When did emerald ash borer reach Omaha?

It was first confirmed in Omaha in 2016, according to coverage of the University of Nebraska announcement. It has had years to spread since.

Should I treat my ash tree?

Nebraska Forest Service guidance advises treating only high-value, healthy ash trees, because treatment continues for the life of the tree. For many trees, removal and replacement is the better choice.

What should I plant instead?

The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum does not recommend green ash because of the borer, and calls silver maple over-planted. It describes honeylocust (seedless, thornless types) as tough and Kentucky coffeetree as adaptable.

Emerald Ash Borer in Omaha: Treat or Remove Your Ash?

Q: Is a dead ash tree dangerous?

Dead ash wood becomes brittle, which makes limbs and trunks more likely to fail. The city itself cited a threat of personal injury and property damage when it began removing ash on public property. Have a professional assess it before anyone climbs it.

Call (531) 227-5581

If you own an ash tree in Omaha, the question is no longer whether emerald ash borer is nearby. The beetle was first confirmed in Omaha in 2016, and the city has spent years removing infested ash from public property. The decision for you is whether to commit to ongoing treatment or to take the tree out on your own timeline.

What the city did with its own trees

In February 2021 the city’s forestry staff reported counting 14,569 ash trees on public property, with 6,034 already removed. The city hired contractors to handle the work, funded it through its capital improvement plan, and planted replacements. The Parks Director said treatment “is not an effective strategy” at that scale. That is a statement about thousands of public trees, not a verdict on your single backyard tree, but it shows how the city weighed the cost. We did not find a more recent public update, so the current status is unconfirmed.

What Nebraska Forest Service guidance says for homeowners

State guidance, published in 2016, lays out the logic:

Consider treatment when the borer is within about 15 miles. Omaha is well past that point, which is our reading of the guidance rather than a statement from the state.
Treat only high-value, healthy trees. Treatment is for the life of the tree, not a one-time fix.
For many trees, removal and replacement may be the better option.
Use an insured, certified arborist.
Soil treatment with imidacloprid in May suits trees under about 15 inches in diameter, and trunk injections are professional treatments.

A practical way to decide

Ask three questions. Is the tree healthy and large enough to be worth years of ongoing treatment? Is it over the house, driveway, or a fence where failure would be costly? Has the canopy already thinned noticeably? A thinning, off-color canopy with dieback is a sign that treatment may no longer be an option, and a professional can tell you.

Dead and dying ash are the ones to act on first. Dried-out ash wood tends to become brittle, and the city’s own wording when it began removals was that dead ash posed a “threat of personal injury and property damage.” If one stands next to a structure, a street, or a power line, do not wait for a storm to decide for you.

Replacing it

Fall is a good planting time, according to Nebraska Forest Service guidance. The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum says green ash is not recommended because of the borer and that silver maple is over-planted. It describes honeylocust (choose seedless, thornless types) as tough and Kentucky coffeetree as adaptable. Mixing species protects your block from the next pest.

Before you hire

Ask whether the quote covers hauling the wood and grinding the stump, and make sure the company holds an Omaha arborist license. See our hiring checklist and cost guide.

Want help finding a local tree service? Call (531) 227-5581 or send a request below.