Got Ash Trees? Emerald Ash Borer Means It’s Now or Never.

Ash trees across Upstate NY are dying fast

If you’ve noticed ash trees in your woods starting to thin out, break up, or fall over, you’re not imagining it. The emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive beetle from Asia, has taken hold in this region — and it’s devastating ash stands across the Northeast.

Once infested, ash trees can go from healthy-looking to hollow in just a couple of seasons. By the time the damage is obvious from the outside, the inside may already be breaking down.

There’s still time — but not much

Ash still has value if it’s cut and moved before it starts to rot. If you wait too long, you lose the timber, the firewood, and in some cases, even the ability to cut it safely.

Right now, landowners can still benefit from:

• Cash from salvageable ash logs

• Cleaner, safer woods and trails

• Firewood or sawlog recovery before it's lost

• A head start on managing declining stands

What we’re seeing in the field

Ash can be tricky. From a distance, a tree might look solid — but once it’s on the ground, it’s a different story. We’ve seen plenty of trees that looked fine from the outside but turned out to be hollow, punky, or already breaking down inside.

That’s the challenge with emerald ash borer: the damage often starts under the bark and moves fast. By the time the crown thins or bark flakes off, internal rot may already be well underway.

Timing makes all the difference. The longer you wait, the harder it is to recover usable wood — and the more likely it becomes a loss or a safety issue instead of a harvest opportunity.

Not sure if you have ash?

We can help. You don’t need to know your species — just give us a call and we’ll walk the lot with you.

If it’s worth cutting, we’ll show you why. And if it’s too early or too far gone, we’ll be honest about that too.

Don’t let it go to waste

Ash may be on its way out — but there’s still a window to get something back from it, and improve the rest of your woods while you do it.

Call or text: 315-404-8978

We work with landowners across Upstate New York to salvage what’s still usable and help you move forward with a healthier, better-managed forest.