Dead ash & dying tree removal

Emerald ash borer's legacy in central Ohio, and other trees in decline.

Ash trees were among the most widely planted shade and street trees in central Ohio. Then the emerald ash borer arrived. Since the beetle was first detected in Ohio in 2003, it has killed huge numbers of ash trees across the state. Dublin's own documented detection came in 2009. Many ash trees were removed or treated long ago, but standing dead ash and declining trees still turn up in backyards, woodlots and along ravines.

Why dead ash is a special hazard

Ash killed by the emerald ash borer dries out and becomes brittle unusually fast. Arborists widely report that dead ash can drop large limbs, or snap at the trunk, with little warning, sometimes within a few years of dying. That has two practical consequences:

• The longer it stands, the riskier and costlier the removal. Crews may not be able to climb a brittle dead ash safely and will need a bucket truck or crane.
• Location matters. A dead ash over a roof, driveway, play area or neighbor's yard should be a priority.

How to tell if it's an ash, and if it's dying

• Ash ID: opposite branching (buds and twigs in pairs), compound leaves with 5–9 leaflets, and diamond-patterned bark on mature trees.
• Thinning crown: dieback starting at the top.
• Suckers sprouting from the trunk or base.
• Woodpecker damage: light-colored patches where bark has been chipped away.
• D-shaped exit holes about 1/8 inch wide, and S-shaped tunnels under loose bark.
• Vertical bark splits.

Treat or remove?

Healthy, high-value ash trees can sometimes be protected with periodic systemic insecticide treatments applied by a licensed applicator. Treatment generally only makes sense when most of the canopy is still healthy. Once a large share of the crown is dead, removal is usually the realistic choice. An ISA Certified Arborist can tell you which applies.

Other dead and dying trees we see

Ash isn't the only species in trouble. Contractors in the area also deal with:

• Bradford/Callery pears splitting apart at weak forks. Ohio has also restricted sales of Callery pear as an invasive species.
• Silver maples with decay and heavy, brittle limbs.
• Spruces and pines declining from needle diseases, drought stress or wet-soil root problems.
• Oaks and maples damaged by construction around their roots, which often show decline years later.

Permits for dead trees in Dublin

If a dead or dying tree is 6 inches or more in diameter and sits in a platted no-build, no-disturb or tree preservation zone, Dublin requires a tree removal permit first. Dead, diseased, infested or hazardous trees are among the listed reasons a permit can be issued. Outside those zones, private residential trees generally don't need a permit. Replacement is encouraged for trees that died from natural causes.

What to do with the wood

Ash firewood is excellent once seasoned. Burn it locally rather than moving it long distances, because moving firewood spreads pests. Most contractors can leave logs cut to length, haul everything away, or leave chips for mulch. Say which you prefer when you ask for a quote.

Sources

• City of Dublin, Administrative Permits (tree removal): dublinohiousa.gov
• Dublin Code §153.143, Tree Removal Permit: codelibrary.amlegal.com
• OHIO811, when and how to notify: oups.org; Ohio Revised Code 3781.28: codes.ohio.gov
• USDA Forest Service, Ohio Forest Health Highlights 2003 (emerald ash borer): fs.usda.gov
• HomeGuide, tree removal cost (2026), via homerepairdispatch.com