City of Fargo ramped up for tree-killing emerald ash borer

Ash trees marked for eventual removal

FARGO (KFGO) – Fargo City Forester Scott Liudahl said the discovery in February of the tree-killing emerald ash borer in Moorhead is no surprise. The pest has not yet been detected in ash trees in Fargo but he said it’s only a matter of time before it turns up.

Liudahl says the city forestry division has been busy. It has replaced several thousand boulevard ash trees in the last decade and has become more aggressive in replacing and diversifying the areas with other tree species.

So far this year, along some of the main corridors through Fargo that have a large population of ash trees, including Elm Street, Broadway, 10th Street N., and 17th Avenue S., city forestry crews have identified ash trees that are good candidates for treatment. Other ash trees which are not good candidates for treatment will eventually be cut down.

Liudahl said removing some of the ash trees now will prevent significant losses later as the ash borer spreads. He also said Fargo and Moorhead have strategies in place and “it’s not all doom and gloom.”