Ash Trees

Ash trees are not as common as they once were, and peeling bark could be a sign of the culprit. Unforutantely, ash trees are susceptible to a variety of pests and fungus that can cause the bark to peel.

One of the biggest reasons you’ll find your ash tree is shedding bark is because it has emerald ash borers. This is an invasive pest that greatly decreases the life of ash trees and is quite problematic. We just took down 10+ ash trees on our family property that were infested with them!

But, they’re only one of the reasons bark falls off of ashes. Keep reading to find out what the causes of shedding bark are on your ash tree and if and how you can fix it!

If you want to learn more about shedding bark on your other yard trees, check out our article: 4 Reasons Bark Is Falling Off Your Oak Tree: Cause & Solution!

If My Ash Tree Is Shedding Bark, Is It Dying?

Like we mentioned above, trees shedding bark is part of their normal process, especially if it looks healthy overall. If you notice bare wood underneath the shedding bark, that’s not a great sign and usually a sign of distress and damage.

Extreme weather, like extreme heat and frost, can also cause shedding bark on your ash tree, indicating a sign of stress.

Additionally, if your tree is shedding bark and suffering, you will probably notice other signs of stress including dead branches, dead leaves, cankers, fungus, and oozing of sap. This could be a sign of fungus or pests.

By just examining the shedding bark of your ash tree, it’s hard to say if your tree is dying. We recommend calling in arborists (aka tree professionals) to check out your tree!

Is My Ash Tree Suffering From Ash Dieback?

The short answer, yes, ash dieback will cause your ash tree to shed bark. 

Ash dieback is a phenomenon that affects young shoots of trees and spreads to larger branches. It kills the young shoots first and causes injury to the roots. 

Ash dieback causes dark patches on leaves causing them to wilt and turn a black color. It also creates diamond-shaped lesions on the trunk where branches join to it.

Lesions become sunken, black, and turn into dead bark, causing the bark to shed from the tree. A typical sign of ash dieback is new growth under the dead branch, stem, or bark on the trunk of the tree. 

Unfortunately, ash dieback causes branches and stems to die resulting in deadwood, and stress in your tree. Similar to the emerald ash borer, ash dieback is a fungus that affects the vascular tissue, stopping water and nutrients from the rest of the tree. 

Healthier trees may or may not come back from ash dieback, however, although it’s still unknown how these trees will do long term. But, it is unlikely that they will recover if more than 50% of the tree’s canopy is affected. 

Let’s dive deeper into seven reasons why your ash tree is shedding bark and just how you can save it!

So, Why Exactly Is My Ash Tree Shedding Its Bark?

It’s normal for trees to lose bark, but just like most things in life, the key is in moderation! Additionally, there will be other key indicators to look for to see if your ash tree shedding bark is normal or not. 

Bark acts as the tough outer layer of skin on trees, so you can imagine it can be an issue if your tree loses its ‘skin’! If you see new-looking bark underneath the bark that’s peeling, then it is probably going through its normal bark shedding. Yes, trees do that!

On the other hand, if you notice that there is bare wood underneath the peeling bark, then there is a good chance your tree is most likely suffering from pests or fungus, especially when accompanied by other symptoms that we’ll touch on later in this article.

Interested in learning more about ash trees? We have an entire article dedicated to the full timeline of an ash tree!

1. It Could Be Normal For Your Ash Tree To Shed Bark

Did you know the shedding bark on trees can be normal? That’s the good news! Your ash tree shedding bark could be part of its normal process. 

Shedding bark could be your tree’s way of making way for the new bark that’s coming in underneath the old, shedding bark. 

So, if you don’t notice any other symptoms or telltale signs of issues on your tree, there’s a good chance that your ash tree is going through its normal bark shedding, where it’s preparing for new bark.

2. Extreme Heat Could Cause Your Ash Tree To Shed Bark

A lot of plants struggle, especially when in extreme heat. Bark shedding could be a result of extreme heat. The heat will cause the tree to shed and the bark will crack due to stress.

If you think of areas that don’t usually have Florida weather and then all of a sudden it feels like Florida in New York for extended periods, not only does the heat and humidity affect us, it affects the trees, plants, and animals the same.

Water can help with extreme heat. For some ash tree tips, look to our article on how much water your ash tree actually needs.

3. Extreme Cold Could Cause Your Ash Tree To Shed Bark

Like extreme heat, a lot of plants struggle in extreme cold, especially if they are already under any stress. Extreme cold or frosts can also cause the bark to shed, crack, and fall off of your tree. 

If your tree has previous damage, frost can cause the damaged area to crack, which generally happens when temperatures go from freezing to above freezing rapidly. 

4. Emerald Ash Borer Could Cause Your Ash Tree To Shed Bark

You may notice what is called blonding on your ash tree, this happens when the bark peels off the tree and leaves the inner bark exposed.

Here’s the inside of one of the ash trees we took down. You’ll notice how absolutely devestated the inside of this tree was.

Basically, the tree begins to look patchy with spots of dark brown from the regular bark and the yellow or blonde color of the inner bark, which is where it gets the name ‘blonding’.

Unfortunately, this is a direct result and indication that your tree is heavily infested with the emerald ash borer, and that your tree could be almost on its way out.

A great way to tell if a tree has emerald ash borer is to simply rip off a bit of the bark that’s falling. You’ll notice an almost worm like pattern on the inside of the bark. This is where the ash borers burrow, between the bark and the actual wood of the tree. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the foresight to take a picture of this when we took the trees down, but I’ll make sure to update it next time I’m near the wood!

Unfortuantely if you have emerald ash borers, you’ll probably need to cut down your ash tree, which you can read more about in our guide.

5. Woodpeckers Could Be The Culprit Of Your Ash Tree Shedding Bark

Woodpeckers, as we know, peck for insects in the trees’ bark. 

As infestations of emerald ash borers increase, woodpeckers will intensively peck into the bark searching for borers.

Bark will then begin shedding or falling off. Although this is the result of pecking, it is mainly the result of the emerald ash borers. Basically this happens, woodpeckers and emerald ash borers are throwing a 1+2 combo punch to your ash tree, and there isn’t much you can do.

6. Fungus Could Cause Your Ash Tree To Shed Bark

Additionally, fungus can cause shedding bark on your ash tree. Hypoxylon canker is a fungus that causes shedding bark in hardwood trees. This is also known as canker and is characteristic by its round, large, protrusions from the trunk or branches of trees.

When fungus develops underneath the wood, it spreads throughout the tree, causing peeling and shedding bark. 

Unfortunately, the only way to deal with this fungus is to cut the tree down to prevent it from spreading. 

7. Sunscald Could Cause Your Ash Tree To Shed Bark

Sunscald could be another reason your ash tree is shedding bark. This occurs as a direct result of temperature. During the day, and during warmer temperatures, the vascular cells in the tree begin to reactivate. The vascular cells are part of the vascular system of the tree, which is responsible for transporting water and nutrients.

After the sun goes down and temperatures go below freezing, vascular cells have already lost some of their cold hardiness from the warm sun and warm temperatures, resulting in injury and cracking, peeling, or shedding bark. 

Should I Cut Down My Ash Tree If It’s Peeling Bark?

We understand it’s alarming if you see your ash tree peeling bark, especially when you know it’s not supposed to, after all, it’s not a birch tree. 

Additionally, we know it’s difficult to make the call whether to cut down your beloved ash tree, for either aesthetics or cost. It’s even a harder choice to make especially if it’s shedding bark and you aren’t sure exactly what’s wrong with it. 

