Emerald Ash Borer Guarantree

I think my tree may be infected (infested) with the emerald ash borer – now what? Can I save my ash tree after it’s infested?

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

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)

Researchers have developed an injectable treatment called Emamectin Benzoate . 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.

ASH Guaran TREE Program
YES – certain Ash Trees can be saved from the Emerald Ash Borer

Yes – you can prevent infestation from the Emerald Ash Borer

Capital City Tree Experts (CCTE) will come to your property & check if you have ash trees. If yes, one of our certified arborists will evaluate your ash tree(s) to see if they are good candi­dates (Qualified) for the guarantree program. Trees that are not good candidates (Non-Quali­fied) due to poor condition will be recommended for removal so not to attract the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) to your property. The arborist will create a quote that includes the following:
The price to remove Non-Qualified ash tree(s) and properly dispose of the wood and chips. This removal is not mandatory but highly recommended. Sick ash trees attract the EAB.
The price to treat Qualified ash tree(s) in year 1 and to deep root fertilize in year 2 (market rates apply for the cost of the fertilizer).
The deep root fertilization must be done to qualify for the Guarantree.
The price to remove Qualified ash tree(s) enrolled in the program (there are rare events that an ash tree may become infested with EAB even after injection). If EAB directly kills your ash, the removal price is honored for the duration of the 2-year program. If the ash tree(s) dies directly from EAB we will deduct the price of the trunk injection from the removal price (CCTE must do the removal to get reimbursed for the trunk injection). We reserve the right to keep the wood disposal cost at current market rates due to ever-changing expenses of proper disposal.
In the rare event that a Qualified treated ash tree dies directly from EAB during the 2 year program (we confirm by peeling bark of dead trees to reveal beetle larva, the “S” galleries larvae create and the “D” shaped exit holes) and CCTE needs to remove the ash, the removal price may change if any of the following events occurred:

  • Any kind of new construction that has changed the accessibility to the ash tree. This can be anything from sidewalks, retaining walls, gardens, additions to the home, decks, patios, playground systems, new tree plantings, septic tanks, addition of above-ground and below-ground utilities, pools, anything that makes the removal more difficult than when it was originally priced for removal.
  • Act of God damage that occurred to the ash tree during the 2-year program. Examples are lighting strikes, wind damage, and ice storms. These type of events can create a very dangerous tree to remove because the structural integrity could have been compromised.
  • Mechanical damage to the ash tree. Examples are a piece of machinery damages the structural integrity of the ash tree and making it unstable.