from the emerald ash borer (EAB), a wood-boring insect native to Asia. Ac- cording to Buell, species like the ash tree are oen facing threats from sourc- es they were never intended to fight. “Most species of trees that are being impacted by an insect problem are dealing with something that was im- ported,” Buell explained. “It’s oen that the tree is being exposed to something it never evolved to deal with.” In this case, an ash tree can be killed very quickly once infested with the EAB, commonly dying within four years of infection. From Brewer’s per- spective, the ash tree’s battle against this pest highlights just how signifi- cant of a threat invasive species are to our trees. “Most of the problems with tree man- agement now are related to invasive species,” Brewer noted. Still, as difficult as these pests are to remove, Brewer stated that it is an easi- er problem to address than disease and rot. Generally, insects take longer to cause significant damage than diseases and fungi, and preventative treatments
Beautiful as they are, silver maples are often plagued by decay and fungal issues which leave them succeptible to storm damage.
Of course, the ash tree wouldn’t have made it onto this list without its chal- lenges. However, its place among the most difficult species is largely through no fault of its own. It’s a prime example of what can happen when a native spe- cies is exposed to invasive insects. For the past two decades , the ash tree has suffered widespread destruction
So, the tree is either removed entirely or pruned to reduce its size. Silver maple falls into a broader catego- ry of so-wooded deciduous trees that are oen fast growing and prone to rot issues, according to Kevin Brewer, technical anager for the Northeast at ArborJet . Not surprisingly, this catego- ry also includes the ever-famous Brad- ford pear — this alone demonstrates just how difficult it is to treat these trees. 4. ASH TREE Ash trees ( Fraxinus species )
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pecies ub- -
include a variety of sub- species that have pop- ulated the backyards and woodlands of the U.S., including green ash ( Fraxinus penn- sylvanica ), white ash ( F. americana ), black ash ( F. nigra ), and blue ash ( F. quadrangu- lata ). Ash trees are quite common in suburbia, and like u- uite and like
zelkovas, are common choices for street trees . Its leaves are largely re- sponsible for the myriad colors we see during the fall, turning yellow, orange, or a reddish-purple once the cool air rolls in.
The ash tree is a difficult species through no fault of its own. The invasive Emerald Ash Borer has decimated ash trees in the US, killing them quickly.
10 | Spring 2026 ArborTIMES ™
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