If you notice fungus, oozing, cankers, dead or dying leaves and branches, and peeling bark, that’s generally not a good sign, so cutting down your tree might be in your best interest, especially to prevent the spread of fungus to your other trees.

For a deeper dive into this topic, read our article that we mentioned earlier on the 5 reasons you should cut down your ash tree.

However, we’d still recommend contacting arborist professionals to determine what’s going on with your tree and if you should cut it down!

What Is The Emerald Ash Borer And Will My Ash Tree Shed Bark From It?

Will your tree shed bark as a result of the emerald ash borer? Yes, that’s the short answer, but let’s talk about why that happens and give you a bit more detail than what we discussed earlier.

The emerald ash borer is a small emerald green insect that attacks ash trees by feeding on the tree transport vessels and stopping the tree from receiving nutrients. 

The transport vessels are called the vascular system of the tree, which is responsible for transporting water and nutrients throughout the tree. So, you can see why this would be an issue.

Emerald ash borer infestations are significantly impacting the ash tree population, decreasing it at alarmingly fast rates.

You can look for typical signs of these pests if you suspect your ash tree has an emerald ash borer infestation. Infestation signs include large dead areas of your tree’s canopy or very few leaves, tunnels underneath the bark, and D-shaped holes in the bark. 

The most tell-tale sign of an emerald ash borer infestation, though, is the peeling and shedding bark. Eventually, as bark sheds off the tree as a result of the emerald ash borer damage, the tree will become a blonde color. The blonde color you see is referred to as blonding, which is referring to the color of the inner bark being revealed as a result of shedding the normal dark brown outer bark that protects the tree.

If you suspect this is what’s going on with your tree, call a licensed tree professional to figure out the next steps to take with your tree!

How Can I Save My Ash Tree From Shedding Its Bark?

There are a few ways to save your tree if it’s shedding bark due to pests and fungus.

But like we mentioned, if your tree is shedding its bark as part of its normal process, then you don’t have to do anything! Although, if you notice yellowing leaves, dying or dead branches, or any signs that your tree just doesn’t look quite right, you might be able to save your ash tree from shedding its bark with the help of insecticide treatments or tree professionals.

If you want to add a new ash tree to your yard, check out our planting guide on the best time to plant ash trees.

Treat Infestations By Using Injection Insecticide Treatments Or Systemic Treatments

If you suspect your ash tree is shedding its bark due to an emerald ash borer infestation then you can use insecticides such as imidacloprid to treat the infestation. 

Unfortunately, most of the insecticides and pesticides contain neonicotinoids, which are neuro-active insecticides that are lethal to honey bees.

Trunk injections are an effective way of distributing pesticides throughout the plant quickly and efficiently. This method is exactly what it sounds like. Pesticides are injected directly into the tree’s trunk and are then distributed quickly throughout the trunk’s water and nutrient pathways called the vascular system.

Systemic insecticide treatments are readily uptaken by the roots of the plants and move easily throughout the stem, trunk, branches, leaves, and even flowers. Systemic insecticides are mainly used for maintaining long-term, and residual activity.

Imidacloprid contains emamectin benzoate, which is an insecticide used in the prevention of emerald ash borers. Imidacloprid is also an insecticide created to mimic nicotine, called a neonicotinoid, which is toxic to insects, and lethal to pollinators.

One potential product to use is the Bonide Insect Control Systemic Granules, which is great for getting rid of insect pests inside and outside. It comes in granule form, which makes it easy since there is no spraying! 

An injection of imidacloprid insecticide is a method that is an effective application of this pesticide. But it can also be used as a concentrate, drench, and granules. 

Because imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid and is extremely toxic to bees and other pollinators, make sure to use the insecticide in the late evening after pollinators are not active. 

If your infestation is past the point of no return, or almost there, the trunk injection method may be the best bet for you. Injection methods of insecticides and pesticides should only be done by licensed professionals.

If you have an emerald ash borer infestation, it is recommended not to take the infestation into your own hands, and to hire certified arborists or tree professionals. They will be able to tell you the recommended treatments for your tree, including if it needs to be cut down.

Prevent Further Spread By Cutting Down Your Tree

Unfortunately, sometimes cutting down your tree is the best option. To prevent the further spread of infestation and fungus to other trees and plants in your yard, the only option might be to cut down your tree. 

If you want to maintain your tree, and prevent the spread of pests and fungus you can prune your tree yourself. We recommend the Fiskars Chain Drive Extendable Tree Pruner & Pole Saw! This does wonders when maintaining the health of your tree, and it extends to 16 feet!

Need help? We have a complete guide to pruning large trees, just for you!

However, as we mentioned above, contacting tree professionals will be the safest bet if you suspect your tree has damage or some other affliction. They will be able to tell you the best route to take, whether that be to treat your tree or to cut it down altogether.

If you do end up cutting down your ash tree, you can always consider growing a new one as they make wonderful shade trees!

That’s A Wrap!

That’s all we’ve got for our tree journey today! We hope you learned some interesting reasons why your ash tree is shedding bark. In case you forgot, let’s recap what we went over!

Peeling bark on an ash tree can be a sign of a dead or dying tree. This could be a response due to stress, pests, damage, or disease. However, it can also be a normal response, especially if it’s not accompanied by dead branches, oozing from anywhere, or dead leaves.

The main reasons why your ash tree is shedding bark could be a normal process, as a response to extreme weather like extreme heat or cold, emerald ash borers, woodpeckers, fungal disease, and even sunscald. But all in all, the emerald ash borer seems to be the main culprit in why your ash tree is shedding its bark.

If it’s not normal shedding of bark there are insecticide and fungicide treatments to attack whatever it is that’s causing your tree to shed bark. However, sometimes the best method is to cut your ash tree down altogether. 

But the best method to take, in this case, is to contact tree professionals in your area to help make the call!

Thanks for sticking around and learning about why your ash tree is shedding bark, and just how to save it!

You can learn more about trees shedding their bark in our article: 4 Reasons Bark Is Falling Off Your Oak Tree: Cause & Solution!

References

Arbab, N., Grabosky, J., & Leopold, R. (2022). Economic Assessment of Urban Ash Tree Management Options in New Jersey. Sustainability, 14(4), 2172.

Flower, Charles E., Kathleen S. Knight, and Miquel A. Gonzalez-Meler. “Impacts of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) induced ash (Fraxinus spp.) mortality on forest carbon cycling and successional dynamics in the eastern United States.” Biological Invasions 15, no. 4 (2013): 931-944.

Kovacs, Kent F., Robert G. Haight, Deborah G. McCullough, Rodrigo J. Mercader, Nathan W. Siegert, and Andrew M. Liebhold. “Cost of potential emerald ash borer damage in US communities, 2009–2019.” Ecological Economics 69, no. 3 (2010): 569-578.

MacFarlane, D. W., & Meyer, S. P. (2005). Characteristics and distribution of potential ash tree hosts for emerald ash borer. Forest Ecology and Management, 213(1-3), 15-24.

Pugh, Scott A., Andrew M. Liebhold, and Randall S. Morin. “Changes in ash tree demography associated with emerald ash borer invasion, indicated by regional forest inventory data from the Great Lakes States.” Canadian journal of forest research 41, no. 11 (2011): 2165-2175.

Ash trees are beautiful, and they are beneficial additions to most yards, streets, parks, and other areas outside their native forests. Ash trees in particular provide a great deal of shade, lovely green foliage, flowers in the spring, and yellow leaves in the fall. But sometimes there are factors that necessitate cutting down an ash tree. 

