Boulder, Colorado
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Boulder
City of Boulder forestry staff found emerald ash borer on September 23, 2013, the first detection in Colorado. Ash made up about a quarter of the city's canopy, and most of Boulder's tree cover grows on private land, where the decision to treat or remove each ash is the owner's.
- County
- Boulder
- Tree rules
- City of Boulder Forestry manages public trees; private ash decisions rest with owners
- Key local rule
- Ash on public property managed by the city; private owners choose treatment or removal
- Electric utility
- Xcel Energy
- Main hazards
- Emerald ash borer, heavy spring and fall snow on leafed trees, wildfire, chinook winds
Should I treat or remove my Boulder ash?
If the tree is healthy or lightly thinned, well placed and valued, treatment protects it. If it has lost a large share of its crown, removal before it dies and turns brittle is the safer plan. Untreated ash infested with emerald ash borer typically die within two to four years, according to the Colorado State Forest Service.
- Treat
- Healthy ash with good structure, especially large shade trees near the house.
- Remove
- Ash with heavy dieback, woodpecker damage or bark splits.
- Replant
- A different species, as part of a mixed canopy.
Ten years with emerald ash borer
Before the beetle arrived, a 2013 assessment counted about 656,000 trees in Boulder, roughly 70,000 of them ash. Ash was popular along streets and in yards built from the 1950s on because it tolerated the dry, alkaline soils of the Front Range.
The city treated many public ash, removed the worst and has planted replacements across parks and streets. On private property, which holds about three quarters of the city's canopy, the city has little control. Owners decide what happens to their own ash.
The borer has since been found in many other Front Range communities. Boulder's experience, and its decision to diversify street plantings, has been used as a model elsewhere in the state. For removal of dying ash, see ash tree removal.
Public trees and county rules
The City of Boulder Forestry section manages trees on public property and in the right-of-way. Private property owners are responsible for their own trees, including ash, and the city encourages hiring licensed tree contractors and certified arborists.
Boulder County's emerald ash borer management plan covers county property and does not apply to federal, state, municipal or private trees. Colorado requires commercial pesticide applicators to be licensed by the state Department of Agriculture.
Front Range tree warning signs
Ash crowns thinning from the top
The first visible sign of emerald ash borer.
Limbs bent or broken after an early snow
Fall and spring storms load trees still in leaf.
Scorched evergreen needles in late winter
Winter drying from wind and sun, common on spruce and pine.
Dead lower branches on foothills pines
Fire ladder fuel near homes.
Boulder settings and tree work
| Area | Typical trees | What drives the work |
|---|---|---|
| Older central neighborhoods | Ash, silver maple, elm, cottonwood | Emerald ash borer and old, heavy limbs |
| Foothills edge | Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, juniper | Wildfire mitigation and steep access |
| Creek corridors | Cottonwood, willow, boxelder | Floodplain rules and brittle wood |
| Newer subdivisions | Mixed planted species | Young tree pruning and snow damage |
Deciding about an ash tree
Confirm it is ash
Opposite branching, compound leaves and diamond-patterned bark on mature trees.
Estimate crown loss
Under about a third is a candidate for treatment.
Get an arborist opinion
Especially for large trees near the house.
Treat or remove
Treat in spring when the tree is in leaf, or remove before it dies.
Replant
Diversify with species that suit Boulder's soils.
Boulder tree questions
When was emerald ash borer found in Boulder?
City forestry staff confirmed it on September 23, 2013, the first detection in Colorado.
Can I move ash firewood out of Boulder?
Colorado advises against moving ash wood and firewood to new areas. Burn it locally.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my Boulder property?
Private trees are the owner's responsibility. Trees in the right-of-way are city trees. Check with the city if your lot has floodplain or open space conditions.
Why do Boulder trees break in October?
Early snowstorms arrive while deciduous trees still hold their leaves, and wet snow builds up on them.
Colorado pages
- DenverThirty miles southeast.
- Colorado tree serviceStatewide pests, snow and fire.
- Emerald ash borer treatmentInjections, drenches and timing.
- Defensible spaceSpacing and limbing near the foothills.
- Tree Removal in DenverFront Range removal in Denver: permits and what the city expects.
- Colorado SpringsEmerald ash borer confirmed in 2026.
Reach a tree service in Boulder
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Boulder area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Call now
Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.
(844) 955-1716Call nowCall availability varies by area and time of day