Emerald ash borer has been in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota since 2009. There are established populations of EAB throughout the Metro Area. An ash tree infested with these small green beetles, has nearly zero chance of surviving without protection. Sadly, because EAB is an invasive pest with few natural predators, it spreads fast. If you have one of the state’s over 900 million ash trees in your yard, you’ll need a plan to protect it or have it removed.
A Tough Choice
You love your tree, but ash trees are very brittle once they die. This makes them difficult and very expensive to remove when they reach this stage. If you wait too long to treat your ash tree, removal becomes the only option.
Large, mature trees add value to your property, the environment, and your community. EAB treatment costs vary depending on the size and location of the tree, and need to be done every two years if done by the trunk injection method. Treating and maintaining an ash tree is more cost-effective than removal. It also lets you enjoy the benefits and value a mature tree brings to your property. In general, large, well-placed, healthy ash trees are worth treating. But how do you know if your tree is worth the cost of treating it?
Determine if Your Ash Tree is Worth Treating:
- First of all, do you have an ash tree?
- Is it healthy, with less than 30% of the canopy showing damage?
- Is it 10 inches across (diameter) or larger at chest height?
- Diameter is the distance across a straight line through the tree—not to be confused with the circumference or the distance around the tree.
- Is it in a good location where it’s an asset to your yard and has room to grow without competing with other trees or infrastructure?
- Do you live in one of our participating partner cities?
- If so, you qualify for discounted pricing on ash tree protection.
- If your city isn’t participating, contact your City Forester or Natural Resources Department. Ask if they have an Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan.
Did you know?
- According to the USDA, a young healthy tree provides a net cooling effect equal to running 10 room-size air conditioners for 20 hours per day.
- A mature tree increases a property’s value.
- More than 20% of the trees in the Twin Cities are ash. (Green ash are the most common.)
If Treatment Isn’t an Option
Unfortunately, ash trees become very brittle and limbs break easily once they have died. If your tree isn’t a candidate for treatment, or you don’t want it treated, contact a professional for removal and replanting. Factors to consider about tree removal:
- Cost varies according to the tree’s size, and removal risks such as its condition or proximity to structures.
- Stump removal is an additional service.
- Planting replacement tree costs vary depending on the size and variety you select—as well as the fee to pay a professional if you don’t do it yourself.
To learn more:
- Visit Rainbow Treecare’s EAB information pages.
- Visit the Emerald Ash Borer Status Map from the MN Department of Agriculture to see where EAB has been found in Minnesota.
- Learn more about the benefits of trees from the Arbor Day Foundation.
