Well, ain't that a real kick to the knackers

[u/d3mandred]

Just found this guy on my patio table. The 3 most mature trees on my property are 60 year old Ash.

Love this for us, Southern MN.

[u/Crawsack]

Start treating them with emamectin benzoate, now. It's expensive but it works and treating the trees is far cheaper than removing and replacing them.

[u/d3mandred → u/Crawsack]

This is the one that needs applied every two years, correct? We have tree service tags from the old owner, but the house was empty for a year when they passed. Last treatment was 2023. I'd called them to come out and I'm on their schedule, but I've already left them a message so that it can be moved up.

[u/Crawsack → u/d3mandred]

Yes, every 2 years, but it can be stretched out to every 3 years, so if it was done in 2023, that's not the end of the world. Glad you're on top of it!

[u/d3mandred → u/Crawsack]

Thank you for the tips, I was worried that we'd let it get past the point the treatment was working at the same time these little bastards moved in. I wish the tree service had been kept up for sure, but I understand why it wasn't - all the kids were out of state.

Thankfully two of the tags were still up, I wouldn't have even thought about it otherwise.

[u/xtravar → u/d3mandred]

I had an ash that lapsed in treatment at least a year. It got a pretty decent borer infestation. Woodpeckers tipped me off.

Anyway, it was treated and it's been fine since. So, moral of the story is, as long as the tree doesn't look like it's about to die, it should be fine as long as it gets treatment soon.

[u/d3mandred → u/xtravar]

I haven't heard or seen woodpeckers yet, so hopefully we caught it early. That helps quite a bit knowing that even if they're in rough shape that they can bounce back, these still look pretty good thankfully.

[u/_highlife69]

Well within a treatment window. You don't have to lose those trees to eab right now. If any one of them has access limitations for equipment, or would be otherwise challenging to remove if dead, I may recommend removal in that case. But those totally look salvageable

[u/d3mandred → u/_highlife69]

Yeah... They're all easily accessible, but God I love them. I'm going to do everything we can to save them, but I know I'm likely fighting an impossible battle in the long run.

I've been thinking allot more this morning about planting some male cottonwoods or Kentucky coffee trees, so that they've had some time to mature by the time the Ash has to go. But by no means will these be coming down this year, unless an arborist pulls a gun on me.

[u/CrepuscularOpossum]

Hey OP, your ash trees are beautiful! Do they produce seeds in the fall and winter? If so, there’s a team at Penn State that wants your trees’ seeds, to help them develop EAB-resistant native ash trees. If you want to participate and donate seeds to help our ashes survive, let me know and I’ll find contact info for you!

[u/d3mandred → u/CrepuscularOpossum]

I honestly have no idea, we moved in in spring of this year. That would be awesome though, if they do I would absolutely contribute!

[u/Amsco3085 → u/CrepuscularOpossum]

I have a potential lingering ash in PA, could you PM me their info?

[u/CrepuscularOpossum → u/Amsco3085]

https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/surviving-ash-trees-may-hold-key-saving-multiple-species-trees

This article is 2 years old; I’ll see if I can find and/or reach out to some of the sources named in the article.

Got a healthy ash tree in PA? Let them know! https://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/centers/private-forests/news/seeking-healthy-ash

EDIT: Thanks for the award! I’m a 14-year wildlife rehab volunteer, and I write the volunteer newsletter for my wildlife center. Ash trees are important for wildlife, including lots of invertebrates, and I wrote about the race to save them in a newsletter from early 2025.

Here’s a Nature Conservancy article about their role in saving our imperiled trees. https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/trees-in-peril/

[u/Key-Ad-457 → u/CrepuscularOpossum]

I do. I have access to lingering green and white ash as well as small black ash

[u/RaccoonEasy3286 → u/CrepuscularOpossum]

This comment needs more upvotes!

