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Emerald Ash Borer

ccruzen

ccruzen

Well-Known Member
Aug 19, 2009
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Urbandale
Hello all, looking for some advice regarding the Emerald Ash Borer. Have two ash trees in the front yard and trying to decide whether to treat, remove, or leave them be.
Anyone have any advice for me?
If treating is my best bet, any suggestions for companys?
Thanks
 
From what I understand, treating them is a never ending process, so I believe most people are in favor of removal. Also, from what I understand, it costs less to remove and dispose of the tree before the borer attacks the tree. It apparently costs more to dispose of an infected tree.
 
I have a buddy from Cedar Rapids who's an arborist & he thinks he can treat and save my ash tree. He gives the tree an injection and that's supposed to continue killing the borer for two seasons. I'm going to give that a try ASAP, but my friend's really busy with his landscaping business.

There have been previous posts on this subject and the general consensus is all ash trees are toast and you should just slash and burn now. Buy a new tree. Blah blah blah. I have to at least try to save mine. It's a big, old, pretty tree on the corner of my lot.
 
I have an ash in my front yard and I am going to leave mine. Eventually I will probably have to remove it. The guy I had trim our trees last year didn't think the treatments were worth the money and there's no guarantee they will work. The city of Ames is taking out theirs so I'm hoping mine might last a couple extra years.
 
Actually the City of Ames is cutting many of them down but is treating a lot of them as well in certain areas and has contracted out with Lawn Pro who came in with the cheapest bid. Also one of their own guys are treating some of them as well. I'm using Hawcott's Lawn Service out of Nevada which offered the best price and seems very knowledgeable. The ash needs to be a healthy one and since both of mine are, its worth it to me to give it a whirl every other year.
 
I have two healthy ashes in between the sidewalk and street and would like to keep them but I understand that eventually they might have to get removed. I would think the city would have to replace them since they are technically on their property?
 
JP4CY said:
I have two healthy ashes in between the sidewalk and street and would like to keep them but I understand that eventually they might have to get removed. I would think the city would have to replace them since they are technically on their property?
Click to expand...

remove, yes it should be there responsibility. Replace, probably not.
 
ccruzen said:
Hello all, looking for some advice regarding the Emerald Ash Borer. Have two ash trees in the front yard and trying to decide whether to treat, remove, or leave them be.
Anyone have any advice for me?
If treating is my best bet, any suggestions for companys?
Thanks
Click to expand...

I am a teacher in Des Moines and i spent the last summer working with the des moines public works inventoring and assessing the ash trees in des moines. General rule of thumb is if the tree is in good shape (no insects, no co-dominant trunks, no crown die back, and no sidewalk damage) the city is going to try to treat them. last i heard, companies will charge around 10-20 bucks a DIAMETER inch for treating the tree ever 2 years. so a normal sized tree of 20 inches would be between 200-300 bucks.

a co-worker got estimates for an 18 inch and 19 inch trees in her yard and she told me two of her quotes

Family Tree Care in DSM quoted 455 for both trees (every 2 years)

Wright outdoor quoted 350 for both trees.

She also had other quotes as high as 650 bucks so it all depends. Hope this helps some!
 
rudiskilz said:
I am a teacher in Des Moines and i spent the last summer working with the des moines public works inventoring and assessing the ash trees in des moines. General rule of thumb is if the tree is in good shape (no insects, no co-dominant trunks, no crown die back, and no sidewalk damage) the city is going to try to treat them. last i heard, companies will charge around 10-20 bucks a DIAMETER inch for treating the tree ever 2 years. so a normal sized tree of 20 inches would be between 200-300 bucks.

a co-worker got estimates for an 18 inch and 19 inch trees in her yard and she told me two of her quotes

Family Tree Care in DSM quoted 455 for both trees (every 2 years)

Wright outdoor quoted 350 for both trees.

She also had other quotes as high as 650 bucks so it all depends. Hope this helps some!
Click to expand...

Thank you much, that pretty much lines up with what TruGreen quoted us which was $350 for both of our trees for 2 years. Now, I just need to figure out if it's worth keeping them or not.

