The ash tree was once one of the most common shade trees in American yards and streets. Today, many are dying from the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle from Asia. Here’s how to identify an ash, spot the beetle, decide between treatment and removal, and estimate what removal costs.
What Is an Ash Tree?
Ash trees belong to the genus Fraxinus. The two species homeowners meet most often in the United States are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica).
White ash grows across most of eastern North America. The >USDA NRCS Plant Guide for white ash says it ranges from Nova Scotia west to eastern Minnesota and south to Texas and northern Florida. Its wood is used for tool handles and is famous for wooden baseball bats.
Green ash has an even larger range. The >USDA Forest Service Silvics Manual calls it the “most widely distributed of all the American ashes,” from Nova Scotia west to southeastern Alberta and south to Texas and Florida. The same source says it is “very popular as a shade tree in residential areas,” which is why so many neighborhoods were planted with it.
How to Identify an Ash Tree
Look for these features:
- Opposite leaves. Leaves grow in pairs, directly across from each other on the twig.
- Compound leaves. Each leaf is made up of several leaflets. The USDA NRCS Plant Guide says white ash leaves are 20 to 38 cm (about 8 to 15 inches) long with usually 7 leaflets (range 5 to 9). >Oklahoma State University Extension describes green ash leaves as about 12 inches long with 5 to 9 leaflets.
- Diamond bark. Mature white ash has thick, dark gray bark with a “uniform, diamond-shaped ridge and furrow pattern,” according to the USDA NRCS Plant Guide.
- Samaras. Ash seeds are single winged seeds called samaras. White ash samaras are 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) long and hang in clusters.
To tell the two apart, check the leaf underside: the USDA NRCS Plant Guide describes white ash leaves as whitish below. White ash also grows more slowly than green ash and prefers deep, moist, well-drained soil. Oklahoma State notes that green ash is drought and pH tolerant.
Ash Tree Size and Growth Rate
Ash trees get big. The USDA NRCS Plant Guide says native white ash grows 20 to 30 meters (about 65 to 100 feet) tall, with a long, straight trunk. Mature white ash may reach 200 years of age.
For green ash, the USDA Forest Service Silvics Manual gives 50 to 60 feet tall with trunks 18 to 24 inches across in most of the northern range. On good southern sites it can reach 120 feet. Growth is fast where conditions suit it: plantations in Mississippi and Arkansas grew 4 to 5 feet a year in their first 5 to 10 years. Oklahoma State University Extension lists a landscape size of about 60 feet tall and 30 feet wide.
Measure your tree with the tree height calculator and its trunk with the DBH calculator. Both numbers affect removal and treatment costs.
Emerald Ash Borer: The Biggest Threat to Ash Trees
The emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) is a small metallic green beetle. >Emeraldashborer.info reports it was first discovered in southeastern Michigan, near Detroit, in the summer of 2002, and that it “probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material.” It has killed more than 30 million ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone.
>Oklahoma State University Extension says the beetle has destroyed “tens of millions” of native ash trees and spreads largely through moved firewood. Adults are about 3/8 to 5/8 inch long. Larvae feed under the bark and girdle the tree, cutting off water and nutrients.
Signs of Emerald Ash Borer Infestation
Oklahoma State University Extension lists these signs:
- Canopy dieback and thinning. Dieback starts in the upper canopy and moves down through the tree over several years.
- D-shaped exit holes. Adult beetles leave small, distinctly D-shaped holes in the bark when they emerge.
- Bark splits. The tree walls off damage with corky tissue, which pushes the outer bark apart and causes vertical splits on the trunk.
- Woodpecker damage. Woodpeckers strip bark to reach larvae, leaving light patches called “blonding.”
- Epicormic sprouts. Shoots sprout from the trunk, limbs and roots as the tree tries to survive.
- Serpentine galleries. Under loose bark you may see winding tunnels left by feeding larvae.
The same source warns that trees can carry larvae for several years before symptoms appear.
Treat or Remove? How to Decide
Healthy ash trees can often be protected. The key guide is the North Central IPM Center bulletin >Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer (Third Edition, 2019), written by university entomologists. It says: “If ash trees with obvious signs of EAB infestation are within 30 miles, you should consider beginning treatment.”
Systemic Insecticide Options
| Active ingredient | How it’s applied | How long it protects |
|---|---|---|
| Emamectin benzoate | Trunk injection (professional) | Up to three years from one spring application |
| Azadirachtin (TreeAzin) | Trunk injection (professional) | Two years in most years; yearly under heavy beetle pressure |
| Imidacloprid | Soil drench or injection; trunk injection | Varies; homeowner soil drenches are limited to once a year |
| Dinotefuran | Basal trunk spray or soil | Applied annually |
Homeowner products are limited to imidacloprid soil drenches and dinotefuran granules. Some imidacloprid products call for a double rate on trees with a DBH greater than 15 inches. For large trees, a certified arborist is usually the better choice. The bulletin also reports that cost comparisons “consistently showed treatment costs are much lower than removal costs.”
When It’s Too Late to Save the Tree
According to the 2019 bulletin, once a tree has lost more than 50 to 60 percent of its canopy, “it is probably too late to save the tree.” >Purdue University’s Landscape Report is more cautious for safety reasons: it advises protecting trees with less than 30% canopy loss and planning removal for trees with more than 30% canopy loss.
