Plant Health Care - EAB Treatment Services by Patriot Tree Company

Emerald Ash Borer Treatment

“Keep Your Ash Trees Healthy and Protected With our Effective Emerald Ash Borer Treatment Services”

Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a non-native, invasive insect pest that can attack and kill both unhealthy and healthy ash trees. The larvae of this wood-boring beetle tunnel through the water and nutrient conducting tissue just under the bark, cutting off supplies to the crown of the tree and causing a drought-like die back in the crown. EAB will kill an infested tree within 3-5 years of first attacking that ash. Other signs and symptoms of EAB presence in a tree include epicormic sprouts low on the trunk, S-shaped larval galleries under the bark, and D-shaped exit holes on the bark.

Emerald Ash Borer Treatment EAB was found in Colorado for the first time in 2013, in green ash trees located in Boulder. Since then, it has spread as far north as Fort Collins, east to Thornton, and south to Littleton. It is currently killing thousands of ash trees on the Front Range.
Homeowners across the Front Range must now start considering their options for the ash trees on their properties. If a tree is determined to have EAB and more than 30% of the crown has died back, the tree must be removed and disposed of properly. If there is no or very little EAB present in the tree and the crown is healthy, there are recommended treatments to help keep your ash trees from becoming infested.

Emerald Ash Borer Treatment Emerald ash borer treatment includes applying a systemic insecticide to be taken up into the tree through either the roots (soil injection) or through direct truck injection and transported through the tree by the water and nutrient conducting cells (xylem) in the outer sapwood. This outer sapwood is the same place where EAB larvae tunnel through the tree, and the systemic product stops the larvae before they are able to do significant damage.

Emerald ash borer treatments need to be properly timed and applied by licensed professionals. All commercial applicators in Colorado need to be licensed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), and Patriot Tree Company has carried a commercial license in good standing with the CDA since 2012. If you have ash trees on your property, give us a call, and we can help put together a plan that makes sense for you and your property.

For more information regarding Emerald ash borer treatment and for an up to date map of where EAB has been detected in the Front Range of Colorado, visit the Colorado State Forest Service’s website: Emerald ash borer: A Green Menace.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can Patriot Tree Company protect my ash trees from Emerald ash borer?

Patriot Tree Company protects ash trees from Emerald ash borer by applying targeted, science-based treatments that are highly effective at stopping infestations before they spread through the tree. These treatments prevent larval damage, which preserves vascular function and maintains tree health when applied before severe decline occurs.

Patriot Tree Company detects Emerald Ash Borer infestations by using Certified Arborists to inspect for early warning signs such as canopy thinning, bark splitting, and increased woodpecker activity. This inspection process enables early diagnosis, prevents severe damage, and improves treatment success.

If the vascular tissues in the tree have not been damaged to the point where systemic treatments are ineffective, it is possible to save an ash tree after Emerald ash borer infestation begins. Treatments prevent further larval damage from occurring, which can allow the tree to recover. Branches that are dead or mostly dead should be removed, as they will not leaf out again.

Treat ash trees for Emerald ash borer before infestation or at the earliest visible signs such as canopy thinning or bark splitting. Early treatment maximizes effectiveness, prevents larval damage, and increases the likelihood of saving the tree before irreversible decline occurs. The best time of year to perform an EAB treatment is in the spring when trees are actively moving water and nutrients from the soil to the upper crown, but effective treatments can be performed through the summer months. Fall and winter are not recommended for treatment.

Emerald Ash Borer treatment is more cost-effective than tree removal when the tree is still viable. Treatment prevents removal costs, avoids replacement expenses, and reduces landscape disruption. This approach preserves mature trees and lowers total long-term property maintenance costs.

Emerald Ash Borer infestations left untreated cause rapid tree decline and eventual death within 3–7 years. Larvae destroy vascular tissue, which blocks water and nutrient flow. This damage leads to canopy loss, structural weakness, and increased risk of tree failure.

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