An ash tree should be cut down if it has died or is certain to fall soon. If your ash tree is infested with destructive pests, located in a place in a sensitive area, or is likely to fall soon, call an arborist to inspect the tree – especially if it is planted within 20-30 feet of your home.

Having to determine whether or not to cut one down can be a very difficult decision. This post can help you determine how dangerous the situation is for your particular ash tree and, if the time is right, help you learn the best methods and times of year for removing it.

So, let’s get right to it – here are 5 Reasons to Cut Down Your Ash Tree (And How To Do It)!

1. Cut Down Your Ash Tree If It’s Dead

If your Ash tree is dead – you should remove it as soon as possible. Although that may seem obvious, many people leave dead ash trees standing in their yards for years.

The reason you may leave ash trees in their yard that are dying is not always your fault! Oftentimes, you may have not recognized that the tree is gone.

Other times, the removal of the tree is too expensive or daunting, or the ash tree has become an integral feature of your yard- even if it is no longer living!

However, for safety reasons – a dead ash tree should be removed ASAP! We recommend calling a professional to do this, right away.

2. Cut Down Your Ash Tree If Its Too Close To Your House

Perhaps an ash tree was planted as a young sapling in your yard and did not seem, at the time, to pose any sort of threat to the surrounding structures.

But fast forward several years, and that now-mature ash tree can produce a massive canopy.

Ash tree branches being close to your house poses a problem for both the ash tree and your home. Tree branches move naturally, especially in windy conditions, and all that movement can cause damage to your home’s exterior walls or roof. Ash trees also have extensive root systems that can span up to 30ft.

It can also cause damage to the tree, and eventually it could even cause the branch to break and fall, which of course is an issue to anything nearby the ash tree.

Now pruning ash trees CAN work to keep the tree after you’ve consulted an arborist – most will advocate to save the tree and they’ll be well advised to let you know if the tree needs to go or can stay near your home.

It might be tempting to leave your ash tree where it is and attempt to correct the spacing problem by pruning the branches that are close to your house.

However, instead of trying to remove the troublesome branches, it might be in your best interest to just remove the ash tree in question and plant a new one. This time with more space between the tree and your home.

Next up we have the root system of an ash tree. This expansive root system can cause issues to basically anything underground near your home. Now, if you have an already well established ash tree in your home, you’re probably in the clear.

That being said, if your ash tree is still growing, the roots could eventually cause a problem to your home as they grow outward. Here’s a full overview of an ash trees timeline if you’d like to learn more.

Just remember, contact an arborist as my overwhelming recommendation. Even just get a quote for work for later reference.

3. Take Down Your Ash Tree If It’s Been Badly Damaged

This is a problem that can plague any type of tree, and the ash tree is, unfortunately, not immune.

Ash tree damage can occur from a number of different sources, including lighting or something striking your ash tree, like a car or other vehicle. Trees can also be badly damaged when large branches fall, which can split the trunk or just badly injure the tree.

Branches can fall for a number of reasons, including bad weather, heavy snowfall, or just a natural process of dying tree limbs. Whatever the reason is, damage to your ash tree can sometimes get better, but it sometimes necessitates removing your ash tree. 

Once your ash tree has suffered damage, it can be difficult to know whether or not the tree can survive longterm.

A professional arborist can help you assess the damage and determine your next step. Minor tree wounds DO seal themselves with thick callouses (you can read more about why tree bark doesn’t grow back in our article) but any major damage can be detrimental to your ash tree.

4. Ash Trees Should Be Cut Down If They’re Infested With Emerald Ash Borers

Ash trees can live without any maintenance for hundreds of years, and in fact, many did! However, when 2002 came around – so did the Asian beetles called Emerald Ash Borers – and unfortunately, the destructive pests are responsible for the loss of millions and millions of ash trees in the United States in just the past twenty years.

The Emerald Ash Borer is by far the greatest threat to the longevity of Ash trees all over the United States.

Even some intense measures, like the professional injection of insecticide into the trunk of your ash tree, cannot eliminate all Emerald Ash Borers. So, unfortunately, even the most drastic measures are not always enough to save your ash tree.

According to The City Of St. Paul Minnesota, it takes about 3 to 5 years after infestation by Emerald Ash Borers for the Ash tree to die. So, depending on how long your ash tree has been infested – you might have some time.

This is when it will be time to say goodbye to this particular ash tree.

Do Not Delay Cutting Down Your Ash Tree If You Have Emerald Ash Borers

Do not delay the cutting down of your ash tree if there’s a determined infestation. Your ash tree’s infestation has the potential to infest other ash trees and kill those, too.

An Emerald Ash Borer infestation is so intense that, if an ash tree is infected, it is recommended that every ash tree within a half-mile radius also be treated for Emerald Ash Borers.

For the safety and health of other ash trees, it is best to cut down the affected ash tree as soon as it is determined that it will not survive an Emerald Ash Borer infestation.

How To Know If Your Ash Tree Is Infested With Emerald Ash Borers

Here are some signs that you can look out for to determine if your ash tree’s health is being affected by Emerald Ash Borers:

• The bark of your ash tree is split, and there are s-shaped pathways left behind by the emerald ash borers.
  
• The canopy of your ash tree is shrinking.
  
• Woodpeckers have arrived with a vengeance and are removing a great deal of your ash tree’s bark. They are there to eat emerald ash borers!
  
• Bark is spontaneously falling off your ash tree’s trunk.

If you suspect that your ash tree has been infested, it may be able to be saved. At the first sign of Emerald Ash Borer infestation, you can try to treat it, but it will be difficult to know whether you are too late.

The State of Connecticut recommends that, until you are sure your ash tree has been infected, you do not need to cut it down. The ash tree might be totally healthy, so don’t remove it too soon.

How To Know If Your Ash Tree Cannot Be Saved From Emerald Ash Borers

One method to find out whether or not your ash tree can be saved from Emerald Ash Borers is to call in the consultation of a tree or pest professional. These people can examine your ash tree and determine whether measures to eliminate the pests will be effective and then make a recommendation about whether you should try to treat the ash tree or remove it.

Another method you can try is to try to treat the ash tree and see what happens. Because of the potential of the spread of Emerald Ash Borers to other ash trees, this is a potentially riskier method to try.

But you could evaluate your neighborhood, and, if you feel confident there are no other ash trees of any variety in a half-mile radius of your ash tree, you can attempt to save it. 

If the Emerald Ash Borers are still there after treating the ash tree with insecticide, it is probably time to call a professional or just make the tough decision to remove the ash tree. 

What Happens If You Do Not Remove An Ash Tree Infested With Emerald Ash Borers?

If you know that your ash tree is soon to die from Emerald Ash Borer infestation and you do not remove it in a timeline manner, there are a number of problems that can arise.

Apart from the potential to spread the infestation to other ash trees, your ash tree will grow brittle and become very dangerous to any people, animals, or structures nearby. 

Primarily, the branches of ash trees are intensely damaged by Emerald Ash Borers, making the dead ash trees very dangerous because they are so brittle and dry.

The Emerald Ash Borers weaken the structure of the ash tree’s branches, making it so dangerous that even the slightest effect on the branch can cause it to fall. This is a dangerous hazard. Purdue University recommends removing the ash tree once more than 30% of its branches have fallen. 

The only time it is recommended that you leave a dead tree alone is if the tree is in a forested area.

