TREE SERVICES • BISMARCK, ND
Tree Services and Ash Tree Removal in Bismarck, ND
Bismarck Landscape offers tree removal, ash tree removal, trimming, storm cleanup and tree planting in Bismarck, ND, plus Mandan and Lincoln. Emerald ash borer was found in Bismarck in late August 2026, so a lot of homeowners are asking the same thing right now: treat the ash, or take it down? We’ll look at your tree and tell you honestly which one makes sense.
Worried about an ash tree, or have a tree leaning over the house? Contact Bismarck Landscape and tell us what you’re seeing.
What’s Included
Our Tree Services in Bismarck
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01
Tree Removal and Stump Grinding
We take down dead, dying, damaged and unwanted trees, including large trees close to houses, garages, fences and wires. Stump grinding is priced separately in most quotes, so ask if it’s included. For boulevard trees, the city requires the stump to come out too.
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02
Ash Tree Removal and Emerald Ash Borer Help
We check ash trees for signs of emerald ash borer (EAB) and help you decide whether to treat or remove. When an ash comes down, we plan where the wood goes before the saw starts, since Burleigh County is now under quarantine.
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03
Tree Trimming and Pruning
Pruning for health, shape, storm safety and clearance over sidewalks, driveways and roofs. We time the work for each species. Elms, for example, should only be pruned from November through March.
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04
Storm Damage Cleanup
Broken limbs, split trunks and hangers left after hail and wind. Summer storms are part of life here. After the August 3, 2026 storm, the city ran extra curbside branch pickup and landfill drop-off for residents.
See storm damage cleanup in Bismarck and our storm and hail recovery guide.
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05
Tree Planting and Replacement
New trees picked for Bismarck’s alkaline clay and zone 4a winters, planted at the right depth with a proper mulch ring. This is often the last step after an ash removal.
For new trees, consider windbreak and privacy trees.
Explore all landscaping services in Bismarck.
Ash Tree Decisions
Should You Treat or Remove Your Ash Tree?
If your ash tree is healthy and matters to your yard, treatment is now a real option. If more than about 40% of the canopy is already dead, removal is usually the better call.
Here’s why the timing changed. NDSU Extension does not recommend injections unless EAB has been found within 15 miles of your tree. Since the August 2026 find in Bismarck, every ash in Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln is inside that 15-mile line.
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture lists these signs of EAB:
- Thinning leaves in the upper canopy
- Leafy sprouts from the trunk or main branches
- Bark splitting
- Woodpecker damage
- S-shaped tunnels under the bark
- D-shaped exit holes
Bismarck’s city forester put it simply when the city laid out its plan in September 2026: “You’ve got time.” Finding EAB in town doesn’t mean every ash has to come down this year.
| Treat the ash | Remove the ash | |
|---|---|---|
| Best when | The tree is healthy, well placed and valued | The tree is declining, badly placed or not worth the ongoing cost |
| Canopy dieback | Under about 40% | Over about 40% |
| What it involves | Trunk injection of emamectin benzoate | Removal, stump grinding and a replacement tree |
| How long it lasts | About 2 to 3 years per injection | One-time cost |
| Wood rules | None | Wood stays in Burleigh County unless you have a permit |
The City of Bismarck is doing both. According to KFYR-TV, the city plans to treat about 2,600 of its roughly 5,200 boulevard ash trees over 3 years, remove the other 2,600 over 4 years, and replace them.
When Treatment Makes Sense
NDSU calls emamectin benzoate injections highly effective, with each treatment protecting the tree for about 2 to 3 years. Treatment works best on a healthy tree that shades your house, anchors your yard or would cost a lot to remove. The state advises hiring a reputable tree service that uses a certified pesticide applicator.
When Removal Is the Better Call
Remove the ash if it’s already thin and dying, if it’s small or poorly placed, or if you don’t want to pay for treatment every few years for the life of the tree. EAB spreads only 1 to 2 miles a year on its own, according to NDSU, so there’s usually time to remove and replace ash trees on your own schedule instead of all at once. A dead ash gets brittle, so don’t wait until it’s dropping limbs.
