Emerald ash borer has already killed a large share of the ash trees in Gloucester County, and many of the ones still standing are now dead or close to it. Once an ash dies, its wood dries out and turns brittle much faster than most species, often within a year or two, and limbs start snapping without much warning.
That brittleness is why dead ash is not a normal removal. Climbing and rigging put stress on limbs and trunk wood that can no longer hold it safely, so the crew plans the work around equipment instead. Our 75-foot bucket truck and knuckle boom crane let us take a dead ash apart from the outside, lowering sections under control instead of trusting a rope to wood that may crack.
Signs to look for include bark flaking off in patches, heavy woodpecker activity, thin or missing leaves at the top, and sprouts coming from the base of the trunk. The earlier a dying ash is taken down, the safer and simpler the job is. Do you have an ash on your property that looked noticeably thinner this summer?
#EmeraldAshBorer #SouthJerseyTrees
Real photo of a dead ash removal in progress using the bucket truck or knuckle boom crane, showing limbs being lowered rather than climbed. Bark-stripped ash with woodpecker damage makes a strong detail shot. Avoid stock imagery.
Canva text suggestion: "Dead Ash Gets Brittle Fast" or "Why Dead Ash Needs a Different Removal Plan"