Emerald Ash Borer Treatment in Sioux Falls, SD
EAB first hit Sioux Falls in 2018. By 2024, it had spread to Canton, Crooks, Brandon, and Lennox and it is still moving. If you have ash trees on your property and have not treated them, they are at risk right now.
At TreePro, we provide professional Emerald Ash Borer treatment across Sioux Falls, Brandon, Tea, Harrisburg, Hartford, Canton, and surrounding areas, using direct trunk injections that are 99.9% effective at protecting your ash trees from EAB damage and death.
Your ash trees can be saved. But only if you act before the damage goes too far.
- Licensed & Fully Insured
- ISA Certified Arborists
- 200+ 5-Star Reviews
- 10+ years Local Experience
Get Your Quote Today
What Is Emerald Ash Borer And Why Is It the Biggest Tree Crisis Sioux Falls
Emerald Ash Borer is not just another tree pest. It is the most destructive invasive insect in North American history and Sioux Falls is right in the middle of its path.
EAB is a beetle native to Asia that feeds on ash trees. Female emerald ash borers lay their eggs in the bark of ash trees. Once hatched, the larvae feed on the tissue beneath the bark that moves water and nutrients through the tree, essentially cutting off the tree’s vascular system from the inside. Without treatment intervention, infestation is a death sentence for the tree.
By the end of 2025, the city of Sioux Falls will have lost 17,000 ash trees to emerald ash borer and that number covers only trees on public property. The city estimates there are currently 45,000 ash trees on private property in Sioux Falls alone. During the city’s annual forest health survey in 2024, the forestry team issued 530 orders to remove ash trees triple the number from just one year before.
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture has confirmed EAB infestation across Minnehaha, Lincoln, and Turner counties. That means virtually every ash tree in the Sioux Falls metro area and the surrounding region is within the active quarantine zone. Industry guidelines recommend treating any ash tree within 15 miles of a confirmed EAB find and at this point, that includes every ash tree in our service area.
South Dakota state arborist Dr. John Ball has been direct on this point: if you have ash trees, the time to treat is now. You cannot tell whether your tree has emerald ash borer from the outside, by the time visible symptoms appear, the damage has often been underway for two to four years.
This is not a slow-moving threat. It is happening right now, in your neighborhood, and possibly in your yard.
How TreePro Treats Emerald Ash Borer in Sioux Falls
What Treatment We Use
We treat ash trees using direct trunk injection of ArborMectin a 4% Emamectin Benzoate solution that is the most effective and widely used professional EAB treatment available. The product is injected directly into the tree's xylem tissue, where it is taken up through the tree's vascular system and distributed throughout the canopy within days. This treatment method does not involve soil drenches or spray applications that can be affected by weather, soil conditions, or runoff. The injection goes directly into the tree, which is why the protection rate is 99.9% when the tree is treated while still in treatable condition.
How Long Does the Treatment Last?
A single ArborMectin trunk injection provides protection for two years. Following treatment, re-treatment on a two-year cycle is recommended for trees that remain in the quarantine area which currently includes all ash trees in the Sioux Falls metro and surrounding Minnehaha, Lincoln, and Turner county region.
When Is the Right Time to Treat?
Ash trees can be treated spring through fall. For maximum uptake and protection, treatments applied when the tree is actively moving nutrients spring and early summer tend to distribute the product most effectively through the vascular system. If you are scheduling treatment for the first time, do not wait for the ideal window, the right time to treat is as soon as possible once you have determined the tree is a viable treatment candidate.
What Results Can You Expect
Treatment is not a magic bullet. Trees treated early in the infestation process when they are still in good overall health and EAB damage has not progressed past the early stages, respond well and can be fully protected for years. Trees in advanced decline require more time to show visible recovery, and visible improvement can take two to three growing seasons even after successful treatment, because the tree needs time to rebuild what was damaged internally.
If a tree has already lost more than one-third of its canopy to EAB progression, treatment becomes less predictable. At that threshold, the internal vascular damage may be extensive enough that the tree cannot take up the treatment product effectively. We assess this during the inspection and give you an honest recommendation rather than selling you a treatment your tree may not be able to use.
Why Sioux Falls Ash Tree Owners Choose TreePro for EAB Treatment
We Use the Right Product
Not all EAB treatments are equal. Store-bought soil drench products and consumer-grade insecticides are significantly less effective than professional trunk injection of Emamectin Benzoate. We use ArborMectin at the professional concentration required for reliable protection injected directly into the tree's vascular system where it needs to be.
Treat vs. Remove Assessment
We do not treat every ash tree that walks in front of us. If your tree is past the point where treatment can deliver reliable results, we tell you clearly because a treatment that does not work is money you did not need to spend. Our goal is a recommendation that is right for your specific tree and your specific situation.
