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My Ash Tree is Dead… Now What Do I Do?

E x t e n s i o n B u l l e t i n E - 2 9 4 0 R e v i s e d , M a r c h 2 0 0 7

More than 20 million ash trees have been killed bythe emerald ash borer so far in southeasternMichigan. Consequently, many homeowners are

left wondering what to do with the dead and dying treesin their yards. Though the Michigan Department ofAgriculture (MDA) has implemented quarantine restrictionson the movement of ash wood in many areas throughoutMichigan, many value-added options are available tohomeowners who wish to utilize the wood from their trees.As you continue to care for your landscape in the future,remember that the utilization tips outlined below are alsoapplicable to a variety of other tree species.

First, realize that the quarantine does notrequire you to remove your dead or dyingash tree.If your dead tree is located in a yard or along a street, itwill likely pose a hazard over time and should beremoved immediately. However, if one of your dead treesis within a woodlot, it is much less likely to pose a dangerto you or your family. If left standing, these trees can provide valuable habitat for wildlife. Standing dead trees

are an integral component of a healthy ecosystem, creat-ing nesting sites for birds, sheltered cavities for mammalsand structure for a var iety of other organisms. Safety,however, should be your top priority — if you think thatthe tree could be a hazard for you or others, be safe andremove it.

If you plan to remove your tree, hire areliable , insured, licensed arborist/treeservice company. You may wish to hire a tree removal company on yourown. Joining with your neighbors to hire a single compa-ny for a large group of local tree removals may also allowyou to benefit from bulk purchasing prices.

Before hiring a company, be sure to obtain:

• Estimates from multiple companies.• Proof of insurance.• Written estimates of cost.• Written agreement on disposal/site cleanuprequirements .

• References.

For a list of local arborists or for tips on how to select atree service company, please contact your countyMichigan State University Extension office. More information can also be found at: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/arborist.pdf

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EmeraldAsh Borer

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M y A s h Tr e e i s D e a d … N o w W h a t D o I D o ?

If you choose to remove your tree, the wooddoes not have to go to waste. There are sev-eral ways that you can recover some of thevalue in this resource and put the wood togood use around your home.

If you plan to use the wood from your tree, you shouldconsider a few things first:

• Do you have a specific need for this wood?

• Does your tree have a valuable sawlog worth millinginto lumber?

– Is the tree at least 12 inches in diameter?– Is the base of the trunk at least 6 feet long and clearof branches, cracks, rot or other defects?

– Has the tree been dead for only one year?

• Do you have the room to store this material and theability to handle the product appropriately (by dryinglumber, etc.)?

• Have you communicated your plans to your treeremoval company? A tree must be cut down carefully topreserve its value. Also, many tree services may chargeless if they do not have to dispose of your tree.

By utilizing wood from trees that need to be removedinstead of buying other wood products, you can reducewaste and help to conserve forest resources. Here areexamples of some of the ways homeowners can use theirlandscape trees:

• Lumber: Many local mill operators can bring a portablesawmill directly to your home, allowing your removedtrees to be converted into lumber that you can use for avariety of projects. Milling is especially suited to treeskilled by the emerald ash borer because the insect doesnot damage the interior portion of the wood when itkills the tree. Ash wood has many redeeming qualitiesand often makes a good substitute for oak. It can bemade into many beautiful and durable products, includ-ing furniture, flooring, paneling and molding.

Portable sawmill operations generally charge by thehour or by the total board feet of lumber produced. Lists of local sawmill operations can be obtained at yourcounty MSU Extension office or from your county's Conservation District forester.

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• Landscaping materials: Dead landscape trees can stillbring beauty and structure to your yard. You can easilyhave them milled to become landscape timbers or chipthem to create mulch or compost for gardening andhome landscaping projects.

• Art and furniture: If the tree has special significance foryour family, you may want to consider hiring a wood-worker or chainsaw carver to create a piece of art orfurniture from the wood. Many people, devastated bythe death of a beloved landscape tree, have managedto create treasured family heirlooms in this way.Organizations such as the Michigan Association ofWoodturners, the United Chainsaw Carvers Guild or theMichigan Woodworkers' Guild can be good resourcesfor finding a suitable craftsperson.