Our guide on when to remove a tree instead of treating it walks through the decision step by step.
Why Dead Ash Trees Are Dangerous
Dead and dying ash trees are not like other dead trees. Purdue’s Landscape Report explains that EAB larvae destroy the tree’s water-conducting tissue. The tree dries out, and its structural wood becomes prone to cracking. Breaks inside the wood are often hidden by bark, so limbs can fail at any time.
Purdue also notes that “structural integrity of ash trees can begin to decline even when trees are mostly green,” and that “it is not uncommon to have sizable limbs snap 30 feet off the ground on a calm day.” Delaying removal “allows the tree to become more brittle and the problem more dangerous.”
That’s why ash removal gets harder and more expensive the longer you wait. Brittle wood forces crews to work slowly and carefully. Purdue recommends hiring a professional experienced with EAB-damaged trees, getting more than one bid and confirming the company is insured. If a dead ash can’t be removed right away, keep people away from it.
If a dead ash threatens your house, read our emergency tree removal guide. For pricing, see dead tree removal cost.
How Much Does It Cost to Remove an Ash Tree?
Mature ash trees are usually 50 feet or taller, so removal often falls in the medium-to-large price range. Based on >Lawn Love’s 2026 national data, an ash between 30 and 60 feet typically costs $435 to $870 to remove, a 60 to 80 foot tree $870 to $1,160, and a tree over 80 feet $1,160 to $2,000. The national average is about $850, and stump removal adds about $180 to $525. Dead or brittle ash can cost more because crews must work slowly. Get a quick estimate with our tree removal cost calculator.
| Ash tree size | Typical removal cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Young tree, up to 30 ft | $285 – $435 |
| Medium tree, 30–60 ft | $435 – $870 |
| Mature tree, 60–80 ft | $870 – $1,160 |
| Very large tree, over 80 ft | $1,160 – $2,000 |
| Stump removal (added cost) | $180 – $525 |
Source: >Lawn Love, How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in 2026? National averages by height; local prices vary.
For more detail, see large tree removal cost, compare species with the tree removal cost by size and type calculator or price the stump with the stump removal cost calculator. Large street trees may also need approval, so check whether you need a permit.
Watch for Stump Sprouts
The USDA Forest Service Silvics Manual notes that “stumps of sapling and pole-size green ash sprout readily.” After removal, grind the stump and cut any shoots that appear. Read what happens to roots after stump grinding and how to kill a tree stump.
What to Plant Instead of Ash
Don’t replace an ash with another ash. >Iowa State University Extension suggests replacements such as:
- Kentucky coffeetree
- Bald cypress
- Swamp white oak
- Ginkgo
- Hackberry
- Thornless honeylocust
- Disease-resistant American elm
- Black gum
- Tulip poplar
- Basswood
Iowa State also recommends diversity: no more than 10% of trees in your yard and neighborhood should be the same species, 20% the same genus and 30% the same family. It notes that maples and oaks are already over-represented in many neighborhoods. The >University of Minnesota Extension agrees: plant a variety of trees.
Budget with the tree planting cost guide, and give the new tree room with the tree spacing calculator and our guide to tree distance from a foundation.
Ash Tree FAQs
How do I know if my ash tree has emerald ash borer?
Look for upper canopy dieback, D-shaped exit holes, bark splits, woodpecker damage and sprouts on the trunk.
Can an ash tree with emerald ash borer be saved?
Often, if caught early. Trees with more than 50 to 60 percent canopy loss are probably too far gone. Purdue suggests planning removal once canopy loss passes 30%.
How long does ash tree treatment last?
Emamectin benzoate injections can protect for up to three years, azadirachtin for about two, and dinotefuran sprays need yearly application.
Why are dead ash trees dangerous?
EAB damage dries out the wood and makes it brittle. Large limbs can snap without warning, even on calm days.
How much does it cost to remove an ash tree?
Most ash trees cost about $435 to $1,160 to remove, based on 2026 national data for 30 to 80 foot trees. Very large trees can cost up to $2,000, plus stump removal.
What should I plant instead of an ash tree?
A different species, such as Kentucky coffeetree, swamp white oak, hackberry, ginkgo or black gum.
The Bottom Line
Emerald ash borer has changed the math on ash trees. If yours is healthy and EAB is within 30 miles, consider treatment. If it has lost more than about 30% of its canopy, plan removal before the wood turns brittle and the job gets riskier and costlier. Then replant with a different species. Start with a free estimate from our tree removal cost calculator.
Related guides: Maple tree · Palm tree · Bradford pear tree · Sweetgum tree · Cottonwood tree · Willow tree · Mimosa tree · All tree species guides
Sources
- >USDA NRCS Plant Guide – White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
- >USDA Forest Service – Silvics of North America: Green Ash
- >Oklahoma State University Extension – Green Ash plant profile
- >Oklahoma State University Extension – Signs and Symptoms of Emerald Ash Borer
- >Emeraldashborer.info – Michigan
- >North Central IPM Center – Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer, Third Edition (2019)
- >Purdue Landscape Report – Avoid Deadly Risk of Dying Ash Trees with Timely Tree Removal
- >Iowa State University Extension – What can I plant to replace an ash tree killed by emerald ash borer?
- >University of Minnesota Extension – Replacement trees for ash
- >Lawn Love – How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in 2026?
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