You should only make that decision if you are certain that the falling tree –because it is certain to eventually fall– will not land on anyone or any structure, or ideally other trees. You should also make sure the tree will not block pathways or hiking trails or things of that nature. 

In short, it is never a good idea to just leave a dead tree where it is. Take steps to properly remove it. 

5. Your Ash Tree Should Be Cut Down If It It Has Fungi

There is a specific fungus that sets up in many ash trees after the Emerald Ash Borers have moved out.

According to The Ohio State University, there are a number of types of fungi (including a variety named “Turkey Tail Fungi”) that eat dead ash trees after the Emerald Ash Borers have gone. These dead ash trees become increasingly unstable and therefore dangerous because they are so likely to fall. 

If you suspect that your ash tree has been infected with any type of fungi, you should call in an arborist or specialist to examine the ash tree and make a recommendation about its removal.

How To Remove Your Ash Tree

Once you have determined that your ash tree needs to be removed, there are a number of options for how to go about removing it.

In all likelihood, your best bet is to call in a professional tree service, who can safely cut down the ash tree, separate it into moveable pieces, and remove those pieces. 

If you want to keep the wood for woodworking or firewood, a professional can leave it there or perhaps even stack it for you in your desired storage location. The same service may be able to grind up the tree trunk so that nothing remains above ground where your ash tree was planted.

Root removal is more complicated, but a professional service can help with that, too. You do also have the option of leaving the roots in the ground.

As long as they do not interfere with the foundation of your home or any other buildings, and they do not interfere with the planting of a new ash tree or new plants, the roots will not do any harm left underground.

If you have a leftover stump from a previous tree removal – take a peak at our guide on using vinegar to remove tree roots!

The Best Time Of Year To Cut Down Your Ash Tree

Timing is a factor that may be influenced more by the condition of your ash tree and the dangers it poses than by the time of year.

Unlike planting trees, you can cut down a tree at any time of the year, no matter the weather – however, there are certain times of the year that may be better. Let’s talk about that below!

Which Season To Cut Down Your Ash Tree

As we have discussed, it is a good idea to cut down an ash tree quickly if you suspect that other trees in the area are at risk for an Emerald Ash Borer infestation.

You should also quickly remove any ash tree that has been greatly affected from an Emerald Ash Borer infestation because those ash trees will be left damaged by the beetles and therefore, very dry and brittle which puts them at great risk for falling.

Another reason to cut down your ash tree ASAP, is if you are on the verge of wintertime and your ash tree is very fragile and brittle, which is a common problem with dead ash trees.

During the winter, heavy snowfall can weigh down branches and cause major breaks and falls in even the healthiest of trees. Non-active branches are at a much higher risk of this. So if you live in an area that normally receives snowfall, you should remove any dead ash trees before winter.

You should also expedite removal of your ash tree if the tree poses a falling threat to anything around it.

If You Can Wait, The Best Time To Remove Your Ash Tree Is Winter

Ash trees, if they are not currently infested with Emerald Ash Borers and do not pose a threat to their surroundings, are actually best removed at the end of winter or the earliest beginnings of spring. There are a couple of reasons for this!

Ash Trees Are Dormant In The Winter

During winter, the ash tree will go dormant (if it is not already dead), and the leaves will all be gone from the branches.

This eliminates the mess that can occur in your yard, and it also makes it easier for the people removing the ash tree to see all parts of the branches and trunk, making removal easier and safer.

The Animals Who Live In The Ash Tree Will Be Gone For The Winter

Another reason to wait until winter is that animals who might normally nest in your ash tree will probably be gone for the cold winter months, so you will not be disrupting their habitats by cutting down the ash tree at this time.

Also, during winter, any food sources that stemmed from your tree will not be active, so you won’t be affecting any current animals’ food supply.

Cold Grounds Won’t Be Disturbed As Easily In The Winter

Lastly, the ground around your ash tree is almost sure to be disturbed as the tree is removed, especially if you have opted to have the tree trunk ground or dug up and removed.

Cold, frozen ground during the winter is less susceptible to being disturbed and more likely to stay intact and in place than the warm, wet soil of spring or summer. This can result in less disturbance to any grass growing around your ash tree, saving you a lot of time, effort, and money if you have to re-sod the grass after the ash tree’s removal.

Further, if you’re looking for the BEST times to plant an ash tree check out our fancy post on The Best Times To Plant Ash Trees (And How To Do It) 

That’s A Wrap!

Deciding when to remove an ash tree, especially a mature one that is an important part of the landscape of your home and yard, is very difficult.

Many dying trees have languished in the yards of homes for years, where the owners were reluctant to remove them. Unfortunately, many dead trees fall and can create dangerous situations, so removing them as soon as possible is the best thing that you can do.

Likewise, when you take out one tree – you can replace it with a new one! If you’re going this route, take a peak at our guide on how much water ash trees need!

While it might be difficult to cut down a beloved ash tree, you can make the best decision for your yard, your home, and the safety of those around the tree.

References:

Hausman, C. E., Jaeger, J. F., & Rocha, O. J. (2010). Impacts of the emerald ash borer (EAB) eradication and tree mortality: potential for a secondary spread of invasive plant species. Biological invasions, 12(7), 2013-2023.

Mota-Sanchez, D., Cregg, B. M., McCullough, D. G., Poland, T. M., & Hollingworth, R. M. (2009). Distribution of trunk-injected 14C-imidacloprid in ash trees and effects on emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) adults. Crop Protection, 28(8), 655-661.

If you have found yourself wishing for a tree that will grow fairly quickly, provide nice shade, and also produce some beautiful foliage in the spring and fall, you might find that the ash tree is the right fit for you! Ash trees can grow from seedling to mature tree quickly in the right conditions, and they can flourish for decades and decades with the right environment and care.

The time for an ash tree to grow to maturity can vary wildly, but in general, expect it to take about 3 to 15 years. Once the tree has grown fully, it can be 120 feet tall and live for up to 200-300 years depending on the species and growing conditions.

Read on for all the info you need to plant your ash tree, help it grow, keep it healthy, and protect it from destructive pests!

How Long Does It Take To Grow An Ash Tree?

Ash trees grow fairly quickly, but how fast they grow depends on a few factors.

First, young ash trees grow faster when exposed to a lot of sunlight. If you want to accelerate the growth of your ash tree, keep this in mind when choosing a planting location.

Another factor in tree growth is the soil around the roots. Your ash tree will grow bigger and faster with rich, healthy soil. You can enhance the soil of your ash tree by using fertilizer, like Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed, which is made specifically for flowering trees.

Typically however like we stated above, expect your ash tree to reach maturity at around 15 years (this will vary widely based on the species.) During their peak growth, ash trees can grow around 1-2ft per year until they reach their full height!

Planting Your Ash Tree For Faster Growth

Ash trees can be found around the world and prominently in North America. Billions of them grow in the United States. They are flowering trees that have a few different species.

According to the USDA, the most popular of which is likely the white ash tree, which is also sometimes called the Biltmore ash. In the United States, ash trees grow mainly in the east, but it is possible to grow them in other parts of the country, too, as long as you can take care of them with good soil and watering.

In general, the best time to plant ash trees outdoors in your yard is the spring. This will give the tree the most time possible in warm weather, allowing its roots to strengthen and its branches to grow before the cold temperatures of fall and winter arrive. This start will allow your ash tree to get the best possible head start on fast growth.

If you plant your tree in the summer, you will see its leaves change with its first fall season, no matter how few leaves there are. For ash trees, this means yellow leaves that might darken to red or even purple, then turn brown and fall off for the winter.

