I have two pin oaks and one has gotten some type of leaf fungal disease for several years now. Unless the disease defoliates the tree three years in a row, there is nothing to worry about. For example, I have about 8 large Sycamore trees around my borders at woodedge and they all have a terrible leaf disease. Most likely, some type of Anthracnose, which pathogen causes it makes little difference. Of course, if it is a smaller tree that is not yet well established, then some type of treatment should be considered. This site may help, http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2831/EPP-7634web.pdf

If the buds are swelling, it sounds like the tree is getting ready to leaf out. Transplanting often sets a plant off schedule. Although it will leaf out late this year, I would expect it to leaf out at the proper time in future years. I wouldn't fertilize it at all, and especially not until it is growing strongly. If it was growing fast in the old location, and the new location is similar, then it sounds like the tree won't need any special fertilizer or extra water. As long as the soil is moist, I wouldn't water it too much. Without leaves it isn't using much water right now. The tree isn't making any food without leaves, but it has enough energy stored up to grow roots and survive for a long time without leaves, and the leaves will eventually grow. I would be careful to water it when it leafs out and the weather gets warm. It lost a lot of roots in the move so it will have trouble getting enough water to the leaves on a hot, dry day. If after the leaves appear it wilts a lot and can't recover overnight, you might have to prune away some of the branches, but I would wait and see if this is necessary.

Hi Jen, You don't give any info on the leaves or crown of the tree, but I'm thinking either sycamore borer or canker stain. Sycamore borer - see their page 10 and figure 26 here. http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/pdf/PestAlert6.pdf Canker stain http://www.forestpests.org/sycamore/cankers.html You may need a certified arborist that does diagnostics take a look at your trees or post your question in the Trees forum. Lots of folks there that know their trees. Newt

How about an update, on if you had to remove all trees in that group. Your House inspector should have brought attention to this issue, since said Ash trees had to be already declining before property sold. Do you thing original owners knew? So first your splotchy trees resembled White Oak, which sporadically loose layers of bark while fighting off a native fungus. But I then immediately realized your trees were definitely Ash damaged by EAB galleries. Its easy for one to be confused when trying to ID these trees, since super long lived American Ash resembles trunk bark pattern of White oak. Besides damage...Your trees interesting bark pattern might be produced by unique locally evolved natural hybrids. Maybe even mix between White and Green, or possibly even Red or Pumpkin Ash. I think they could be White Ash which has a sharper thinner and faster diamond bark pattern, which live 300 years longer than Green Ash...until EAB arrived. Bark flecking, Blonding, or smudging is caused by both, dead Cambium underneath. And stretching of bark produced by new regenerating "Fat lip" tissue, growing thicker along edges trying to close over trunk damage. Because of unnatural flexing, bark layers flake off. Revealing younger layers underneath. Color difference also caused by loss of Lichens. Trees within forest settings like yours are killed off so quickly by exponentially building local borer populations, that woodpeckers have hardly any time to damage bark. And not even enough time to begin producing trunk shoots from surviving root system, which is not directly damaged by borers. Another reason your trees bark damage looks different than typical bark flecking caused by EAB, might be your trees great age. What ever reason is, even if White Ash instead of Green Ash. Or because your trees are wild, and killed off so quickly and completely. This type of bark damage is unique, since I have not observed it on regular basis. Usually only on old White Ash trees in woods, rarely urban trees. So phases, I hope over time someone out there will be able to answer this question better, to complete your informative posting. Hope you take advantage of counting stump rings of your tree in first photo, which had been symbiotically growing alongside other trees. You are correct in stating that removal of one tree in this group, will endanger remaining ones. Since they are holding each other up. And on crowded side, lack complete buttress root systems of their own. It would be interesting to know how old your properties other wild Ash trees were if ever felled. Knowing ages might let you know how old remaining trees are today, and match up with past history of property. Such as when first built on, or first cleared. Now that all the mature trees are gone...Keep an eye out for Ash tree saplings, Enjoy!