Frequently Asked Questions

Emerald ash borer is a small insect, that you won’t likely see before the symptoms of EAB are shown in your tree. It can take 3-5 years for symptoms to become noticeable on an infested ash tree.

• Woodpecker activity/blonding: woodpeckers fleck off outer darker bark to reveal lighter bark beneath and create dime-sized holes while looking for larvae, this is also referred to as “blonding”
• Bark splits: larvae tunneling under the bark cause it to split open on branches and trunks
• Crown dieback: the larvae disrupt the flow of water and nutrients causing branches to die
• Suckering shoots: ash trees can send out shoots when stressed from an EAB infestation

There is a federal and state quarantine on counties in Minnesota with infested ash trees. Dakota County is under quarantine. The quarantine restricts the movement of ash wood material and all hardwood firewood. You are permitted to move wood within quarantined counties. For more on the quarantine and for ash wood disposal sites, check the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s website.

• Black ash (Fraxinus nigra)
• Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
• White ash (Fraxinus americana)

For more information on types of ash trees in Minnesota and how to identify them go to Minnesota DNR's website: How to identify an ash tree.

Due to the widespread ash population, Farmington does not currently provide this service. Property owners are encouraged to find an ISA-certified arborist to inspect their private ash trees if it is showing signs or symptoms of EAB. Note: excessive dead branches in the lower portion of the canopy are NOT a sign of EAB, but a normal habit for ash trees if they aren't regularly pruned.

If you have ash trees on your private property, they are likely infested. There are chemical trunk injections available that protect ash trees from EAB, and the city offers a reduced-cost program to assist residents in preserving their shade. If a tree has 30% dieback or less, an ash tree may be treated and saved. Earlier is always better. Get more information on how to Manage EAB on your Property. If trees are not injected, they will die from EAB, and the property owner is responsible for managing ash tree removal, ideally before they become brittle and hazardous.

No. Staff will only be marking ash trees that are unprotected (untreated), declining and rated as being in poor condition. Unless the ash tree presents a safety hazard, staff will not mark it for removal. Ash trees that are found to be treated by the resident will be assessed every three years to ensure they have been treated. If found to be in poor condition they will be removed. Please let the city know if you plan to stop treating the ash tree in the boulevard.

The ash tree will be tagged with a silver-colored medallion. There is no cost for the property owner for treatment of a boulevard tree.

The insecticide is injected inside the tree trunk at the base of the tree, so there is no need to restrict access to the tree like you might have to with traditional lawn treatments (which are sprayed onto the soil).

FAQ on Potential Side Effects of EAB Insecticides from University of Minnesota Extension, Michigan State University, and The Ohio State University OARDC Extension.

The ash trees that are included in the city’s municipal injection program are treated every three years. For example, trees with a 2021 tag will be treated in 2024, unless found to be in poor condition. The city is injecting public ash trees to help slow mortality and spread-out tree removals.

The ash tree will be marked with pink X and a number on the trunk of the tree.

A door hanger will be placed on property doors near boulevard ash trees marked for removal.

No. If the tree is in the boulevard, the removal and stump grinding/restoration will be at no cost to the property owner.

• All ash brush and wood from infested ash trees should be disposed of by chipping or by hauling to a wood waste facility.
• You may have your contractor haul it off site and dispose of it for you.
• You may haul it to a wood processing facility nearby. If you are hauling ash, do not violate quarantines. Go to Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine page for more information.
• You can use the wood on-site where you removed it for yard campfires (follow all fire department guidelines), indoor fireplaces, etc.
• Do not sell or haul the firewood off site, which can accelerate the spread of insects and disease and may be against quarantines. To understand why this is discouraged, go to Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine.
• The city will not provide firewood from ash trees removed in the boulevard, city park or city property. Ash wood removed on public property is disposed of according to MDA guidelines.

Not at this time. Funds are being prioritized for tree removal as dead and declining ash trees pose public safety concerns. If you decide to replant, we recommend you do so on your private property. If trees are planted in the boulevard they are on public property and planted at the resident’s risk.