Sioux Falls Tree Care Calendar: Emerald Ash Borer, Storms and Winter Damage

A free seasonal checklist for homeowners in Sioux Falls and the rest of Minnehaha County, from Get Tree Care Pros.

Two challenges: ash borer and wind

Sioux Falls homeowners face two big tree issues. First, South Dakota keeps an internal emerald ash borer quarantine that covers all of Minnehaha and Lincoln counties, among others; it was first put in place in May 2018 and most recently amended in June 2025. Second, severe wind: on September 10–11, 2019, storms with straight-line winds of 80 to 100 mph brought considerable tree damage to the city, and the May 12, 2022 derecho brought widespread winds of 50 to 70 mph across the region. This calendar handles both.

Winter (December through March)

Do not move ash firewood out of the quarantine area, and buy firewood where you will burn it.
Look at tree structure while branches are bare: weak forks, dead limbs and branches over the house.
Schedule dormant pruning, and ask an arborist to remove dead ash limbs before they fall.
Watch for winter damage. With a 50-year frost depth of 102 inches, frost cracks on trunks and winter burn on evergreens are common. Note them for spring.

Spring (April and May)

Decide on each ash tree. For every ash on your property, ask an arborist whether to treat or remove it. Treatment can protect high-value, healthy ash; trees already in decline are often better removed while they are still safe to climb.
Look for signs of ash borer: thinning crowns, D-shaped exit holes in the bark, and woodpecker damage.
Plant replacements that are not ash, and choose a mix of species.

Summer (June through August): storm season

Walk the yard after every severe storm. Look for split forks, hanging branches and trees leaning more than before.
Keep people away from damaged trees until they are assessed.
Water young trees during dry periods.

Fall (September through November)

Water trees deeply before the ground freezes, especially evergreens.
Wrap thin-barked young trees if your arborist recommends it, to reduce frost cracking.
Remove dead and broken limbs before winter snow and wind.

Disposing of ash wood

Because of the quarantine, ask any tree service how they will handle ash wood and chips. A reputable crew will know the current rules.

Hiring a tree service

Ask for a written scope that names each tree and cut, how debris will be handled, and whether stump grinding is included. Ask for proof of insurance before work begins.

Keep a tree inventory

List your trees, especially ash, with their condition and any treatment dates. Treatment schedules are easy to lose track of.

Sources for this guide

South Dakota keeps an internal emerald ash borer quarantine that covers all of Minnehaha and Lincoln counties, along with Brookings, Codington, Grant, Turner and Union counties; it was first put in place in May 2018 and has been amended several times since, most recently in June 2025. Source: South Dakota DANR, Emerald Ash Borer in South Dakota: Quarantine
On the night of September 10–11, 2019, a line of severe thunderstorms brought straight-line winds of 80 to 100 mph and considerable tree damage, and three brief EF-2 tornadoes touched down within Sioux Falls, damaging the Avera Health complex along 69th Street and the 41st Street commercial corridor. Source: NWS Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Tornadoes – September 10, 2019
During the May 12, 2022 derecho, straight-line winds of 50 to 70 mph were widespread across the region, with smaller areas of 80 to 100 mph; measured gusts reached 107 mph in Tripp and 97 mph in Madison, South Dakota. Source: NWS Sioux Falls, May Derecho Brings Widespread Damage to the Area
NOAA's engineering weather data for Sioux Falls lists an average of 75 freeze-thaw cycles a year, a 50-year frost depth of 102 inches and a 50-year ground snow load of 40 pounds per square foot. Source: NOAA NCEI Engineering Weather Data (Sioux Falls, SD)

Sources checked 2026-10-26. Every cost figure on this page comes from a source named above; fees and rules change, so confirm current amounts with the office that sets them before you budget.

More for Sioux Falls homeowners: Tree Care in Sioux Falls, SD.