Trees also do well when they are planted in the fall. With this timing, according to the Conservation Seedling Program, the tree’s roots can establish themselves over the winter while the tree’s growth is dormant.

Then, in the spring, the young ash tree will grow new, green leaves. Ash trees will then soon produce white flowers that linger through most of the summer before the new fall season changes the leaves yellow once again.

If you are concerned about the health of your young ash tree over the winter for any reason, you can protect a young tree from the cold elements by wrapping it in burlap or covering it with a tree protector, like these Alpurple Plant Protection Covers.

Whether you choose to plant in the spring or the fall, ash trees are likely to do well with either planting season as long as you plant them properly and set them up for a healthy first year with plenty of sunlight, water, and protection from pests (more on that later). 

To learn more about when it is the best time to plant your ash, check out our article on the best time to plant ash trees!

Where Should You Plant An Ash Tree For Fastest Growth?

Ash trees can be planted under shade, but they do better with at least a little sunlight. If you want your ash tree to grow as fast as possible, plant it in full sun (unless you live in a harsh sunny climate, like the southwest United States; then the sun might be too much for your new ash tree). The sun will help your ash tree grow tall faster than shade. 

But if you do not have a spot without shade, don’t sweat it. Your ash tree will still grow; it will probably just be slower to get tall than an ash tree that gets lots of sunlight. 

Make sure to plant them at least 10 feet apart if you are planting more than one ash tree. 

You can plant your tree in a garden area or a grassy area. Most ash trees do well even in wild areas that are not regularly weeded, especially after the first few years. Once your tree is well established, the only regular care it will need is pest control and the occasional pruning.

Just remember – ash trees loveeeee sun!

One reason why you may want to plant an ash tree is because it can cool down your yard. Read more in our article on the 5 reasons why ash trees make great shade trees!

How Do You Plant An Ash Tree In Your Yard?

Once you have determined the optimal spot for your new ash tree, there are a few things to keep in mind during planting to set your tree up for success. If you are not able to plant your tree right away, make sure to keep the soil around the tree moist until you can plant it. 

Here are some steps to help you plant your ash tree outdoors:

• Dig a hole that is larger than the root ball of your ash tree. It is good to err on the side of the hole being too big, as it is easy to fill the hole with loose dirt if you need to make it smaller. Ideally, the hole should be at least twice as big as the root ball. 

• Remove any plastic, burlap, or paper from the root ball of your tree. Check to see if any tags or ties have been left behind. If you purchased your tree from a store, it may have a tag on its branches to identify it. You can leave this on if you like. Just make sure to remove anything that will end up buried underground. 

• Loosen the soil around the edges of the hole you have dug. This will make it easier to completely cover the root ball with soil. 

• Put the root ball in the hole you have dug and see how close the tree’s trunk flare, which is where the tree’s trunk emerges from the roots, is to the ground surface. The trunk flare should be even with the ground. Fill in the bottom of the hole, under the root ball, as needed until the base of the tree trunk sits level with the ground. 

• As you fill in the hole, water the soil. According to New York State Conservation, this will help eliminate air bubbles and make the tree more secure in the hole. 

• Fill in the hole with the dirt you dug, or supplement with growing soil. 

• Once you have planted your tree, use a garden hose to thoroughly water it, giving it a good start. 

• Check on your tree over the next few days to see if the trunk is planted securely, the tree seems to be getting enough water, and nothing unexpected has entered the tree’s environment. 

• Enjoy your new ash tree!

What Can You Do If You Don’t Have A Good Spot To Plant Your Ash Tree? 

Did you know that you can start some trees in containers? While some trees can live their entire lives in containers, that is not the case for the ash tree, which will eventually be too big. But if you have a reason that you cannot plant it in the ground right away, a large container might be the solution to your problem.

Maybe you want to give your ash tree a head start with plenty of sunlight, then move it to a shadier area. Maybe you are planning to move in the next couple of years and want to take your ash tree with you. Or perhaps you want to plant your ash tree in the fall or winter when outdoor conditions would possibly be too cold for a young ash tree seedling. 

For any of these reasons, you might look into planting your young ash tree or seedling in a container, which is usually just a very large pot. 

Here are some steps to getting started with your container ash tree:

• Buy a very large pot or container. It should be significantly bigger than the root ball of your ash tree seedling.

• Choose a spot for your container. If this is indoors, make sure you can put the container in a spot that gets enough sunlight. A window with southern light exposure is best, if possible. If your container will be outdoors, watch the spot you have chosen for a day or two to see how the sunlight changes throughout the day. In general, unless it can be sunny most of the day, choose morning light over afternoon light.

• Put a layer of rocks, pebbles, or even tree bark at the bottom of your container. This will help the water drain away from the roots of your ash tree and prevent them from rotting.

• Plant your ash tree in a container with potting soil, like Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, which can help your tree grow faster and healthier.

• On top of the soil, put a layer of peat moss, like Miracle-Gro Sphagnum Peat Moss. This will help keep the soil moist and prevent your tree from going without water for too long.

• Once your container is planted, make sure to water it regularly or place it in a location where it can receive natural rainfall.

• When the tree has grown too big for the container, move your ash tree to a spot in your yard where it can reach its full size and live the rest of its years.

What Are Some Problems To Look Out For When Growing An Ash Tree?

Ash trees are fairly hearty trees that can survive both summers and cold winters, so once your tree has established itself in the soil, it is unlikely that you need to take steps to protect it from the weather. There is, however, a major threat to ash trees that you should be prepared for from the very first day you plant your tree.

Ash trees are often plagued by the emerald ash borer, an Asian beetle that was first found near Detroit, Michigan in 2002. These destructive beetles can cause the demise of an ash tree in anywhere from one to four years, depending on the age and size of the tree.

Three major species of ash tree–including the white ash tree–are listed in the northeast United States as critically endangered because of emerald ash borer infestation.

Emerald ash borers are incredibly invasive, and they are devastating to ash tree populations. In the national parks of the National Capital Area (in the eastern United States), for example, there used to be 300,000 ash trees. In only a few years, the National Parks Service states, emerald ash borers eliminated all but less than 80,000 of them.

In states bordering the Great Lakes, the number of ash trees had been increasing in the 1980s and 1990s, but after the emerald ash borer arrived around 2004, the number of trees was drastically reduced.

In addition, you may have problem with how much water or sun you are giving to your tree. Read more about how much water ash trees actually need!

How Do You Protect An Ash Tree From Emerald Ash Borers?

While this information might seem scary, it doesn’t have to stop you from planting an ash tree, nor does it have to stop your ash tree from living a long lifespan. With the proper attention and treatment, particularly insecticides specific to emerald ash borers, your ash tree can thrive.

You should take steps early to prevent emerald ash borers from infesting your ash tree. Don’t wait until it is too late.

According to the City of Burnsville, these beetles are so prevalent now that if you have an ash tree in your yard, you should plant another species of tree in your yard, as well, so that you will not lose all of your shade if you have to remove the ash tree.

One of the easiest ways to protect your ash tree is to treat the soil around it with a fertilizer that also includes a pesticide to help keep it safe from emerald ash borers.

These beetles can eliminate your tree very quickly, so it’s best to start with this protective measure. Use something specific to emerald ash borers, like BioAdvanced Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed.

How Do You Know If Your Ash Tree Has Been Infested?

Because emerald ash borers live under the ash tree bark, you may not know they are there until it is too late–unless you know how to look for the signs of infestation.

