Emerald ash borer (EAB) is the most destructive tree pest Central Ohio has ever seen. Since it spread through the Columbus metro, it has killed millions of ash trees across the state — and Dublin’s mature, tree-lined neighborhoods have plenty of ash at risk. If you have an ash tree on your property, here’s what every Dublin homeowner should know.
What Emerald Ash Borer Does
EAB is a small, metallic-green beetle whose larvae tunnel beneath the bark of ash trees, cutting off the tree’s ability to move water and nutrients. Over a few years, an infested ash starves from the top down. Unlike many tree problems, EAB is almost always fatal to untreated ash — and it moves fast once it takes hold.
Warning Signs to Look For
- Canopy dieback starting at the top and working down.
- D-shaped exit holes (~1/8 inch) in the bark — a telltale EAB sign.
- S-shaped galleries (winding tunnels) under loose or splitting bark.
- Woodpecker damage — heavy pecking as birds hunt the larvae ("blonding" of the bark).
- Epicormic shoots — new sprouts growing from the trunk or base, a sign of stress.
Treat or Remove?
The decision comes down to the tree’s health and location:
- Treat — a structurally sound ash that still has most of its canopy and that you want to keep can often be protected with professional insecticide treatments on a recurring schedule.
- Remove — an ash with major canopy loss, extensive trunk damage, or that’s already dead should come out. Dead ash turn brittle and dangerous quickly, and they only get costlier and riskier to remove the longer they stand.
Why Dead Ash Are Urgent in Dublin
EAB-killed ash are notorious for sudden failure — dropping heavy limbs or snapping — because the wood dries out and weakens fast. An ash overhanging your roof, driveway, or a neighbor’s property is a liability that grows by the season. If you suspect EAB, don’t wait.
Dublin Tree Pros can inspect your ash trees, tell you honestly whether treatment still makes sense, and safely remove any that have become hazardous. Request a free assessment.