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Soil, Compost & Mulch

Mourning my Ash Tree

16 years ago

On Friday the city came and removed my 40 year old Mountain Ash boulevard tree because it didn't leaf out completely this last spring. No sign of ash borer though. I have found that the leaves of the ash tree are the very best for composting. They crumble when they dry rather than being rubbery and hold water well when you add water to the pile. I guess next fall will be the first time since owning our home that we will be happy when the wind blows the leaves from the neighbors yard onto ours. Now, I just need to prepare for cultivation of a sunny front yard. Petunias instead of impatiens maybe?

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Comments (6)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
16 years ago
I don't think ash borers attack Mountain Ash and your tree probably succumbed to something else. My folks had one that just plain died one year as well. Pity too, talk about a Cedar Waxwing magnet in the fall.

tj
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kqcrna
16 years ago
Is failure to leaf out completely a sign of the borer? How soon after infestation does a tree show signs and succumb?

I know that the borer has been identified around here. Many people do have ash trees but I haven't heard of any losses yet.
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If it is a white ash, and I can't quite tell but I think it may be, there is a long-standing issue of graft incompatibility which presents exactly like this. I once had an "Autumn Purple" cultivar of white ash-developed in my own state-suffer miserably until death did us part, out on my terrace. I babied the tree during initial establishment but nothing I did improved anything. Look up graft incompatibility on white ash and see if you don't think that's what you have going on here. The irony of that situation is that in the woods can be found numerous fine white ash saplings-at least where EAB is not yet raging-any one of which would make a perfectly fine specimen, without the added step of bud or chip grafting. Not sure why that process still remains such a mainstay of amenity tree production. Own-root is the way to go, IMO. +oM
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We don't have EAB here yet, but we do have what are called lilac/ash borers. We have Phaenops gentilis, Chrysophana placida and Agrilus cyanescens. Many non native trees do need help here, but you don't know specifically what to add without a soil test. Unfortunately, they are not free here, but the cost is nominal, maybe $25-30 depending on what you're testing for. I would take soil samples from areas where you haven't fertilized. I just don't see wasting money on additives until you know what's missing from your soil, or what nutrients you already have enough of. I would also be extremely careful with fertilizing right now as we are in severe drought status. If you feel like you need to fertilize before you have soil test results, maybe do half strength. Any problems you're seeing now are most likely drought related as we've had virtually no rain, horrific winds and weeks in the high 90 - 100+ degree temps. We have a 50% chance of rain this weekend, which would certainly help. We've had roughly 4.5" of precip. so far this year. Your soil ph is most likely in the 7 range, as mine is 7.9. I have a Patmore ash, fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Patmore' planted 4-5 years ago and I've not ever fertilized it. It's doing fine. Your ash looks good to me. The native tree choices here are limited which is why we bring in non-natives. FWIW I don't have 10 years experience, just 5, but have planted and killed enough trees that maybe I'm not a newbie anymore, lol. I'm still learning and will be for life. This is a tough place to learn the ropes, but you're doing great. I love your yard! Barb
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The other problem with this tree is a rather large vertical crack starting from the ground and going right up. It's a frost crack - has been there for at least 2 years that I've noticed. From what I read, frost cracks on ash trees don't necessarily kill a tree but do give bugs an opportunity to crawl in there. After Rick's suggestion that it might be another borer, which I hadn't considered, I read about the Redheaded Ash Borer and the Banded Ash Clearwing Borer, native pests that attack ash trees. I'm quite certain there's something buggish in that tree, based on the woodpecker activity which is almost constant. I'm also thinking this tree is a goner - perhaps not from EAB but something else, slowly but surely. I'll still check it closely - I got some plants from southern Ontario a couple of years - is it possible for EAB to have travelled that way? Those plants are now planted right near that ash tree but that's got to be a stretch, no? Having to remove the tree will affect some plants that now benefit from the midday shade it provides (but they can be easily moved). Having to remove it will mean less ash seeds. Having to remove it give me the opportunity to plant something new there, and that's okay with me.
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Kimmsr
16 years ago
A Mountain Ash (Sorbus spp.) is not related to the Ashes (Fraxinus spp) so it would not be susceptible to invassion by the Emerald Ash Borer. The Mountain Ashes are short lived trees, less than 50 years is normal, and often just die for no apparent reason.
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crrand
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for pointing out my error. The tree that was removed from my yard was a Marshall Ash, not a Mountain Ash. According to the city forester, many of the trees planted in new developments 40 years ago were planted too deep and so the trees have a limited life expectancy. Apparently the question regarding the remainder of the ash trees in the neighborhood is not "IF" they will be infected with the ash borer, but "WHEN". So sad. Especially since we planted another Marshall Ash 20 years ago in the middle of our front yard as well.

Chris
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bob64
16 years ago
My arborist tells me that years ago they were cutting down dead and diseased elms by the thousands and now they are doing the same with ash trees. Hemlocks are on their way out as well. However, sometimes a resistant strain is discovered or developed. Supposedly resistant elms are now being sold at the nurseries around here.
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jeannie7
16 years ago
We had a very mild spell of early winter last year and many buds that were formed early succumbed to the winter freeze that arrived in mid January. Many ashes produced not as many leaves, not as many flowers on Mountain Ashes and other trees as well.
Just because a tree doesn't leaf out as well one year when it has always in the past, is no reason to suspect the tree has been invaded by a pest and should be removed.

I have no idea about Minnesota but you might have tried to treat the tree with a systemic if you had thought something may have invaded. From such evidence that would have shown up....an early diagnosis that resulted in the loss of the tree was much too drastic an action without proof it would have caused problems ...for it and other trees.
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