Michigan has lost more ash trees to Emerald Ash Borer than any other state. The borer arrived in southeast Michigan in 2002 and reached Mid-Michigan - including Ingham County - by the late 2000s. If you have a mature ash tree on your Lansing property that hasn't been treated, the infestation has already started. The question isn't whether your ash tree is at risk. It's whether treating it is still viable, or whether removal is the safer and cheaper long-term decision.
How to identify EAB infestation in Lansing ash trees
| Sign | What It Means |
|---|---|
| S-shaped tunnels visible under peeling bark | Active larvae - infestation confirmed |
| D-shaped exit holes (3-4mm wide) in the bark | Adult beetles have emerged - second-year infestation or beyond |
| Crown dieback starting from the top | Significant vascular damage - likely past treatment window |
| Epicormic sprouting along trunk base | The tree is stressed and trying to survive |
| Woodpecker damage in strips along the trunk | Birds feeding on larvae - confirms active infestation |
Treatment vs. removal - how to decide
EAB treatment works. Trunk-injected insecticides (emamectin benzoate) can protect a healthy or early-stage ash tree for 2-3 years per treatment cycle. The cost per treatment in Lansing runs roughly $8-$15 per inch of trunk diameter. Treatment makes financial sense when crown dieback is under 50%, the tree is structurally sound, and it's not close to a structure where failure would cause damage. Removal makes more sense when crown dieback is over 50%, the tree is structurally compromised, or the three-cycle treatment cost exceeds the cost of removal.
What ash removal costs in Lansing
| Tree Size | Typical Lansing Removal Cost |
|---|---|
| Small (under 30 ft) | $250-$725 |
| Medium (30-50 ft) | $500-$1,450 |
| Large (50-70 ft) | $1,000-$2,500 |
| Very large (70 ft+) or crane-required | $1,800-$4,200+ |
Stump grinding adds $85-$375 depending on stump diameter. Most homeowners bundle it with removal.
One thing most ash removal quotes don't tell you
EAB-killed ash becomes brittle fast. A tree that looked structurally sound in summer can be dangerously unpredictable by the following spring because the wood dries and cracks over winter. Crews have to plan for brittle wood differently - it requires slower sectional cuts and often more rigging points to control descent. If you're getting quotes on an ash that has been dead for more than one full season, make sure the company is accounting for that in their rigging setup.