Here are the main signs of emerald ash borer infestation, according to the State of Maryland:

• There are lots of woodpeckers on your ash tree. They are there to eat the emerald ash borers, so if you see a lot of woodpeckers, that might be a sign that the beetles are under the bark of your ash tree.

• Your ash tree starts to lose leaves at the top of its canopy.

• There are holes in the bark of your ash tree in the shape of the letter “D.”

• The bark of your tree is splitting. 

If you treat your ash tree preventively to keep emerald ash borers from infesting it in the first place, and you are vigilant to make sure there aren’t telltale signs of emerald ash borers in your ash tree, your tree can grow healthy and strong and stay that way for many years. 

Make Sure To Prune Your Ash Tree

Ash trees grow wonderfully in wild forests, so they can survive and thrive without pruning. If you are growing an ash tree in your yard, however, you might want to take some steps to prune it to remove dead branches.

This will make it less likely to fall under the weight of heavy snow, and it will just make the tree look better. Pruning also helps with the control of pest infestation, but hopefully, you are already using an insecticide to prevent that, as well.

Lower ash tree branches die frequently, which is normal and not a cause for alarm. The best time to remove them, according to officials in Minnesota, is during the fall or winter.

This is because, during the colder seasons, the emerald ash borers are dormant and less likely to be spread to other ash trees that may not have been treated for them like yours has.

What Colors You Can Expect Your Ash Tree’s Leaves To Be Once Grown!

In the fall, you can expect the trees on your ash tree to change from green to yellow for most of the season, though some ash trees will also darken to a red that even looks purple as the fall comes to an end.

To make sure your ash tree’s leaves experience the full potential of their autumn foliage, be sure your tree gets plenty of water throughout the year.

If you live in a very dry climate or your area experiences periods of drought in any given year, you should water your tree. This will ensure those bright autumn colors.

In the late spring through the summer, ash trees usually produce white flowers (white ash!)

So, Why Should You Plant An Ash Tree?

Ash trees are critically endangered due to the widespread infestation of emerald ash borers, so every new ash tree that is planted helps keep these trees part of nature.

Ash trees are important in the myths and rituals of some native people across Europe and Asia. Ash tree wood is also the most popular wood used in making baseball bats.

Ash trees are home to many wildlife species, such as squirrels, bats, and even porcupines. That is not to say that a porcupine is going to take up residence in your yard!

But the more ash trees there are, the more their seeds can spread and grow in the hope that their populations will soon return to the huge numbers that used to exist in the United States!

That’s A Wrap!

Now you are ready to plant your ash tree and watch it grow. Just keep an eye out for emerald ash borers and all should be well. Enjoy your new shady addition to your yard!

If you’d like to learn more, take a look at our guide on the plants NOT to plant under your ash tree if you’re thinking about growing one!

I wish you the best of luck on your ash Tree Journey!

References

Dumont, Darl. J. (1992). “The Ash Tree in Indo-European Culture.” Mankind Quarterly, 32.4, 323.

Pugh, Scott A., Andrew M. Liebhold, and Randall S. Morin (2011). “Changes in ash tree demography associated with emerald ash borer invasion, indicated by regional forest inventory data from the Great Lakes States.” Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2 November 2011. 

MacFarlane, D. W., & Meyer, S. P. (2005). Characteristics and distribution of potential ash tree hosts for emerald ash borer. Forest Ecology and Management, 213(1-3), 15-24.

Sheeren, D., Fauvel, M., Ladet, S., Jacquin, A., Bertoni, G., & Gibon, A. (2011, July). Mapping ash tree colonization in an agricultural mountain landscape: Investigating the potential of hyperspectral imagery. In 2011 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (pp. 3672-3675). IEEE.

Ash trees can be beautiful additions to your yard, providing colorful foliage in the spring, summer, and fall. Ash trees also provide a great deal of shade. If you are looking for plants to plant under your ash tree, you might not be sure where to start. This guide is here to help!

You shouldn’t grow plants such as mums, lavender, lamb’s ear, canna lilies, lantana, milkweed, pansies and bee balm under your ash tree. These plants are either invasive or require significant amounts of sunlight, which would be difficult to get under the shade cast by the canopy of an ash tree.

As long as you pay attention to the environment under your ash tree and the needs of each plant you choose, you can have a spread of foliage at the base of your ash tree, just as beautiful as the tree’s canopy. Read on for all the info you need to make the best choices when purchasing plants for the ground underneath your ash tree!

Why Certain Plants Can’t Grow Well Under Your Ash Tree

Ultimately, some plants have more needs than others and will often lead to a competition for resources, especially when at the base of an ash tree near their roots.

Ash Trees Cast Shade Over Sun Loving Plants

The base of your ash tree is most likely a very shady place. In fact, it is probably an area of your yard that is always shady except in the winter when the leaves of your ash tree are gone.

This means this spot is the perfect place for perennial shade plants, which require little sunlight (and even die or grow poorly in lots of light) and which return year after year.

There are several plants that, while they might appear to be the type of plant that thrives in the shade, are sun-loving plants. These are poor choices for the base of your ash tree.

Another thing to consider about light is whether the plants you have chosen will go dormant in the winter or will continue to grow. If you choose annual plants, they will most likely die in the fall or winter for good, and you will have to plant entirely new plants the following spring or fall, depending on which planting season you choose.

Most plants are planted in spring, but some, like autumn mums, for example, are planted in the fall.

If you choose perennials that are still thriving in the cold months, make sure they can tolerate both the shady seasons of spring, summer, and fall, when the ash tree has leaves on its branches, as well as winter when the leaves have fallen and the branches are bare.

Ash trees make wonderful shade trees, and you can learn more about why in our other post!

Ash Tree’s Will Compete For Water With Other Plants

If you choose plants that require a lot of water, but you are not prepared to be diligent in watering them, you are probably setting your plants up for failure.

No matter what type of plant you choose, pay attention to the amount of watering that is required and consider whether you can provide that much water to the ground under your ash tree.

Use A Sprinkler System For Plants Under Your Ash Tree

If you want to supply extra water, there are several ways to do that. You can choose to install a sprinkler system.

This is the most complicated and likely the most expensive method, as it requires digging trenches in your yard and installing the tubing and parts to water your lawn.

You also have to install a control unit that you can program to operate the sprinklers. 

If you already have one of these systems, great! Now check that it adequately waters the ground under your ash tree. Many sprinkler systems will water the grass of the lawn, so that does not always mean that they reach the flower beds, roots of trees, or other areas of the yards. Make sure it’s slow moving and gets a nice deep water so it reaches the bottom of all roots.

If your system does not reach and you do not want to make modifications to it, you will need to rely on one of these other systems.

If you’d like to learn more, take a look at our guide on the specifics of how much water ash trees need!

Watering Without A Sprinkler System: How To Make It Easier

If you do not have a sprinkler system, or yours does not provide enough water to the base of your ash tree, you still have a number of options.

The most simple is perhaps to stand there every day or so spraying the ground around your ash tree with a garden hose. Many people choose this method and even find it a relaxing part of their day.

If you would rather automate the system, you can use a standard garden hose attached to a sprinkler head. You can also use a sprinkler hose, which is a two-in-one hose that acts like a sprinkler.

This Swan Element Sprinkler Hose can be turned in one direction to spray the water like a sprinkler, and you can also use it as a soaker hose that lies on the ground, providing water without spraying it into the air.

To get your watering system automated so that basically nothing is required from you at all, set the system up with an automatic timer. This Orbit Single-Outlet Hose Watering Timer can be set so that the water turns on and off whenever you want. It even has a rain delay function that can help you save water by not watering when it has recently rained.

