Emerald ash borer is here. Your ash trees are next.
EAB has been confirmed in eastern North Dakota and is moving west. Removing an unhealthy or an at-risk ash today is significantly safer and easier than waiting until the tree is dead and brittle, brittle, and dangerous. Honest assessments, fair pricing, and quarantine-compliant disposal.
The basics on EAB in North Dakota.
A plain-language briefing on the bug, the timeline, and what it means for trees on your property.
The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a small, metallic-green beetle native to Asia. Adults are harmless, but the larvae feed under the bark of ash trees, cutting off the tree’s ability to move water and nutrients. Once a tree is infested, it typically dies within 2–5 years. There is no cure that works after the tree is heavily attacked.
EAB has killed tens of millions of ash trees across the eastern and central United States since its discovery in Michigan in 2002. It was confirmed in North Dakota for the first time in LaMoure County in August 2024, then in Cass County (Fargo) shortly after. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has established quarantines restricting the movement of hardwood firewood, ash logs, branches, nursery stock, and wood chips out of infested areas.
For property owners across central North Dakota, including McLean, Burleigh, Morton, and surrounding counties, the practical timeline looks roughly like this: EAB is on its way, it’s a matter of when, not if, and the cost-effective window for proactive ash removal is right now.
By the numbers
Sources: ND Department of Agriculture (ndda.nd.gov/eab), NDSU Extension, US Forest Service.
Four warning signs your ash tree is in trouble.
By the time outward signs show, the tree has usually been infested for 2–4 years. If you see any of these, get an assessment.
Canopy thinning from the top
EAB damage starts at the top of the tree. If the upper third looks bare or sparse while the lower branches are still leafy, that’s a leading indicator.
D-shaped exit holes
Adult beetles leave distinctive ⅛-inch D-shaped holes when emerging from the bark, different from the round holes most other beetles make.
Bark splits & S-shaped tunnels
Vertical cracks form as the tree responds to larval damage. Peel back a piece of loose bark and you’ll often see the telltale S-shaped feeding tunnels.
Heavy woodpecker activity
Woodpeckers go after EAB larvae aggressively. If your ash tree suddenly has stripped bark patches and increased woodpecker traffic, suspect EAB.
Not sure what you’re looking at? Text a photo to John at (701) 315-0249, he’ll give you a straight answer the same day, no charge.
The honest framework for deciding what to do.
Not every ash tree should come down. Here’s how John walks customers through the call.
Consider treating if:
- It’s a high-value urban or feature shade tree
- The tree is currently healthy or only lightly affected
- You’re willing to commit to chemical treatment every 2–3 years for the life of the tree
- Removing it would significantly affect property value or landscape
- The tree provides irreplaceable shade or windbreak function
Plan to remove if:
- The tree is rural, farmstead, or shelter-belt ash (most ND ash)
- Canopy thinning is already visible from the road
- The tree is near a structure, fence, or power line
- You don’t want a recurring annual treatment commitment forever
- You have multiple ash trees and want to do them in one trip
- The tree is already showing EAB warning signs
From your call to a cleared yard.
Four steps. Honest, predictable, and compliant with ND quarantine rules.
Free on-site walk-through
John drives out, looks at every ash on the property, and tells you which ones are at risk and which aren’t.
Written quote
Per-tree pricing with volume discount for multiple ash. Includes stump grinding and full debris haul.
Safe removal
Done before the tree becomes brittle and unpredictable. Climbed and rigged or felled depending on space and structures.
Compliant disposal
Ash material handled in compliance with ND Department of Agriculture quarantine rules. Replant recommendation provided.
Per-tree pricing, no surprises.
All prices include removal, brush chipping, full debris haul-off, and a tidy yard. Stump grinding available as an add-on or bundled discount.
Single Ash Removal
One mature ash tree, complete removal with cleanup. Most properties fall in this band.
Multiple Ash (per tree)
Volume pricing for properties with 3+ ash trees. Same trip, lower per-tree cost.
Shelter-Belt / Acreage
Larger farmstead and rural acreage jobs. Walked, measured, and priced after on-site assessment.
The questions folks ask most.
Is emerald ash borer in North Dakota?
Yes. EAB was first confirmed in LaMoure County in August 2024 and has since been detected in Cass County (Fargo). The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has established quarantine restrictions on the movement of ash wood, hardwood firewood, and related materials out of infested areas.
Should I remove my ash tree before EAB gets to it?
For most rural and farmstead ash in ND, sooner is better. Removing a healthy or only lightly affected ash is significantly safer and easier than removing a dead, brittle one a few years from now. Dead ash become unpredictable to climb and rig, with branches that snap without warning. The exception is high-value urban shade trees that you’re willing to treat chemically for the rest of their life. John walks the property and gives you a flat on-site quote.
How do I know if I even have ash trees?
Common ND ash species include green ash and black ash. They have compound leaves (5–9 leaflets per leaf), opposite branching (branches grow directly across from each other), and diamond-pattern bark on mature trees. If you’re not sure, text a photo to John at (701) 315-0249, he’ll ID it for you free.
How can I tell if my ash tree has emerald ash borer?
Common signs include thinning canopy starting at the top of the tree, vertical bark splits, D-shaped exit holes (about ⅛ inch wide) in the bark, S-shaped tunnels under the bark when pieces flake off, and increased woodpecker activity. By the time outward signs appear, the tree has usually been infested for 2–4 years.
Are there ash tree quarantine rules in North Dakota?
Yes. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture restricts the movement of regulated commodities, including hardwood firewood, ash logs and branches, nursery stock, and wood chips, out of quarantined areas. John follows all ND quarantine rules for ash material disposal and stays current as the quarantine boundaries expand.
Can EAB be treated instead of removing the tree?
Yes. Chemical treatment (typically a trunk injection of emamectin benzoate, sold under names like TREE-äge) is effective for high-value ash trees if applied before infestation or in early stages. Treatment must be repeated every 2–3 years for the rest of the tree’s life. For most ND property owners with rural, farmstead, or shelter-belt ash, one-time removal is the more practical long-term decision.
Do you offer volume pricing for multiple ash trees?
Yes. Properties with 3+ ash trees typically receive per-tree pricing in the – range (vs. – for a single tree), because we’re already on-site with the rig. Farmstead shelter-belt jobs are walked, measured, and quoted as a single package.
What should I plant in place of an ash tree?
For ND conditions, John commonly recommends bur oak, hackberry, linden (basswood), American elm (disease-resistant cultivars), or autumn blaze maple depending on the site. We’ll talk through what works for your specific location during the on-site visit, soil, sun exposure, mature size, and wind tolerance all matter.
Can I burn ash wood as firewood?
If you cut and burn the wood on the same property, yes. The ND quarantine restricts moving ash wood and hardwood firewood out of infested areas, so you can’t haul it to a cabin or sell it across county lines. John handles all disposal in compliance with the quarantine rules.
Got an ash tree question? Let’s take a look.
Free on-site assessments. Honest answers about whether your tree should come down, and when. Volume pricing for multiple ash. Two ways to get on the calendar: