How to spot ash
- Compound leaves with 5–9 leaflets along a stem
- Opposite branching (branches directly across from each other)
- Diamond-patterned bark on mature trunks
- Often already showing canopy thinning, trunk sprouts, or woodpecker damage from EAB
Ash trees are in a category of their own right now because of emerald ash borer, which has killed most untreated ash across our region. If you have an ash, the realistic questions are how far along it is and how soon it needs to come down.
The safety angle is the important one: dead ash gets brittle fast and fails without warning, which makes a standing dead ash near your house one of the higher-risk trees to leave alone.
Common problems we see on ash
This is general guidance from three decades of tree work across the Philadelphia area — not a formal diagnosis. When it matters, we'll come look at the actual tree and give you a straight answer, free.
Brennan Tree Service has cared for trees across the Philadelphia area since 1994.
Frequently asked questions
Should I remove my ash tree?
If it's showing heavy canopy loss from emerald ash borer, removal is usually the safe call — and sooner is better, because dead ash gets brittle and dangerous (and harder to remove) the longer it stands. We'll give you an honest read.