Home / Blog

Got an Ash Tree in Peoria? Decide This Winter: Treat or Remove

By Peoria Tree Removal · November 2, 2026

Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that kills ash trees. Since it was discovered in North America in 2002 it has killed hundreds of millions of them. [Iowa State Extension] If you have an ash in your Peoria yard, winter is a good time to look at it and decide what to do before spring.

Signs of EAB

• Thinning and dying branches, usually from the top and outer parts of the canopy down. [Iowa State Extension]
• Leafy sprouts growing from the trunk or main branches. [Iowa Agriculture]
• Bark flecking from woodpeckers feeding on the larvae, most often noticed in winter. [Iowa State Extension]
• Bark splitting, S-shaped galleries under the bark and small D-shaped exit holes. [Iowa Agriculture]

Your options

Iowa State Extension lists three: wait and see, remove a declining ash and replace it with another species, or protect a healthy, valuable ash with preventive insecticide treatments. [Iowa State Extension]

• To be a candidate for treatment, a tree must have less than 50% canopy thinning or less than 30% of its branches dead. Most products can only be applied by licensed pesticide applicators, treatments are best from mid-April to mid-May, and they're needed every 1 to 2 years. [Iowa State Extension]
• If your ash is too damaged to treat, Iowa State says to remove it as soon as possible. Dead ash branches become brittle and fall, a hazard to people and property, and it recommends using an arborist to remove ash trees on personal property. [Iowa State Extension]
• Ash trees in decline from other causes should be removed rather than treated. [Iowa State Extension]

Firewood

Use firewood from the area where it will be burned, so EAB and other pests aren't carried to new places. [Iowa Agriculture] Firewood brought indoors, especially in the first year after cutting, can have beetles emerging in the house. [Iowa State Extension]

Sources

• Iowa State University Extension: Emerald Ash Borer
• Iowa State University Extension: Emerald Ash Borer FAQ
• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship: Emerald ash borer confirmed in all 99 counties

Peoria Tree Removal is an editorial local guide with a daily blog for Peoria, with links to local pros and associates.

More from our blog

• Check Your Peoria Trees for Weak Spots Before Winter Storms
• Peoria Tree Removal Cost, Permits, and Local Rules
• Best Time for Tree Removal in Peoria, Illinois
• After a Storm: Peoria Tree Removal Guide
• Two-Way Radio for Tree Removal in Peoria: A GMRS Guide