How To Dispose Of Dead Ash Trees (Even If They Have EAB)

If your ash tree wasn’t a candidate for EAB treatment, you likely had to remove it to keep your home safe.

You know removing your EAB-infested ash tree was for the best. But, it’s still incredibly sad to see a tree you’ve had for years or even decades suddenly vanish.

Then, you’re left with a pile of ash wood that used to be your tree. What should you do with it? Read on to learn how to safely dispose of dead ash trees that had EAB.

What To Do With Dead Ash Trees?

Do Emerald Ash Borers Live In Dead Wood?

If borers were in the tree when you had it removed, there’s a good chance they’re still there.

So, assume EAB is in dead wood. Don’t transport it farther than 50 miles from where it was cut because the emerald ash borers could infest a whole new area. Yikes.

Would You Recommend Burning Ash Borer Wood?

Go for it! You can safely burn wood from trees infested by EAB. Just be sure to use it at the location where the trees were removed. And again, don’t take it any farther than 50 miles from that site. If you transport the firewood further, you risk spreading EAB.

Here Are Other Ideas Of What You Can Do With Dead Ash Trees–Even If They Had EAB.

• Presto! Be Gone. If you hired a certified tree company to remove your ash trees infested with EAB, they can safely dispose of the wood you don’t want. It’s that easy.

• Cheap and Easy Mulch. Or have the company that removed your ash trees turn the wood into mulch. Now, those trees can nourish the other plants in your yard. Ah, the circle of life!

• Buil a Fire in your fireplace. As we mentioned above, it is safe to burn ash wood that has EAB.

• Stop and Drop. Search online or contact your municipality to see if there’s an EAB-compliant site nearby, where you can leave the infested ash wood. Or your municipality may want it.

• Recycle. Find a nearby recycling center for your old ash tree. Mention your trees had EAB.

• Transform to Lumber. Emerald ash borers don’t damage the interior of ash trees at all. So, if the tree is at least 12 inches wide, turn it into lumber for your own use or sell it.

• Go Wild! Have a creative mind? Turn the old ash wood into art or a craft project.

• Keep It Close. We can’t say this enough! Keep the infested ash wood as close to its original location as possible. And do not move it farther than 50 miles from there. There are quarantines set up by local governments and the USDA to prevent spreading EAB any farther.

Click here to learn more about the damage emerald ash borers have done.

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