• Firewood: Wood from trees killed by the emerald ashborer can still be used for firewood at the locationwhere the trees were removed. However, this firewoodshould not be transported to other locations. For moreinformation about the laws and quarantine regardingfirewood movement, please contact your county MSUExtension office.

If you do not need the wood at your home,here are some ways that you caneconomically dispose of the materialswithout contributing to the spread of theemerald ash borer:

• Sell your ash wood to a reputable industry. If you (andyour neighbors) have a significant number of trees, youmay be able to sell the logs to a sawmill or other indus-try. Be sure to get a signed statement from the buyerthat all wood will be handled in a way consistent withthe MDA quarantine regulations.

• Dispose of your tree at a local wood disposal site. Manycommunities have publicly or privately run wood collec-tion yards available. Wood dropped at these yards isgenerally recycled into mulch, fuel or firewood; in somecases, it is even milled into lumber. Fees for wood dis-posal vary by site and by the condition of the wood(chips vs. logs, etc.). A list of some available yards canbe found at: www.michigan.gov/eab. Click on “I think I have a tree...,” and follow the links.

• Provide materials to local woodworkers. Many crafts-people enjoy using removed street and yard trees fortheir specialty projects. Again, if you find someoneinterested in buying your wood, be sure that he/she willrespect quarantine regulations.

• Donate the wood. Your wood could make a differencein your own community. You may want to ask your localschools, parks or community organizations (Habitat forHumanity, scouting groups, nature centers, etc.) if theyhave need for raw materials for picnic tables, parkbenches, renovation or construction programs, or otherprojects.

Whatever you choose to do with your deadash trees, be sure that NO ASH WOODLEAVES THE QUARANTINE AREA!

You have the power to be a major player in the emeraldash borer eradication efforts. By not allowing any infestedwood to leave the quarantined region, you are helpingthe state with the most difficult part of the battle.

“Under the quarantine, it is illegal to move ash trees,branches, lumber with bark attached, wood chips largerthan 1 inch, and any deciduous firewood from designatedareas. Additionally, the movement of all ash nursery stock

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Michigan State University Extension108 Agriculture Hall

Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI 48824-1039

Phone: 517-355-2308 Fax: 517-355-6473

http://www.msue.msu.edu

Southeast Michigan Resource Conservation& Development Council7203 Jackson RoadAnn Arbor, MI 48103Phone: 734-761-6722Fax: 734-662-1686

http://www.semircd.org

Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesMason Building, Sixth Floor

P.O. Box 30028Lansing, MI 48909

Phone: 517-373-1275Fax: 517-373-2443

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr

For more information about successful urbanwood recycling and utilization programs,please see the following resources:

The Southeast Michigan Resource Conservation andDevelopment Council’s Ash Utilization Options ProjectWeb site: www.semircd.org/ash.

Bratkovich, Stephen M. 2001. Utilizing Municipal Trees:Ideas From Across the Country. NA-TP-06-01. NewtownSquare, Pa.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service,Northern Area State and Private Forestry. Online at:http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/viewpub.jsp?index=11059.

Cesa, Edward T.; Lempicki, Edward A.; and Knotts,Howard. 2003. Recycling Municipal Trees: A Guide forMarketing Sawlogs from Street Tree Removals inMunicipalities. NA-TP-02-94. Morgantown, W. Va.: U.S.Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, NortheasternArea State and Private Forestry. Online at:http://www.fs.fed.us/na/morgantown/frm/cesa/rmt/rmt_index.html.

Sherrill, Sam. 2003. Harvesting Urban Timber: A Complete Guide. Fresno, Calif.: Linden Publishing.Online at: http://www.harvestingurbantimber.com/.

is prohibited within, into and from the entire LowerPeninsula,” says the Michigan Department of Agriculture.More information about current quarantined areas andregulations can be found at the MDA Web site(www.michigan.gov/mda — click on “Emerald AshBorer” in the “Quick Links” section) or obtained by call-ing your county MSU Extension office.

M y A s h Tr e e i s D e a d … N o w W h a t D o I D o ?

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MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion,age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. • Issued in furtherance of Extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, incooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Extension director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824. • This information is for educational purposes only.References to commercial products or trade names do not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. This bulletin becomes public property upon publication andmay be printed verbatim with credit to MSU. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise a commercial product or company. Revised - 3:07