Emerald Ash Borer: Can Your Ash Tree Be Saved?

How to spot emerald ash borer damage

Confirm you have a true ash first. Then look for upper-crown dieback, pale patches where woodpeckers have stripped bark, new shoots low on the trunk and small D-shaped exit holes. A thin crown can have other causes, and an infested tree may show little at first.

Treat, monitor or remove an ash tree?

An arborist can assess how much live crown remains, how sound the trunk and branches are and what the tree could strike if it fails. A healthy or lightly affected ash may be a candidate for protection. Severe decline or brittle dead limbs near people or property call for a risk assessment before deciding whether to retain it.

What an ash tree assessment should cover

Start with the trees near driveways, sidewalks, play areas and buildings. An inventory can help a homeowner or property manager decide which ash trees to inspect first.

• Confirm the species and signs

  True ash typically has opposite branching and compound leaves. Take photos from ground level of the whole canopy and any bark patches or holes you can see. An arborist can check for D-shaped exit holes and winding galleries visible where bark has already split.

• Record crown condition and exposure

  Ask how much live crown remains, which limbs are dead and what they could reach if they fall. A vigorous tree in a high-use area may have a different management plan from a dead ash at the edge of an open woodland.

• Compare the options over time

  If treatment is feasible, ask about follow-up visits and how the arborist will judge success. If removal is recommended, ask what made retention impractical and how wood and debris will be handled.

What to do with ash firewood and branches

Avoid carrying infested ash wood to another property. Ask your arborist how the debris will be handled and check current state guidance before moving it.