OTTAWA, ON – June 02, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
Croft Tree Experts is drawing attention to the continued spread of the Emerald Ash Borer across the Ottawa region, warning that ash trees on residential and commercial properties remain at active risk from an infestation that has already eliminated tens of millions of ash trees across North America. The company notes that Ottawa’s urban canopy contains a significant population of ash trees, and that property owners who have not yet assessed their trees for signs of infestation may be managing a risk they have not yet identified.
The Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle originating from Asia, was first detected in North America in 2002 and has since spread through much of the continent’s ash tree population. The insect’s larvae feed beneath the bark of ash trees, disrupting the vascular tissue responsible for transporting water and nutrients. Infested trees typically show crown dieback beginning at the upper canopy and progressing downward, with full mortality common within three to five years of initial infestation. Because early-stage symptoms can be subtle, infestations are frequently not recognized until the tree has reached a point where treatment options are limited.
Ottawa’s ash tree population has faced sustained pressure from the Emerald Ash Borer for over a decade. Municipal programs have addressed the pest across public green spaces, but ash trees on private residential and commercial properties remain the responsibility of individual property owners. Trees in advanced stages of decline become structurally unstable, increasing the risk of branch failure and uprooting, particularly during wind events. Property owners with ash trees may benefit from arborist assessments to determine tree health and identify available management options to determine the current health status of their trees and identify available management options.
“The Emerald Ash Borer is not a new threat, but the number of ash trees on private properties that have never been assessed remains significant,” said Kyle Hewitt, Co-Founder of Croft Tree Experts. “Trees in early stages of infestation have more options than those in advanced decline. Waiting for visible deterioration to prompt action typically means removal is the only remaining choice. Early assessment changes that outcome.”
Croft Tree Experts holds an ISA Certified Arborist designation and has provided professional tree care across Ottawa and the Valley for over a decade. The company’s assessment services cover pest and disease identification, as well as structural evaluation, allowing arborists to provide a complete picture of tree health in a single site visit. Where Emerald Ash Borer infestation is confirmed, the company provides guidance on treatment protocols where trees are viable candidates for preservation, as well as tree removal services in Ottawa for trees that have progressed beyond treatable thresholds.
The company also provides hedge trimming services in Ottawa for residential and commercial properties in Ottawa, reflecting a broader range of vegetation management capabilities beyond tree removal and assessment. Croft Tree Experts serves both residential and commercial clients, with experience managing tree care needs on business properties and on properties subject to municipal tree bylaws governing removal and replacement requirements. Co-founder David Koshurba and Kyle Hewitt built the company around providing professional certified expertise while providing ISA Certified Arborist tree care services to residential and commercial clients across Ottawa and the Valley, reflecting the company’s focus on certified arborist services and practical tree care solutions.
The Emerald Ash Borer situation also highlights a broader challenge facing Ottawa’s urban canopy: the vulnerability inherent in a tree population lacking species diversity. Urban forests composed of a narrow range of species are disproportionately affected when a species-specific pest or disease gains a foothold. Urban forestry professionals have increasingly emphasized the importance of diversifying municipal and private tree plantings to reduce the systemic risk that concentration in any single species creates, a consideration that applies directly to replacement planning following ash tree removals.
About Croft Tree Experts: Croft Tree Experts is an Ottawa-based company providing ISA Certified Arborist tree care services to residential and commercial clients across Ottawa and the Valley. Founded by David Koshurba and Kyle Hewitt, the company provides tree assessment, removal, pruning, risk assessment, and hedge trimming services, with a focus on providing professional arborist services with certified expertise and competitive pricing across the Ottawa region.
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For more information about Croft Tree Experts, contact the company here:
Croft Tree Experts
Kyle Hewitt
613-883-5611
CroftTreeExperts@gmail.com
208 Royalton Private, Ottawa, Ontario, K1V 9S3, Canada