For the full step-by-step, read our emerald ash borer guide for Bismarck.
Moving Ash Wood Under the Burleigh County Quarantine
Burleigh County is now under an EAB quarantine. Ash logs, branches, wood chips, nursery stock and hardwood firewood can’t leave the county without a permit, and civil fines can reach $5,000.
Here’s the local catch: Mandan is in Morton County, which wasn’t part of the quarantine when EAB was found. Hauling ash wood from a Bismarck yard across the Missouri River to Mandan means taking it out of Burleigh County. The Bismarck Landfill also stopped giving out and selling firewood in September 2026. Plan where the wood goes before the tree comes down.
City Tree Requirements
Boulevard Trees: What the City of Bismarck Requires
The trees between the sidewalk and the curb are boulevard trees, and they belong to the City of Bismarck. These rules come from the City of Bismarck Forestry Division.
| Work | What the city requires |
|---|---|
| Pruning a boulevard tree | A pruning permit first. There’s no charge. |
| Removing a boulevard tree | A removal permit first, and the stump must come out too |
| Planting a boulevard tree | A planting permit. Forestry staff inspect the site and suggest species. |
| Clearance over sidewalks | 10 feet |
| Clearance over residential streets | 13.5 feet over the curb and street |
| Clearance over main arterial streets | 16 feet |
| When the city removes it at no cost | The tree is more than 50% dead, unsafe from natural causes, has Dutch elm disease, or was damaged by city root work |
Contact the City of Bismarck Forestry Division for permit information. These permits cover boulevard trees. For any tree in the city, paid pruning or removal must be done by a city-licensed arborist.
For the full local process, see our full boulevard tree permit guide.
Pruning in North Dakota
When Is the Best Time to Trim Trees in Bismarck?
For most trees, late winter is a good time, while they’re dormant and you can see the branches clearly. Some species have firm rules:
- Elms: NDSU says to prune only from November through March. That timing lowers the risk of Dutch elm disease, which bark beetles spread from tree to tree.
- Storm damage: Broken or hanging limbs should come down right away, any time of year.
- Clearance pruning: Keep 10 feet over sidewalks and 13.5 feet over residential streets, with a city permit for boulevard trees.
Winter is also a good time for removals. The ground is frozen, so equipment does less damage to your lawn.
Tree Removal Pricing
How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Bismarck?
Tree removal in Bismarck usually costs about $400 to $1,900, depending mostly on height. Published local cost guides list these ranges:
| Tree height | Typical removal price |
|---|---|
| 20 feet | About $240 to $460 |
| 30 feet | About $360 to $690 |
| 40 feet | About $480 to $920 |
| 50 feet | About $600 to $1,150 |
| 60 feet | About $720 to $1,380 |
| 80 feet | About $960 to $1,840 |
One guide puts the average around $1,100. Another puts it closer to $780. Tree crews in Bismarck often charge about $200 to $260 an hour for a 3-person crew, and stump grinding is usually an extra charge. These are market estimates, not quotes.
What Changes the Price of Tree Work?
- Height and trunk size
- What’s under it, like a roof, garage, fence or wires
- Access, such as backyard gates and tight side yards
- Tree condition, since dead ash can be brittle and slower to take down safely
- Stump grinding and cleanup
- Wood disposal, including the Burleigh County ash quarantine
- Permits for boulevard trees
See how much landscaping costs in Bismarck for other yard project prices.
After Tree Removal
What to Plant After a Tree Comes Down
Replace a removed tree with something built for Bismarck, not a copy of what failed.
- 01Skip maples. The City of Bismarck lists maples among its top removals because of alkaline soil and weak winter hardiness in parts of town. The city no longer reimburses planting red, sugar, Norway or Freeman maples on boulevards.
- 02Mix it up. One reason EAB hurts so much is that so many ash were planted in the same places. A mix of species protects your yard and your block.
- 03Use the city’s list. The approved boulevard tree list is a good starting point for private yards too.
- 04Plant right. Set the root flare at ground level and add a wood mulch ring about 3 feet wide and 3 inches deep, kept a few inches off the trunk. The ring keeps mowers and trimmers from damaging the bark.