I can’t say this enough, water DEEPLY so you reach all the roots!

8 Plants To Avoid Planting Under Your Ash Tree

These general guidelines can help you make some good choices about what to plant under your ash tree and take better care of your plants once you decide what to plant.

You can apply these to any plant you consider along your journey to add colorful blooms, vibrant greenery, or ground cover to the area around the base of your ash tree.

Here are a few plants you should avoid, as they are not good options for the base of your ash tree.

Mums

Mums are beautiful flowers, especially in the fall, so it might be tempting to plant some under your ash tree, hoping that their bright autumnal colors will complement the yellow fall leaves of your ash tree. There are also varieties of mums that bloom in the spring.

This versatile flower seems to have something for everyone, potentially making it a choice for some colorful blooms under your ash tree. 

However, mums are very unlikely to survive under an ash tree for longer than those first few weeks of bloom right after you have planted them if you planted them in the fall. If you planted them in the spring, they probably will not even make it to their first bloom.

Why are mums such an awful choice for under your ash tree? They will not do well for one main reason: mums thrive in lots of sunlight. Planted in the shade, like under the full canopy of an ash tree, mums will not receive enough light to flourish and will probably even parish.

If you want the color of mums, or the festivity of their fall blooms, under your ash tree, your best bet is to use annual mums that are planted in containers. These blooms will survive the season under your ash tree, but you will need to either move them or say goodbye after a few weeks. 

Lavender

Lavender is a wild-looking but lovely plant that produces a famous scent. It does not require much care, and it thrives in dry conditions. It seems like it might work well as the type of plant you could plant underneath an ash tree and enjoy with little effort. But, unfortunately, that is not the case.

Lavender is another plant to avoid under your ash tree, in part because of its sunlight requirements.

Lavender needs full sun, all day to thrive, and it will receive little to no sun under your ash tree, except maybe in winter. According to Purdue University, lavender goes dormant in the winter, so it will be too late by then to give it the sunshine it needs. 

Another reason that lavender is a poor choice for planting under your ash tree is that lavender likes very dry soil, but your ash tree probably does not. And planting a plant like lavender under your tree, that cannot tolerate a lot of watering, will prevent you from planting much of anything else there, as most plants, especially those that thrive in full shade, need a lot of water.

Lamb’s Ear

Lamb’s ear is an interesting plant, given its common name because of the soft and fuzzy texture of its leaves, which resemble the ears of lambs. It has a soft color, too, of a pale green, and grows purple flowers. It might seem like an ideal choice for an interesting and pretty addition to the plants around your ash tree, but it is not.

The sunlight requirements of lamb’s ear make it unlikely to grow in the shade of your ash tree. So while this evergreen plant with leaves all year round is a tempting prospect for gardeners who want something that will not turn brown and die in the winter, lamb’s ear is best left to other, sunnier parts of your yard, not under your ash tree.

Also, lamb’s ear is an intensely spreading plant.

Planted in a flower bed, it can serve almost like ground cover, filling in the gaps between other plants. But under an ash tree, unless containers are built, lamb’s ear would spread enough as it would have to be regularly pruned, so it takes away from the effortless nature of some other types of plants better suited for under an ash tree.

Canna Lilies

Under a tree with bright green leaves, it might seem like a good idea to plant some brightly colored flowers with tall stalks to give color and depth to the base of your ash tree.

Canna lilies are a popular and common flower that comes in many colors, from yellow and orange to bright pinks and reds. But these flowers will not provide those vibrant blooms under your ash tree.

Canna lilies need full sun, so they will not receive enough light under your ash tree to thrive and bloom. If you want to plant them elsewhere, choose a flower bed without shade or even the side of your house that gets the most sunlight. 

Additionally, canna lilies are planted as bulbs, so it might be difficult to find a spot under your ash tree that isn’t already taken up by the roots of the tree.

According to the State of Colorado’s cooperative extension program, you can estimate the size of the root system of your tree by looking at its canopy; the root systems will be about two or three times the size of the spread of the tree’s branches.

Roots that expand that much may have created an inhospitable environment for canna lily bulbs. It’s best to avoid this flower for the area under your ash tree.

Lantana

Lantana is a flowering plant that thrives in heat and sunlight, which makes it a favorite for gardeners who live in hot, dry climates. But these favored conditions of the lantana make it a bad choice for under an ash tree with a shady canopy. 

Another feature of lantana that makes it an awful choice for under your ash tree is that lantana can be invasive, meaning that it can take over the areas where other plants are planted and end them.

Lantana is best used as a container plant or in a structured flower bed where it can’t escape to wreak havoc on other plants and other areas of your yard.

Milkweed

Do you love butterflies? If so, milkweed might be an interesting option for you, as the plant attracts butterflies. It is particularly well-known for being a favorite of the iconic orange and black monarch butterfly, which is also known as the milkweed butterfly.

According to the University of Arizona, milkweed is of integral importance to monarch butterflies because it is where they lay their eggs, and the caterpillars eat the milkweed before spinning their cocoons.

Milkweed needs full sun, so it will not grow well under your ash tree. So if you want to help all those beautiful monarch butterflies, plant the milkweed somewhere else.

Another major reason not to plant milkweed at the base of your ash tree is that the insecticides that are required to treat ash trees for emerald ash borer infestation are dangerous to the butterflies themselves.

So, even if milkweed could grow well under your ash tree, you would pose a risk to the butterflies that want to eat the milkweed, as the flowers would likely have been inadvertently treated with an insecticide dangerous to the insects.

Pansies

If you want to plant something that will bloom in the wintertime when most everything else seems dead, pansies are a great option.

But, while they can tolerate some shade, pansies do best with a lot of sunlight, meaning that, once again, the canopy of your ash tree causes some problems for growing these winter flowers.

Also, according to Utah State University, pansies are sensitive to weeds, which can keep them from growing properly because they steal their water and nutrients. If you want something low-maintenance under your ash tree, these flowers are not the best choice. 

Bee Balm

As its name suggests, bee balm is beloved by bees, as well as by other insects and wildlife, like hummingbirds. But, like the others on our list, it is not a great choice for planting under trees because it likes full sun.

Bee balm is also an invasive spreader, meaning that it will quickly take over the surrounding area, which can harm other plants. It is also susceptible to mildew, which can not only kill the bee balm but might be a problem for other plants, including the ash tree.

Red Flags When Choosing Plants For The Base Of Your Ash Tree

There are some general things you can look out for aside from just sunlight and watering requirements when thinking about what to plant under your ash tree. 

First, there are some dangers particular to ash trees to look out for, like cotton root rot, also known as Texas root rot.

This rot, caused by a fungus, can spread to ash trees from other plants, so you don’t want to plant something under your ash tree that is particularly susceptible to cotton root rot. According to the USDA, this includes different types of plants including roses, so that is one type of plant to avoid, no matter the sunlight requirement. 

You should also look out for plants that might be harmful to plants you have already placed around your ash tree. If you have planted some shade perennial plants, for example, make sure you do not plant invasive species or plants that will overpower the others.

Last, be sure to space your plants appropriately so that each one can get the required nutrients and water that it needs.

If you’re considering planting an ash tree in the future, I highly recommend taking a peak at our guide on the best time to plant ash trees – it’s a good one!

That’s A Wrap!

Now you are ready to make some great choices for plants to plant under your ash tree. While this list is a what-not-to-plant, there are a lot of great options out there to suit most gardeners who want to add some foliage or even flowers to the base of an ash tree. 

