SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The city of Sioux Falls is urging people with ash trees to take action if they’re not treating them for emerald ash borer.
Ignoring the problem could spell trouble.
Rick Klemisch knows ash trees.
He’s a forestry caretaker with the City of Sioux Falls.
He’s part of the team that identified over 500 ash trees on private property this summer that need to be removed because of their decline from the emerald ash borer.
“You can see more turning this fall from what we did in July,” Klemisch said.
But if you don’t have an eye for trees like Klemisch, there are a few tree characteristics you can look for in your yard to know if you have ash trees.
Signs of an ash tree include a diamond bark pattern and a compound leaf.
“Your single leaf will be attached to the twig. This is what’s going to pull off as a single leaf. You’ve got one stem, multiple leaflets, opposite twigs. You have an ash tree,” City of Sioux Falls Urban Forestry Specialist Bryan Peterson said.
If your tree is infected with the emerald ash borer, you may notice the top of your canopy starting to thin.
A much more obvious sign is no leaves on your ash tree.
“Trees die, and they die quickly. Once the tree dies from emerald ash borer it’s extremely unpredictable. It can fall in a light breeze,” Peterson said.
That’s why the city wants property owners with untreated ash trees to get ahead of the problem.
“Beetle numbers are increasing. Trees are dying on private property. It’s time to take those trees out now before the arborist community is overwhelmed and all of a sudden you’re making a call to remove your tree and no one’s able to help because everyone’s doing it at the same time,” Peterson said.
You don’t have to know a lot about trees to know you don’t want to be in that situation.
“It should be a concern for everybody because they become dangerous,” Klemisch said.
Peterson says if you’ve been treating your ash trees, continue to do that.
The city has a list of licensed arborists you can consult about removals or possible treatment.
