Is emerald ash borer in Ocean County?

Yes. The USDA Forest Service's 2024 New Jersey Forest Health Highlights says emerald ash borer has been detected in all 21 New Jersey counties, which includes Ocean County. It was first found in the state in Somerset County in 2014.

How do I know if my tree is an ash?

Ash has compound leaves made of several leaflets, and the leaves and branches grow in opposite pairs, not staggered. Mature ash bark has a tight diamond-shaped ridge pattern. If you're not sure, send a photo of a leaf and the bark with your quote request.

What are the signs of emerald ash borer?

The NJ Forest Service lists D-shaped exit holes in the bark, woodpecker flecking where birds strip bark to reach larvae, S-shaped galleries under the bark, thinning and dieback in the crown, and sprouts on the trunk or base.

Can an ash tree with emerald ash borer be saved?

Sometimes, if it's caught early. NJ agencies say systemic insecticide treatments, applied by a licensed pesticide applicator, work best on healthy trees before or soon after infestation. Once a large part of the crown is dead, removal is usually the safer choice.

How long does an infested ash tree live?

The NJ Department of Agriculture's fact page puts the lifespan of an infested ash at about 3 to 4 years. Dead ash also gets brittle quickly, which makes it riskier and often more expensive to take down the longer you wait.

When is the best time to remove an infested ash?

NJDA recommends doing ash removals in fall and winter and chipping or debarking the wood before the beetles emerge, which it puts at late April. A tree that's a high safety risk should come down right away, whatever the season.

Do I need a permit to remove a dying ash tree?

It depends on your town. Many Ocean County towns have tree removal ordinances, and several allow dead or dangerous trees to be removed with a waiver or lower fee. Check your town on our permit guide before the crew shows up.

Emerald Ash Borer in Ocean County, NJ: Treat or Remove?

Published October 27, 2026 · Ocean County Tree Service

Short answer: Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been detected in all 21 New Jersey counties, including Ocean (USDA Forest Service's 2024 New Jersey Forest Health Highlights). NJDA says over 99% of untreated ash trees in yards and along streets will eventually be infested and die. If you have a healthy ash you want to keep, have it treated now; if it's already losing a big part of its crown, plan to remove it, ideally in fall or winter. For a free quote, call 732-506-2167 or use the form.

What emerald ash borer is and why it matters here

EAB is a small, metallic green beetle from Asia. Its larvae tunnel under the bark and cut off the tree's flow of water and nutrients. According to the NJ Department of Agriculture, it was found in New Jersey in May 2014 in Somerset County, and it has spread statewide since. Most of New Jersey's wild ash grows in the northwest of the state, so in Ocean County the ash trees at risk are mostly planted yard and street trees, plus some ash along wetter stream edges. That's exactly where a dead tree can land on a roof, a car or a fence.

Is your tree an ash? A 30-second check

Opposite branching: twigs and leaves grow in pairs straight across from each other, not staggered.
Compound leaves: each leaf is made of several leaflets (often 5 to 9) along one stem.
Diamond bark: mature ash has tight, criss-crossing ridges that form a diamond pattern.
Not an ash: pitch pine, oaks, maples with simple leaves, and red cedar. Oaks here have their own problems; see spongy moth and oak trees.

Need a tree looked at or priced? Request a free quote in about a minute.

Get a free quote

Signs of EAB damage

The NJ Forest Service lists these signs. One alone isn't proof, but two or three together on an ash are a strong warning:

Sign	What it looks like
D-shaped exit holes	Tiny (about 1/8 inch) holes with one flat side, where adult beetles chewed out
Woodpecker flecking	Patches of light-colored bark where birds stripped the outer layer to reach larvae
Galleries under bark	Winding, S-shaped tunnels you can see where bark has split or fallen off
Crown dieback	Thin leaves and bare branches starting at the top of the tree
Sprouts	Clusters of new shoots on the trunk or at the base of a stressed tree

Treat or remove?

The NJ Forest Service says systemic insecticide treatments can protect individual ash trees, but they should be applied by a licensed pesticide applicator and work best on healthy trees, before or soon after infestation. NJDA's NJDA's EAB fact page lists soil treatment, trunk injection and bark sprays as the options.

Treat when the tree is healthy or only lightly affected, it's in a spot you value (shade over the house, a specimen tree), and you're ready to repeat treatments on the schedule your applicator recommends.
Remove when a large part of the crown is already dead, the tree leans over the house, driveway, road or wires, or you'd rather not commit to ongoing treatment. See our dead tree removal service.
Don't wait on a dead ash. Dead ash dries out and gets brittle, which makes it more dangerous for climbers and more likely to drop limbs in a nor'easter. Often that means it costs more to remove later.

Timing and what happens to the wood

NJDA's "What do I do with my trees" page recommends doing ash removals in fall and winter and chipping or debarking the wood before adult beetles come out, which NJDA puts at late April. Keep ash wood local: don't haul ash firewood to the shore house or a campground in another county. A tree that is a high safety risk should come down right away, whatever the month. Our best time to remove or trim trees post covers seasonal timing for other trees.

Permits and who to hire

Many Ocean County towns require a permit to remove a tree, but several allow dead or hazardous trees with a waiver or a lower fee. Check your town on our town-by-town permit guide. Hire a company with a New Jersey Licensed Tree Care Operator on the job (how to check a NJ tree care license), and if you're treating, confirm the applicator holds a NJ pesticide license. After removal, stump grinding keeps the spot usable. You can report signs of the beetle to the NJ Department of Agriculture at 609-406-6939.

Cost and permit guides

Sources are linked in the text and can change. This is general information, not legal, insurance or professional advice. Free referral service, not a tree company. Your request goes to one independent local tree company, which may pay us for the referral.