Tree Care Companies Expand Services Amid Emerald Ash Borer Spread

Professional tree care companies in Colorado and Tennessee are expanding assessment and treatment services to combat the spread of the emerald ash borer (EAB). In Colorado, Knothead Tree and Lawn Care is increasing operations in Parker and Castle Rock following the first confirmed EAB detection in Douglas County on August 4, 2026. This arrival occurred significantly earlier than the five-year forecast provided by the Colorado State Forest Service. The situation is exacerbated by a severe drought in Douglas County, where extreme drought coverage rose from zero to 51 percent between June and September 2026.

Similarly, AKA Tree Service is increasing its assessment capacity in Franklin and Brentwood, Tennessee. The company is utilizing canopy-loss thresholds provided by the University of Tennessee Extension and USDA APHIS to determine if trees can be saved via spring 2027 insecticide treatments or require winter removal. This effort follows reports from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture that 66 Tennessee counties carry the pest as of March 2026, with Middle Tennessee droughts further stressing the trees.

Both companies are urging property owners to conduct evaluations this fall. They emphasize that canopy decline and bark splits visible in autumn are critical indicators for determining whether trees are candidates for high-efficacy spring trunk injections or must be removed to mitigate structural risks.