Ash Tree Removal in Ada, MI: Emerald Ash Borer and What to Do Next
If you own property in Ada and you still have an ash tree standing, it is almost certainly dead, dying, or living on borrowed time. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) reached Kent County in the mid-2000s and has now killed an estimated 99% of untreated white, green and black ash. Dead ash do not stay safe for long — and they are some of the most dangerous trees we remove.
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How to tell if your ash tree is dead or dying
Look for D-shaped exit holes about 1/8 inch wide on the trunk and larger branches, vertical bark splits revealing serpentine S-shaped galleries underneath, woodpecker damage where birds have flaked off outer bark to reach larvae, thinning canopy starting from the top, and water sprouts pushing from the trunk and lower limbs as the tree tries to compensate.
Once a Kent County ash has lost more than a third of its canopy, treatment is no longer effective and removal is the only path.
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Why dead ash are dangerous to remove
EAB-killed ash become brittle within 1–3 years of death. The wood loses its tensile strength rapidly, branches snap off without warning, and climbers cannot trust the spar to hold weight. We have seen dead ash trunks come apart mid-rigging — which is why we remove most dead ash from a bucket truck or with a crane rather than by climbing.
If you have a dead ash anywhere near a structure, driveway, walkway or play area in Ada, it should come down this season. Do not wait for it to fall on its own.
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Ash removal cost in Ada
Because dead ash often require a crane or extended bucket reach, removal costs run slightly higher than for a live tree of the same size. Typical ranges in Ada: small ash (under 12-inch trunk) $400–$700, mid-sized ash (12–24 inch) $900–$2,000, large mature ash (24+ inch, often near structures) $2,000–$5,000 with crane assistance.
We can often combine multiple dead ash on adjoining Ada properties into one crane day, which spreads the setup cost and brings each homeowner's bill down significantly.
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What to plant instead
Good replacement species for Ada soils and climate include swamp white oak, bur oak, hackberry, Kentucky coffeetree, tulip poplar, American hornbeam, and disease-resistant elm cultivars (Princeton, Valley Forge). Avoid planting another monoculture — diversity is the lesson EAB taught Kent County the hard way.
Call (616) 438-5552 for a free dead-ash assessment anywhere in Ada Township.
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