, few or no symptoms | Treat if within the infested area and the tree is valued |
| Moderate | Up to about a third of the crown thin | Treatment may still work |
| Advanced | Half or more of the crown dead, woodpecker damage | Remove |
| Dead | No leaves, bark falling | Remove soon, using a lift if needed |
How dead ash is removed
Assess the wood
The crew checks for brittle limbs and decides between climbing, lift or crane.
Avoid heavy rigging
Pieces are kept small to limit shock loads on dead wood.
Lower or drop
Wood comes down in controlled sections.
Handle wood properly
Firewood stays local to avoid spreading the insect.
Ash wood and firewood rules
Federal emerald ash borer quarantines were removed in 2021, but many states still advise or require that firewood not be moved long distances. Buying and burning firewood locally is the main way to slow the spread of borers.
Some cities run ash wood recycling or have specific disposal sites for ash debris.
Trees to plant in place of ash
- Kentucky coffeetree
- Tough, drought-tolerant and similar in form.
- Swamp white oak
- Handles wet soils and city conditions.
- Hackberry
- Adaptable in the Plains and Midwest.
- Elm hybrids
- Disease-resistant elm cultivars for street planting.
- Mix of species
- Planting many different trees keeps one pest from wiping out a neighborhood again.
Ash removal questions
Is emerald ash borer in my state?
It has been found in most states east of the Rockies and in parts of the West, including Colorado and Oregon. Check your state forestry agency.
Can I keep a dead ash tree?
Only where it cannot fall on anything of value. Near houses, roads or play areas, it should be removed.
Can an ash tree recover from emerald ash borer?
Treated trees with moderate damage often regrow a full crown. Untreated trees almost always die.
How fast does emerald ash borer kill a tree?
Often within two to five years after symptoms appear, and faster in small trees or trees already stressed by drought.
Are mountain ash trees affected?
No. Mountain ash is not a true ash and is not attacked by emerald ash borer. White fringetree, an ash relative, can be.
Talk to a ash tree removal provider
Call to be connected with an independent tree service company near you.
(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
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