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When should I treat for emerald ash borer?

Answered for Carmel, Hamilton County.

It has already moved through Indiana and killed the overwhelming majority of untreated ash. An untreated ash here is on a clock, not at risk. In Carmel, carmel Urban Forestry publishes an approved species list (last revised 3/28/2024) whose "Undesirable Trees" section reads like a field guide to what fills older Hamilton County streets: silver maple (shallow roots, weak wood), Callery pear, pin oak, red maple and all Fraxinus for emerald ash borer. Approved large street trees run to swamp white oak, bur oak, chinkapin oak, hackberry, male-only ginkgo, thornless honeylocust, Kentucky coffeetree, baldcypress and London planetree; note Callery pear is discouraged locally but is not yet banned in Indiana — 312 IAC 18-3-25 currently lists 44 species without it. Treatable while the canopy is still mostly intact.

Carmel's canopy and what's at risk

Carmel Urban Forestry publishes an approved species list (last revised 3/28/2024) whose "Undesirable Trees" section reads like a field guide to what fills older Hamilton County streets: silver maple (shallow roots, weak wood), Callery pear, pin oak, red maple and all Fraxinus for emerald ash borer. Approved large street trees run to swamp white oak, bur oak, chinkapin oak, hackberry, male-only ginkgo, thornless honeylocust, Kentucky coffeetree, baldcypress and London planetree; note Callery pear is discouraged locally but is not yet banned in Indiana — 312 IAC 18-3-25 currently lists 44 species without it.

What to look for

Thinning from the top down, D-shaped exit holes about an eighth of an inch across, sprouts low on the trunk, and pale flecking where woodpeckers have stripped bark to get at larvae.

Whether the tree can be saved

Treatable while the canopy is still mostly intact. Once roughly a third of it is gone, treatment stops being worth the money and the tree becomes a removal — and a dead ash goes brittle unusually fast, which makes it both more dangerous and more expensive the longer it stands.

Timing in Hamilton County

Trunk injection in spring or early summer, repeated every one to two years for the life of the tree. It is a permanent commitment, not a cure.

Crews near Carmel

Sorted by distance
Tree Of Life Tree Service & Landscaping, photo 1 of 3

Tree Of Life Tree Service & Landscaping

152 Lotus Dr Apt 1, Carmel, IN 46032

4.994
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +2

Romeo and his crew did a fantastic job for us! Trimmed back two large red maple trees that were very overgrown, cut down a pine tree and ground up…

Alex Miller · 2 months ago · Google
Carmel Tree Service, photo 1 of 3

Carmel Tree Service

111 Shoshone Dr, Carmel, IN 46032

4.722
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +2

I got a few quotes but Chris from Carmel Tree Service gave me the best bid by far on the job. They showed up right on time with all the heavy duty…

John Gibson · 3 months ago · Google
Rogers Tree Service & Landscaping LLC, photo 1 of 3

Rogers Tree Service & Landscaping LLC

14500 Dublin Dr, Carmel, IN 46033

4.968
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +2

I have no words and I am truly speechless at the work Roger and his crew did on my home! I received a few quotes and not only was Roger competitive…

David M. Johnson · 2 months ago · Google
Anthony’s Tree Service & Landscape, photo 1 of 3

Anthony’s Tree Service & Landscape

14706 Harvest Dr, Carmel, IN 46032

4.980
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +2

Anthony and his team did an excellent job of removing multiple trees in my back and side yard, along with stump grinding. They also did a bunch of…

Frances Russell · 4 months ago · Google
SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care, photo 1 of 3Photo author: Brian Alfred

SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

4621 E 146th St, Carmel, IN 46033

4.8222
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +2

The entire staff is great to work with and, while they are a bit expensive, they do careful work and are extremely professional. In a previous…

David Morris · a month ago · Google
Stumped LLC, photo 1 of 3Photo author: David Ricks

Stumped LLC

10503 Becker Ct, Fishers, IN 46038

4.938
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +1

I highly recommend Stumped LLC. Karl was very prompt at returning my online inquiry even though it was a busy time. He came out and gave me a…

Christy Garner · 5 years ago · Google

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