Emerald ash borer is not new to Kentucky, but a University of Kentucky entomology update this summer is a reminder that the pest hasn’t gone away just because it stopped making headlines — it was first confirmed in the state back in 2009, and untreated ash trees around Richmond and Madison County are still dying from it in 2026.
Is Emerald Ash Borer Still Spreading in Kentucky in 2026?
Yes — emerald ash borer is now established across Eastern and Central Kentucky and continues spreading into new counties, with several added in western Kentucky as recently as late 2025.
Eastern and Central Kentucky counties, the region that includes Madison County, have had confirmed activity for more than a decade, while parts of western Kentucky stayed clear until recently. The University of Kentucky Department of Entomology tracks identification and management guidance for homeowners statewide, and its 2026 season update is a straightforward point: the insect didn’t leave when the media attention did, and any untreated ash on a property is still on the clock.
How Do I Know If My Ash Tree in Richmond Is Infested?
Look for canopy thinning starting at the top third of the tree, D-shaped exit holes about an eighth of an inch wide, vertical bark splits, and increased woodpecker activity as birds chase larvae under the bark.
Sprouts pushing directly out of the trunk or root flare are another sign — the tree’s attempt to route around damaged tissue higher up. Ash has opposite branching and compound leaves with five to nine leaflets, which rules out most other mature shade trees around downtown Richmond and the EKU campus, where large, decades-old ash are common in older plantings. If a declining tree doesn’t match that leaf and branch pattern, something other than emerald ash borer is the more likely cause.
What Does Ash Tree Removal or Treatment Cost in Richmond, KY?
Protecting a healthy ash with annual or multi-year insecticide treatment typically costs far less than removal, while a dead or heavily declined ash falls into the same size-based removal pricing as any other hazardous tree.
A dead ash usually lands in the large-or-hazardous tier of our typical tree removal cost ranges — generally $1,000–$3,000+ typical, since dead ash wood goes brittle fast and often has to come down in sections rather than as a single piece. Those are typical ranges, not a quote for your tree; the exact number depends on size, access, and what’s underneath it.
Common Questions
Can I treat an ash tree myself instead of hiring a pro?
Small ash under about 15 inches in diameter can be protected with an annual homeowner soil-drench insecticide applied in spring. Larger trees need a professional trunk or soil injection, which lasts longer and reaches a big tree’s canopy more reliably.
Is it too late to save my ash tree in 2026?
If the canopy has already lost roughly a third or more of its leaves, treatment usually will not bring it back. A tree with a full or lightly thinning canopy still has a real shot if treatment starts this season.
Should I remove a dead ash before it falls on its own?
Yes — ash wood loses strength fast once the tree dies, and a removal that was routine in year one gets harder and more expensive by year three as the wood becomes unpredictable to climb.
Related: Emerald Ash Borer Treatment | Tree Removal in Richmond, KY | Tree Removal Cost by Size
Not sure if your ash is worth treating or ready to come down? Get a free estimate or call or text (859) 310-1209.
Source: Kentucky Pest News, University of Kentucky, “Don’t Forget about EAB,” July 28, 2026.
Last updated: September 10, 2026