Anyone know prices for tree removal? I admittedly haven't done any research myself yet.
 
I have a ash that isn't the greatest tree to begin with (scraggly with a leaning trunk) but it is the only afternoon shade for my son's room. I have been thinking about planting its replacement near it and nursing the ash along for a few years so the new one is established when it finally has to go. Is this a dumb idea? If I should go ahead, how do I determine how close to the old tree I can plant the new one so it will safely thrive? Does it have to be completely outside the ash's canopy? Since the trunk leans so much how does that affect that determination?
 
All or none of my trees could be an ash tree...I have no idea. Need to do some consulting it sounds like.
 
$10-20 an inch, you're getting ****in ripped off. My boss does it for $7 an inch. Maybe the chemicals cost more in Iowa, i'm not sure.
 
Treatment sound expensive but so it having the stump ground out. I have a 30 ft tall ash on the SW corner of my house and the energy savings alone from the shade in the summer will probably cover at least half the cost of treatment.
 
jj-cyclones said:
All or none of my trees could be an ash tree...I have no idea. Need to do some consulting it sounds like.
Click to expand...

I'll help you out
blackash.jpg

0008014.jpg
 
When replacing an ash what are the new replacement favorites I should avoid? It is my understanding that this is such a big problem partly because when Dutch Elm Disease hit most of the lost elms were replaced with ash. What is a good less popular shade tree to go for rather than ash. I already have two linden and three maple so I think some diversity would be preferable.
 
VeloClone said:
When replacing an ash what are the new replacement favorites I should avoid? It is my understanding that this is such a big problem partly because when Dutch Elm Disease hit most of the lost elms were replaced with ash. What is a good less popular shade tree to go for rather than ash. I already have two linden and three maple so I think some diversity would be preferable.
Click to expand...

I'll second this request. Don't want a maple but need a replacement.
 
VeloClone said:
When replacing an ash what are the new replacement favorites I should avoid? It is my understanding that this is such a big problem partly because when Dutch Elm Disease hit most of the lost elms were replaced with ash. What is a good less popular shade tree to go for rather than ash. I already have two linden and three maple so I think some diversity would be preferable.
Click to expand...

Any oak tree would work, except red oak, unless you want a new house when a storm hits. Walnut could be a good investment if you never plan on selling your house/property and can deal with the walnuts. Cottonwood and Basswood are others, but they can grow super tall. I'd stay away from Sycamore.
 
ccruzen said:
Hello all, looking for some advice regarding the Emerald Ash Borer. Have two ash trees in the front yard and trying to decide whether to treat, remove, or leave them be.
Anyone have any advice for me?
If treating is my best bet, any suggestions for companys?
Thanks
Click to expand...
If it is a specimen tree and you find value in treating it then treat it. it will be an ongoing cost for the forseeable future. If you don't want to pay for treating it...cut it down and chop it up. Good firewood.

To each their own. Ash trees were overused and planted in monostands by copycat landscapers/landscape architects. Just like the Elm tree and now the Skyline Honey Locust. LAs never learn. They find something they like and run with it for a decade then switch. I wish people would diversify their landscapes. Drives me nuts.

Sorry end of rant
 
VeloClone said:
When replacing an ash what are the new replacement favorites I should avoid? It is my understanding that this is such a big problem partly because when Dutch Elm Disease hit most of the lost elms were replaced with ash. What is a good less popular shade tree to go for rather than ash. I already have two linden and three maple so I think some diversity would be preferable.
Click to expand...
Go with something native that has stood the test of time. If you go with the "new rplacement favorite" then 20 years from now you will have the same issue. Elms, Ash Honey Locust are all trees that landscapers fell in love with and over planted leading to huge monostands that are susceptible to disease/insects.

My personal favorite is the Gingko tree. Great yellow fall color, Unique leaf and texture. They are uncommon and pricey and you have to plant a male because the female's fruit smells awfull


Good info regarding native Iowa trees
http://www.iowanativetreesandshrubs.com/uploads/Nativetrees20.pdf
 
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