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One of the most common questions we hear from Detroit Lakes homeowners right now is a simple one: "How do I even know if I have an ash tree?"

It is the right question to ask. Emerald Ash Borer is confirmed in counties surrounding Becker County and moving our direction. Before you can decide whether to treat and protect your trees — or whether EAB is even a concern for your property — you need to know what you have. Here is exactly how to tell.

The Three Things That Identify an Ash Tree

Ash trees have three specific characteristics that, when you see all three together, confirm what you are looking at. You do not need any tools or expertise — just your eyes and a few minutes in your yard.

1. Opposite Branching

Look at how the branches grow off the main limb. On an ash tree, branches grow directly across from each other in matched pairs — one on the left, one on the right, at the same point on the stem. This is called opposite branching and is one of the most reliable identifiers. Most common trees in Minnesota — oak, maple, basswood — have alternating branches that stagger up the stem. Ash does not.

2. Compound Leaves

An ash leaf is not a single leaf — it is a group of individual leaflets joined along a central stalk, which then attaches to the branch. Each stalk carries five to nine leaflets depending on the...