It’s hard to detect emerald ash borers in newly infested trees. Bugs infest the tops first and work their way down.

Symptoms & signs of EAB / Emerald Ash Borer — according to the Wisconsin DNR: Research has shown that EAB infested trees may show no symptoms until they have been infested for more than two or three years. Assume that all ash trees within 15 miles of a known infestation are infested.

These are known infestation sites in Wisconsin.

No. In spite of the name, this species isn’t an ash tree.

If you treat it with our insecticide – you can prevent infestation. Plus, if your tree has already been infested, you can kick the bugs out of it with treatment (this works on trees that are not heavily damaged already — trees that have 40% or less damage respond well to insecticide treatment).

Plus: just like humans, a healthy, vigorous tree is harder to make sick. Fertilize your tree every other year to keep it strong. At Cap City Tree Service, we know exactly what your tree needs. We even offer organic fertilizers that keep our lakes clean.

Best treatment plan: insecticide year 1 + deep fertilization year 2 … this cycle continues until the EAB leaves your area.

Guarantree – if your ash tree is infected but it’s healthy enough to survive, we can save it & offer a guarantee. Read more.

You have several options — each of which depends on a number of factors. We’ll walk you through your specific treatment regimen based on your infestation level.

1. Treat with an Insecticide (*Talk with Darrell and Will about organic treatment options)

We are able to inject an insecticide into the trunk of the tree. Once injected, the tree is able to fight back for 2 years or more per treatment.

Capital City Tree Service uses state-of-the-art ArborJet system. We inject the treatment directly into the water-conducting xylem at the base of the trunk where it is carried upward through the tree, minimizing soil contamination.

We treat with Arbor jet insecticide only if the tree is apparently healthy or less than 40% of the crown has died, is discolored or has sparse foliage. Research has shown that trees with more than 40-50% crown dieback do not benefit from treatment.

Treating with an insecticide reduces the population of EAB and prolongs the life of your tree. Treatment requires a long-term commitment. It is not known how long EAB will remain in an area, threatening the health of ash, thus several treatments may be required or treatments may be needed for the rest of the tree’s life. Contact one of our certified arborists for treatment options.

How much does each injection cost? It depends on the diameter of your tree: 18″, for example, runs about $200

How often are injections needed? Every 2 years until the regional infestation is gone.

Guarantree – if your ash tree is infected but it’s healthy enough to survive, we can save it & offer a guarantee. Read more.

2. Remove and Replace

This is an option for ash in all stages of health. Contact a certified arborist to remove trees in your yard and to appropriately process wood to prevent additional spread of EAB. Replace trees with a non-ash species suitable to your site. Here’s a list of good replacement trees.

3. Do Nothing

Observations in states where EAB has been present for several years show that all ash trees are susceptible to infestation and mortality. If you take this option, expect your tree to become infested and die. Be prepared to handle the hazards associated with dead trees such as falling branches which may damage property or endanger life.

The city of Madison advises tree owners to contact a tree care company or certified arborist. The City Forestry of Dane County will only respond to city owned street trees. No private trees will be inspected by Forestry for EAB at this time.

The owners of Capital City Tree are certified arborists.

Keep the wood at your home and use it for firewood or mulch on site. Work with a certified arborist to properly dispose of infested material.