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Ash Tree Removal & Emerald Ash Borer in Rochester, MN
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that kills ash trees, and it's established in southeastern Minnesota, including the Rochester area. If you have an ash in your yard, it's worth having a pro look at it.
Signs an ash tree may be infested
- Thinning or dying branches at the top of the canopy
- Small D-shaped exit holes in the bark
- Bark splitting, or woodpeckers stripping bark ("blonding")
- Lots of new shoots sprouting from the trunk or base
Treat or remove?
A healthy, valuable ash can sometimes be protected with insecticide treatments applied by a professional, repeated every few years. A tree that has already lost a large part of its canopy is usually better removed. A tree pro can tell you which makes sense for yours.
Why not wait?
Ash trees killed by EAB tend to dry out and become brittle, which can make them more dangerous and harder to take down later. Removing a dead ash sooner is often safer.
Don't move the firewood
Moving ash wood and firewood can spread EAB to new areas. Ask your tree pro how they handle and dispose of ash wood.