Tree service in north Sioux Falls, where the beetle was found first
Emerald ash borer was found in South Dakota for the first time in May 2018, north and east of the airport. North-side ash have had the longest exposure, and many are past saving.
The state's May 9, 2018 Tree Pest Alert tells how it started. A Sioux Falls tree crew pruning green ash for clearance from a structure noticed woodpecker damage. The crew leader peeled the bark and found galleries and a larva. About 250 infested trees had been identified on the north side by then, and the state estimated the infestation was three to four years old. SDSU Extension now places the original detection north and east of the airport and says the beetle probably arrived in 2014 or 2015. With roughly a decade of exposure, north-side ash are furthest along. Many we see here are thinning hard, sprouting from the trunk or stripped by woodpeckers, and SDSU says a tree with about 40 percent canopy loss is too late to treat.
The north side also takes the wind. On July 5, 2022 the airport recorded an 80 mph gust and more than half an hour of winds over 58 mph, and the National Weather Service photographed trees down east of the airport. After that storm the City opened a wood-debris site at 100 North Lyon Boulevard, by the fairgrounds, and this fall's free leaf and branch drop sites include North Lyon Boulevard. Our work here is mostly ash removals scheduled between Labor Day and Memorial Day, storm cleanup, stump grinding and replanting with something other than ash.
What we do in North Sioux Falls
Ash removals, scheduled
Declining ash taken down between Labor Day and Memorial Day, before they turn brittle.
Honest treatment calls
The few healthy ash still worth treating, injected from leaf-out to mid-June.
Storm response
Limbs and trees on houses cleared any hour after a windstorm.
Stumps ground
Below grade, 811 called first, ready for grass or a new tree.
Wood kept local
Ash wood chipped or hauled to the landfill, never out of the quarantine.
Replanting
Replacement trees chosen for diversity, with the planting permit on the boulevard.
Streets and areas we cover
- North of the airport
- Sioux Falls Regional Airport area
- Sioux Empire Fairgrounds
- North Lyon Boulevard
- Russell Street
- Whittier
- North Cliff Avenue
- North Minnesota Avenue
- East Chambers Street
- Big Sioux River (north)
Tree services in North Sioux Falls
- Ash tree removal, emerald ash borer treatment, tree removal, crane removal
- Trimming and pruning, boulevard trees, spruce care, elm and oak care
- 24/7 emergency service, storm cleanup, stump grinding, replacement planting
Questions from North Sioux Falls homeowners
Is it too late to treat my ash?
On the north side, often yes. SDSU says an ash with about 40 percent canopy decline is too late to treat. If yours still has a full crown, treatment can work. We'll look and tell you.
How much is ash removal on the north side?
Most yard ash run $800 to $1,600. Dead, brittle ash cost more, because they're taken down from a bucket truck or with a crane instead of climbed.
Where can I take my own branches?
The landfill near Hartford takes yard debris year-round, $3 a car load or $6 a pickup in 2026. In fall, the City's free drop sites include North Lyon Boulevard near the fairgrounds.
Can I leave a dead ash standing?
It's risky, and the City can order it removed. Dead and infested trees are declared a nuisance under the code, and the owner gets a letter with a deadline.
Nearby: Cathedral District · McKennan Park · Dell Rapids · Crooks & Renner · full service area