Ash Tree Removal in Madison, WI

Ash tree removal has been one of the steadiest kinds of tree work in Madison since the city confirmed emerald ash borer in an ash near Warner Park in late 2013. Ash had been one of the most planted trees in the city: Madison's own emerald ash borer plan counted about 20,000 ash among its street trees, 22 percent of the total. The city has since removed street ash that did not qualify for treatment and now treats roughly 10,000 on a rotating cycle. Ash in backyards and side yards is a different story. Those trees belong to homeowners, and many have been left alone until the canopy has thinned to bare sticks.

How to tell if your ash is infested

The beetle larvae feed under the bark, so the first signs are often from woodpeckers: patches where outer bark has been flaked off, leaving the trunk looking pale or blond. Higher up, the canopy thins from the top down and dead branches show in summer. Sprouts may appear along the trunk or at the base as the tree struggles. Under loose bark you may find S-shaped tunnels packed with sawdust, and the adult beetles leave small D-shaped exit holes in the bark. Michigan State University's guide to signs and symptoms, linked from the city's EAB page, has good photos.

Treat or remove

The city's EAB page is plain: emerald ash borer is 100% fatal to an untreated ash, and owners have to choose between treatment and removal. UW Extension's homeowner guidance says insecticide is not suggested for trees that have already lost more than half the canopy, and that those trees should be removed. A healthy, well-placed ash with most of its canopy can be worth protecting, and treatment generally has to be repeated for as long as you want to keep the tree. In Wisconsin, insecticide applied for hire must be done by a business licensed through DATCP with certified applicators. At the visit we tell you which of your ash look like treatment candidates and which have gone too far.

Why dead ash gets harder to remove

Ash dries out quickly after it dies. Within a few seasons the wood becomes brittle, limbs can snap under a climber or while being lowered, and the top can break out unexpectedly. Trees that a climber could have taken down in a day may then need a lift or a crane, more careful rigging and a larger drop zone, all of which add cost and time. A tree that died last summer is usually still workable. One that has stood dead for four or five years over a garage is a different job.

Ash on small Madison lots

Many backyard ash in Madison were planted in the same era as the street ash, often close to the house, the garage or a property line. When they come down, the work is usually sectional, with pieces lowered over roofs and fences. We check whether limbs hang over a neighbor's yard or the alley and whether any MGE lines run through the canopy before we price the job.

The wood

Ash makes good firewood once it has dried. You can keep rounds, have them cut to length or have everything hauled. Keep ash wood local rather than taking it to a cabin up north, because moving wood is one of the ways the insect has spread across the state.