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Two springs ago, my husband and I were concerned to find a fallen tree branch in the backyard after an overnight thunderstorm. While, thankfully, it didn’t damage our home or the surrounding power lines when it came down, it did unveil a major problem we would soon have to deal with.
As it turns out, it wasn’t the weather that lopped off a sizable chunk of our towering ash tree. (Well, a wind gust might have been the final straw.) What caused the damage was something else entirely. The contractor we hired to remove the debris took one look at the tree and suggested we have it inspected for emerald ash borers.
What Are Emerald Ash Borers?
I had heard that the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) was becoming a problem in Minnesota, but I didn’t realize just how close to home it had spread. The jewel-tone beetle is native to Asia and was first spotted in North America in 2002. It has since been detected in 37 states, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
What makes EAB so troublesome is that it kills ash trees, specifically, which are abundant in forests and neighborhoods across the eastern half of the U.S., and signs of an infestation are difficult to identify.
My backyard was home to three of the estimated 8 billion ash trees in the country. They provided shade, privacy, wildlife habitat, and more. It was gut-wrenching to learn that they would have to go after an arborist pointed out the telltale signs of EAB. My trees had thinning canopies, epicormic shoots, and blonding.
“EAB larvae kill all species of ash trees native to North America by tunneling through the phloem and cambium layers under the outer bark to feed on living tissue, which disrupts the flow of tree nutrients and water,” says Troy Holcomb, forester with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
“Ash trees with very low or initial levels of infestation will show few or no signs,” Holcomb says. Unfortunately, he adds, “By the time noticeable signs appear, the tree is already too infested to save.” Such was the case for my backyard ash trees.
Signs of Emerald Ash Borers
Looking back now, I wish we had been more proactive about inspecting our ash trees. The most obvious signs of EAB include:
- Increased woodpecker activity. “They will strip the outer bark off to get to the larvae, causing the upper branches and stem to appear lighter in color,” says Holcomb. This is often referred to as blonding.
- D-shaped holes. Not to be confused with quarter-sized holes from woodpeckers, these smaller ⅛-inch holes have a distinct D shape from where adult beetles exit the bark.
- Serpentine galleries. To see this sign of emerald ash borers, you have to peel off the outer bark. The markings look like shallow tunnels weaving across the tender wood.
- Thinning canopy. When an EAB infestation takes hold, it’s only a matter of time before the tree starts dying. Upper branches are usually the first to go.
- Epicormic shoots. As a survival mechanism, ash trees under stress from emerald ash borers will send out new shoots lower on the trunk.
Preventing EAB
“Once an ash tree is infested with EAB, it is going to die rather rapidly,” Holcomb says. One way homeowners can help slow the spread of the devastating invasive species is to proactively remove ash trees on your property.
“The cost of tree removal will increase after the trees have died because the wood becomes more brittle and unpredictable, necessitating more specialized, expensive removal methods,” Holcomb explains.
The only other option for preventing emerald ash borers is to use pesticides. “If a homeowner wants to save their tree, it is best to start treating it before it becomes infested.” The most effective method, Holcomb explains, is to inject a restricted-use insecticide directly into the trunk, which requires specialized equipment and should be applied by a licensed or certified professional every other spring.
“Often, the cost of treating a tree may be less than the cost of removal,” Holcomb says. But there are drawbacks to consider. He explains that because the pesticide works systematically (it spreads throughout the tree), there is a chance it could harm non-target insects and birds. “It is up to the individual to determine if the costs outweigh the benefit of saving the ash tree.”
My trees were too far gone to save, so the decision to remove them was simple. In addition, I live in an area that is home to many different species of woodpeckers and the thought of potentially harming them with pesticides—especially when they’re one of our leading natural defenses against the invasive EAB—took that option off the table for me.
Removal of My Trees
The next step was figuring out how to safely remove the trees and how much it would cost. We sought estimates from three different companies, all of which came in at around $5,000 total. That’s no small expense, but we made sure to hire licensed, registered, and insured tree trimmers to do the work. My homeowner’s insurance, like most in the U.S., does not cover preventative tree removal. And my household did not qualify for some of the financial assistance available to those that meet certain socioeconomic criteria to remove and replace the many trees killed by emerald ash borers in my community.
On removal day, a small crew arrived with a cherry picker and methodically dismantled the dying trees from the top down, carefully working around power lines. It was a bit surreal to watch the trees that towered over our backyard for years disappear in just a few hours. The crew also hauled away and properly disposed of the infested wood. “It is important to not move wood long distances because it may transport EAB larvae or beetles,” Holcomb says, adding, “Wood should be disposed of at a nearby, local compost or landfill dump site.” We opted to have the stumps ground down below the soil surface so we could fully reclaim the space.
Reimagining My Backyard Sans Shade
Losing all that shade in one fell swoop completely changed the feel of my backyard—but it also created an unexpected opportunity. With full sun now reaching the ground, my husband and I decided to build something we’d always wanted: a big vegetable garden.
We mapped out a large plot, removed the sod, and installed a charming fence with a gate. What was once a shaded retreat is now a productive, sunny space where we’re growing our own food and spending even more time outdoors.
That said, we still miss the cooling canopy those trees once provided, and replanting is definitely part of the plan. While ash trees are no longer an option, there are plenty of native species to choose from that are unaffected by EAB and can restore beauty, habitat, and shade over time. This experience has made me more thoughtful about what we plant and why, prioritizing diversity and resilience so our landscape is better prepared for whatever comes next.
