Signs of emerald ash borer
- Thinning or dying branches at the top of the crown
- D-shaped exit holes about an eighth of an inch wide in the bark
- Bark splitting and winding S-shaped tunnels under the bark
- Woodpeckers stripping bark in patches
- Sprouts growing from the trunk base
Why timing matters
An ash killed by EAB loses its strength within a year or two. Climbing or cutting a brittle tree is more dangerous and slower than removing it while it still has some structure. If an ash sits within reach of a house, garage, driveway or power line, plan removal soon after you see canopy decline.
Can the tree be saved?
Systemic insecticide treatments can protect healthy, high-value ash if started before heavy damage. Once more than about a third of the crown is lost, treatment rarely brings it back. Your county UW-Extension office and the Wisconsin DATCP have current guidance, and we can tell you at the estimate whether yours is worth treating or removing.
Moving ash wood
Wisconsin restricts moving ash firewood and logs. Ask us to haul it, or keep it on your own property.
Questions
How fast does EAB kill an ash?
Many untreated ash decline and die within a few years of the first visible symptoms.
Is every dead ash tree dangerous?
Dead ash gets more brittle each year. Trees near people, roofs and lines should be removed first.
Need help?
We offer tree removal across southern Wisconsin. Request a free estimate or call (608) 844-1385.