Tree Maintenance

Generally, trees located on a homeowner’s private property but not in the right-of-way are the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain.

Street trees, those trees planted within the right of way between the roads and sidewalks or leisure trails, are periodically pruned by the New Albany Department of Public Service to ensure proper growth and structure. This department occasionally removes dead or damaged street trees within the public right of way, but does not treat or replace street trees.

In most cases, the responsibility of street tree replacement or treatment falls back to the respective homeowner’s association (HOA).  If no HOA exists, street tree replacement falls back to the property owner.

Emerald Ash Borer Infestation

The emerald ash borer (EAB) insect kills ash trees within three to five years of infestation.   Larvae spend the rest of the year developing beneath the bark.

EAB was identified in Ohio in 2003. Since then, the Ohio Department of Agriculture has been battling the pest through detection, regulation, education and eradication to protect Ohio’s 3.8 billion ash trees.

To date, infestations have been identified in 59 Ohio counties.

Diagnostic Signs and Symptoms Specific to EAB

• D-Shaped exit holes in the trunk (1/8” in diameter).
• Serpentine, S-shaped tunnels just under the bark.
• Creamy white larva (1” in length) just beneath the bark.
• Thinning tree canopy and top die back.
• Unnatural shoots sprouting from the trunk, or base of tree.
• Thin, short, vertical splits (2 – 5”) running through the bark.
• Unusually heavy woodpecker activity, particularly during the winter months.

Ohio Department of Agriculture Emerald Ash Borer Program
The Ohio State University Ash Alert