Using Chipped Ash Wood as Mulch: Safety and Pest Concerns

A homeowner in Northern Kentucky wants to chip a lightning-damaged ash tree for mulch around other trees, but worries about emerald ash borer spreading to healthy ash, maples, and pines.

Chipping infested wood is generally safe because the larvae do not survive the chipping process. A Michigan State University extension pamphlet confirms that using chipped infested wood within quarantine areas is acceptable. Maples and pines host different pests and are not threatened by ash borer. Mulching with chipped ash is a viable option.