Sioux Falls EAB Situation
We follow the city's annual ash tree survey data, the county quarantine boundaries, and the seasonal treatment guidelines that apply to this region. We know which neighborhoods have been hit hardest, which tree sizes are responding well to treatment, and what the realistic recovery timeline looks like for Sioux Falls ash trees at different stages of decline.
We Handle Both
If an ash tree on your property is past saving, we handle the removal as well, including compliance with the Minnehaha County EAB quarantine guidelines for ash tree disposal. You do not need to call a second company for the trees that cannot be saved.
Licensed and Insured
We are properly licensed to apply Emamectin Benzoate and carry full insurance on every job. You should confirm any company treating your trees carries the appropriate licensing for commercial pesticide application in South Dakota before any product is applied.
How TreePro's EAB Treatment Process Works in Sioux Falls
Ash Tree Inspection
We visit your property, confirm the tree species (not all trees are ash — identification matters before any treatment decision), and assess the current health status of every ash tree on the property. We look for all visible EAB indicators: canopy condition, exit holes, bark condition, basal sprouting, and woodpecker activity.
Health Assessment
Based on the inspection, we give you a clear, written recommendation for each ash tree: treat, remove, or monitor. We explain the reasoning, the expected outcome for treatment candidates, and the realistic recovery timeline on tree condition. No pressure you get the information and make the decision.
Trunk Injection Treatment
For trees where treatment is recommended, we perform the ArborMectin trunk injection using calibrated injection. The product is taken up by the tree and distributed through the vascular system, with translocation typically occurring within four to seven days of application.
Treatment Schedule
After initial treatment, we recommend re-treatment on a two-year cycle. We can note your tree on a follow-up schedule so you are contacted before the window lapses. For trees in early-to-moderate decline at treatment, we advise what to monitor in upcoming seasons and when to call if something changes.
EAB Treatment Available Across Sioux Falls and the Surrounding Quarantine Area
TreePro provides professional emerald ash borer treatment throughout Sioux Falls and the surrounding communities within the EAB quarantine zone in Minnehaha, Lincoln, and Turner counties. Our regular service area includes
Renner
Garretson
Hartford
Dell Rapids
Frequently Asked Questions About EAB Treatment in Sioux Falls
Have a question not listed here? Give us a call — we’re happy to talk through your specific situation.
How do I know if my tree is an ash tree?
Ash trees have compound leaves with five to eleven leaflets arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The bark on mature ash trees has a distinctive interlaced diamond pattern. Ash trees produce small, paddle-shaped winged seeds called samaras that hang in clusters. If you are not certain whether your tree is an ash, we confirm species identification during every inspection visit, this is the first step before any treatment decision is made.
My ash tree looks completely healthy. Should I still treat it?
Yes, and this is the advice the South Dakota state arborist has given publicly. EAB infestation is not visible from the outside in its early stages. By the time symptoms become obvious, the larvae have typically been active for two to three years. Treating a healthy ash tree preventively is the most reliable way to protect it, treatment on a healthy tree is virtually certain to work. Treatment on a tree that has already been declining for years is less predictable. The cost of preventive treatment over a two-year cycle is far lower than the cost of removing and replacing a mature ash tree.
What is ArborMectin and how does it work?
ArborMectin is a professional trunk injection product containing 4% Emamectin Benzoate, the active ingredient used in the most effective professional EAB treatments. When injected directly into the tree’s xylem tissue, it is taken up through the vascular system and distributed throughout the canopy within days. EAB larvae that feed on treated tissue are killed by the product. Adult beetles that attempt to lay eggs in a treated tree’s bark are also affected as larvae hatch and begin feeding. The treatment provides protection for two years per application.
Can I treat my ash tree myself with products from the hardware store?
Consumer-grade soil drench products containing imidacloprid are available at garden centers and provide some level of protection, but they are significantly less effective than professional trunk injection of Emamectin Benzoate. Soil drenches depend on root uptake and can be affected by soil moisture, soil type, and root health, all variables that reduce reliability. Professional trunk injection delivers the product directly into the vascular system at concentrations not available in consumer products. For a tree you want to reliably protect, professional treatment is the more dependable option.
How long does it take to see results after treatment?
For trees treated while in good overall health, the treatment prevents further damage immediately, but visible improvement in the canopy takes time because the tree needs growing seasons to rebuild foliage and branch structure. A tree treated in year one may look noticeably fuller by year two or three. For trees that were already in moderate decline when treated, visible recovery takes longer, and some canopy loss from prior damage may be permanent even after successful treatment stops further progression.
Worried About Your Ash Trees in Sioux Falls? Call TreePro for an Inspection.
If you have ash trees on your property that have not been treated or if you are seeing symptoms and are not sure whether treatment can still help the most important thing you can do is schedule an inspection. We assess every ash tree honestly, give you a clear treat vs. remove recommendation, and explain exactly what to expect.
We serve all of Sioux Falls and the surrounding communities within the Minnehaha, Lincoln, and Turner county EAB quarantine zone.