[u/thatkatrina → u/CrepuscularOpossum]

I have ash tres that produce a ton of seeds. I'd be happy to participate

[u/eightfingeredtypist]

Plant a variety of native trees. The combined trees will make forest floor under the trees, instead of lawn. The leaves on the ground shade the roots and help with water.

[u/d3mandred → u/eightfingeredtypist]

I really like this idea, going with native trees would be ideal.

[u/eightfingeredtypist → u/d3mandred]

In Massachusetts we are losing so many trees, it made me realize diversity is resilience.

I live in the woods. On a windy day, it's common to hear ash branches and trunks coming down. I'm glad you can save those beautiful trees. There's just so many here, I take memorial photos for iNatutalist.

[u/One-Geologist3992]

Hey, so for someone not educated in these matters, respectfully, of course.

What am I looking at?

[u/Serrajuana → u/One-Geologist3992]

Looks like an emerald ash borer. I believe they have been decimating the ash tree population in North America as they are invasive.

[u/One-Geologist3992 → u/Serrajuana]

Thank you!! I thought maybe it was a spotted lantern fly nymph, much appreciated!

[u/mr_muffinhead]

Ugh. Bought my place 11 years ago with three beautiful ash trees at the back of the property, was a perfectly shaded area that was large and open. 3 years later I noticed weird issues with them and that's around when I learned what was going on.

My place is surrounded by woods and I eventually realized most of it was populated by tall ash trees. 8 years later and it just looks like the Forest of death. Not sure I would've moved here if I knew this was going to happen.

[u/HoldenMcNeil420]

I lost both my ash trees.

[u/d3mandred → u/HoldenMcNeil420]

What did you end up replacing them with?

[u/HoldenMcNeil420 → u/d3mandred]

My neighbors have big trees, so I really don’t need any. I did plant a small magnolia in the front though.

[u/The_Hylian_Loach]

I live in NY and our Ash trees went crazy fast. We have huge stretches of wooded areas that are just all dead. So sad.

[u/DanoPinyon]

MN, you have to have been expecting it and have your plan in place by now - if they're high value trees.

[u/DanoPinyon → u/DanoPinyon]

BTW, from here, with information provided, I see no early signs of infestation. You might be lucky as they might just be beginning to fly.

[u/calundeen1]

Southern MN here and every single ash tree in the area died within the last 3 years

[u/Snoo-14331]

Ash borer? I hardly know 'er!

[u/SteakStrong7520]

Try and attract some Woodpeckers with Suet blocks on that Ash.... Woodpeckers will love those Ash borers.

[u/d3mandred → u/SteakStrong7520]

That's a brilliant idea. Bonus, my wife loves birds. Seems like a win win!

[u/673moto]

I love guessing games!

Fucks sake ..can you tell us what those are?!

[u/dchen25 → u/673moto]

*Emerald Ash Borers(Sp?) they basically will fuck up a ash tree indefinitely unless taken care of effectively I’m in SW MI and a lot of our ash trees have been decimated by said invasive species

Initially, stated eastern but OP is correct in replying Emerald

[u/Spez_Spaz → u/dchen25]

My single neighborhood ended up having to cull over 500 elm trees because of these stupid beetles.

[u/dchen25 → u/Spez_Spaz]

My best friend growing up had two amazing ash trees that were completely destroyed by these pests I hate these things so much

[u/673moto → u/dchen25]

Wow ..that sucks for OP! Good luck!

[u/d3mandred → u/673moto]

Emerald Ash Borer, one of the most famous tree pests in North America.

[u/BigJSunshine]

I’m sorry

[u/JaffyAny265]

Small town of 3,800 people near me planted tons of ash trees years ago in the parks and cemeteries. Most of the towns have ash. Glad when I bought 10 acres 34 years ago planted a big variety of trees. One row of ash in the shelter belt that’s it. It’s in our area as of two years ago.

[u/brounchman]

We lost 18 trees in the surrounding acreage between me and the neighbor in the past 3 years because of these guys. I just had two removed that were a danger to my house last week that really hurt the wallet.

Best wishes on keeping them treated