- 05Water before winter. Deep watering before the ground freezes helps young trees make it through. Our fall yard checklist for Bismarck covers the timing.
A Safer Hire
How to Hire a Tree Service in Bismarck
- 01Check the license. Bismarck requires anyone doing paid tree pruning or removal in the city to hold a city commercial arborist license. To get one, a person must be ISA certified or pass the city’s test, and carry insurance. The city keeps a public list of licensed arborists.
- 02Ask for proof of insurance before anyone climbs.
- 03Get a written quote that says whether stump grinding, cleanup and hauling are included.
- 04Ask where the ash wood goes. A good answer includes the quarantine.
- 05Ask who pulls the permit for any boulevard tree.
- 06Be careful after storms. The City of Bismarck put out a reminder about the license rule after storm damage in June 2025. Busy storm seasons bring unlicensed crews looking for fast work.
Service Areas
Tree Work Across Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln
See our Bismarck service area page for the neighborhoods and ZIP codes we cover.
Bismarck
Central Bismarck
(Cathedral Area, Highland Acres, Washington Heights): mature trees, many boulevard ash and older elms close to houses. Expect more permits, tighter access and careful takedowns. Explore our mature trees in central Bismarck service-area details.
Bismarck
North Bismarck
(Heritage Ridge, Silver Ranch, Boulder Ridge, Northridge): younger trees in open, windy yards. Most work here is planting, staking, structural pruning and windbreaks.
Bismarck
South Bismarck
(Fox Island, Southport, Riverwood): large trees near the Missouri River and storm cleanup after summer wind.
Nearby communities
Mandan and Lincoln:
the same EAB treatment window, since both are within 15 miles of the Bismarck find. Mandan is in Morton County, so hauling ash wood there from Bismarck means taking it out of Burleigh County.
Questions
Bismarck Tree Service FAQ
Answers about tree permits, ash removal and local tree care.
Have a question that isn’t here?
Find more local tree and emerald ash borer guidance in our FAQ.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Bismarck?
You need one for boulevard trees, the ones between the sidewalk and the curb. The City of Bismarck requires a removal permit at no charge, and the stump must be removed too. For any tree in the city, paid removal must be done by a city-licensed arborist.
Does a tree service need a license in Bismarck?
Yes. Anyone doing paid tree pruning or removal in Bismarck needs a city commercial arborist license, unless they work under the direct supervision of a licensed arborist. The city keeps a public list you can check.
Should I remove my ash tree now that emerald ash borer is in Bismarck?
Not always. A healthy, valuable ash with less than about 40% canopy dieback can be protected with injections. A declining or poorly placed ash is usually better removed and replaced. There’s time to decide, since EAB spreads only 1 to 2 miles a year on its own.
How long does an ash injection protect the tree?
About 2 to 3 years. NDSU says emamectin benzoate injections protect an ash for that long, so treatment has to be repeated for the life of the tree.
Will the city remove a dead boulevard tree?
Yes, at no cost, if the tree is more than 50% dead, structurally unsafe from natural causes, infected with Dutch elm disease or damaged by city root work. Contact the City of Bismarck Forestry Division.
When should elm trees be pruned in North Dakota?
From November through March. NDSU advises pruning elms only in that window to lower the risk of Dutch elm disease.
Can I take ash wood from Bismarck to Mandan?
Not without a permit. Burleigh County is under an emerald ash borer quarantine, and Mandan is in Morton County, which wasn’t in the quarantine as of September 2026. Moving ash logs, branches, chips or hardwood firewood out of Burleigh County without a permit can bring fines up to $5,000.
Read our trees and emerald ash borer FAQ for more answers.
Bismarck Landscape
Get a Straight Answer About Your Trees
Whether it’s an ash you’re unsure about, a dead tree over the garage or storm damage from last night, we’ll tell you what we see and what it will cost. Homeowners looking for tree removal in Bismarck, ND can reach us directly.
Call Bismarck Landscape. You can also see our other contact options or read more answers in our FAQ.