Emerald ash borer damage is easy to recognize once you know the signs, and many untreated ash trees across Southwest Pennsylvania are now dead or declining.
Watch for thinning in the top of the canopy, small D-shaped exit holes in the bark, pale patches where woodpeckers have stripped the outer bark, and clusters of new sprouts along the trunk. Under loose bark, the larvae leave winding S-shaped tunnels that cut off the tree's flow of water and nutrients.
Once an ash dies, its wood dries out and turns brittle faster than most species, which makes dead ash near homes, roads, and driveways a real concern heading into winter.
Our latest blog article covers these signs in more detail, along with how an ISA Certified Arborist decides between treatment and removal.
#SomersetPA #EmeraldAshBorer #TreeHealth #SouthwestPA
A real close-up from an STS job of D-shaped exit holes or woodpecker blonding on ash bark, or a wider shot of an ash with a thinning upper canopy. Authentic local photos are far more convincing than stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Know the Signs of Emerald Ash Borer" or "D-Shaped Holes Mean Ash Borer Is Here"