Just remember to keep an eye out for not only the sunlight requirements but also the depth at which plants must be planted, the amount of water they need, and their general compatibility with not only your ash tree but also other plants that might be planted around or near it.

Happy planting!

References

Taylor, Subhashni, and Lalit Kumar, Nick Reid, and Darren J. Kriticos (2012). “Climate Change and the Potential Distribution of an Invasive Shrub, Lantana camara L.” PLOS ONE, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035565. 

Herms, D. A., McCullough, D. G., Smitley, D. R., Sadof, C. S., Williamson, R. C., & Nixon, P. L. (2009). Insecticide options for protecting ash trees from emerald ash borer. North central IPM center bulletin, 12.

When planting trees, different species have different requirements. You may expect to plant one tree in April but another, like an ash tree, may do best when planted in the autumn months, before the first frost of the winter. So, when is the best time to plant ash trees?

You should plant your ash tree, starting from the seed, in the early fall. Late August, September or October will be best because your seed will have time to grow before the cold of winter comes along. Your tree will be well established once Spring hits the following year to continue growing.

A properly planted and nurtured ash tree will continue to see success throughout its lifetime, while a tree planted too late in the year may struggle. Read on to learn about ash trees- how and when to plant them, and even maintenance later down the road!

What Is An Ash Tree?

Ash trees are a genus of flowering plants in the same family as lilacs and… olives? That’s right, you’d be surprised to know how many types of trees are closely related! While you’re learning new things, we should talk about when and how to plant an ash tree for the best success of you and your new tree.

You can use ash trees for a wide range of things, despite any sort of bad rap they may have thanks to their susceptibility to various problems. 

According to the University of Kentucky, if cultivated varieties of ash trees are used, the problems of germinated, weedy seeds and unreliable fall color can be overcome.

So, while there is some susceptibility to hardship or afflictions, as with many other species, the ash tree is quite resilient and can adapt to many environments other species may not thrive in.

Enough of that, though, let’s talk about when you should plant your ash tree to start with as much success as you can!

How To Know When To Plant an Ash Tree

When planting trees, there are many factors to keep in mind. Most people think of the location or planting method but may completely overlook the time of year in which they plant their tree.

This can lead to issues with the tree becoming established, because it may not be getting what it needs at the very beginning stages of its life. 

That being said, let’s talk about planting your ash tree!

Plant Ash Trees During The Fall For Best Results

The best time of year to plant ash trees is autumn.

This is because the cold of winter and any harsh freezes will slow the growth of the seed, cuttings, or seedling you may be planting. In fact, any extreme dips in temperature might kill your young ash, even when a more mature, stable tree might continue thriving throughout a cold period. 

So, September and October are the best months to plant your ash tree. We’ll dive deeper into how you should plant your tree depending on the stage it begins at, but essentially it’s important to know that early fall is the way to go!

How To Plant Ash Trees

When you look at planting an ash tree, there are more considerations than just the time of year. 

Knowing to plant your ash tree during the fall months is a great starting place, but you’ll also want to be conscious of how you plant your tree, based on your starting point.

You may start from the very beginning and use a seed to grow your very own ash tree. 

That option is not ideal for everyone, which is alright. So, some may opt to propagate, or use cuttings from an established tree to grow a new ash tree.

This is also not for everyone, and if you prefer to grow your tree from a seedling, a tiny little tree that has already begun developing, that is just fine!

Depending on your starting point, you’ll have a few things to keep in mind. So, let’s get to gettin’ on with it!

Planting From A Seed Or Cuttings 

If you start from either a seed or decide to propagate and use cuttings from an already-established ash tree, you can expect some similar aspects of your process.

For these planting methods, you’ll want to start your ash out in a pot for easier maintenance regarding the type of soil, amount of water, and overall monitoring of growth.

The soil around your ash seed or cuttings should be constantly moist, though the amount of water may vary depending on your location, dryness in the air, temperature, and other environmental factors.

You should plan to check your soil about once a day to ensure it remains moist and can continue to be a healthy growing environment for your young ash.

Though the requirements after planting remain quite similar, you should note planting from a seed and propagating requires some different techniques.

While you can plant a seed relatively simply into your pot, propagation requires you to remove an 8-inch area of the green wood that is part of a mature ash tree before removing all the leaves and placing it in a pot with sand.

The portion that had the leaves before removal should be buried underneath your soil about 3 nodes and the rest of the process becomes the same as if you’d planted from seed.

You can mist or traditionally water your soil daily, and you may opt to utilize an option like the T4U Glass Plant Mister because this spray bottle is both decorative and functional, can be used indoors or outdoors, and helps you keep your soil moist!

Planting From A Seedling

If you opt to begin your ash tree from a seedling, you can skip the pot and go straight to the soil, since your tree will already be established. Though it is young, the ash tree can be placed directly in the ground as opposed to a seed or cutting from another tree that will need to grow more before being planted outdoors.

One thing to think about when planting a seedling is that you should try to leave roots straight down while placing the seedling into the soil. This way, you’ll be able to better avoid small roots sticking to the sides of the soil and being separated. 

Any roots that are on their own or do not get ample water may dry out, especially in drier conditions or without proper watering.

On top of how you plant your ash tree, we should touch on where your tree is going to be living and growing.

Where To Plant Ash Trees

A big factor in being successful when planting your ash tree during the fall is making sure that you are planting your tree not only at the right time but in the proper place.

The native range of ash trees spans the Eastern part of the continent, from Canada to Northern Florida.

Ash trees can grow in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 and are one of the most adaptable species of tree native to North America. 

On top of the adaptability, these trees are drought tolerant so they can do well in areas that don’t get as much water as they should, as long as they are in the right growing zones.

Along with the larger scope of geographical location, planting ash trees where you want shade is a fantastic idea!

What Is A Growing Zone, Exactly?

We mentioned that ash trees can grow in hardiness, or growing zones 3-9, but what exactly does this mean?

The United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, has defined different growing zones across the United States to make it easier for plant owners just like you to determine which plants can thrive in certain regions.

These zones can also determine whether someone looking to grow crops or build a nursery should go to a certain part of the country.

Growing zones are based on the annual minimum winter temperature of a reason. To make it easier, we will call this the ‘minimum temperature.’

So, the minimum temperatures of a region are broken up into segments of 10 degrees Fahrenheit by numbers 1-13 to distinguish different temperature groups.

For example, the minimum temperature ash trees can thrive in, based on zone 3, would be a range of -40 to -30 degrees Fahrenheit. In zone 9, this range goes from a minimum temperature of 20 degrees Fahrenheit to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

You could expect your ash tree to thrive in minimum temperatures that range from -40 to 30 degrees, based on zones 3-9 being the optimal growing zones for these trees.

Growing zones are not only broken up by 10-degree intervals but there are also subcategories of 5 degrees, marked by ‘a’ or ‘b’. So, 3a would be -40 to -35 degrees Fahrenheit while 3b is -35 to-30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Since the growing zone for ash trees is simply 3-9, we know that this means 3a-9b.

If any of this is overwhelming, you can always stop at your local nursery to ask about the growing zone in your area or search ‘plant hardiness zone in __’ on the internet.

Don’t forget about this USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, either!

How Can I Best Maintain My Ash Tree Long-Term?

So, now that you know all about when to plant your ash tree, how to go about planting, and even where you should plant, let’s talk about maintaining your ash tree so that it can live a long and successful life.

There are a few crucial steps when maintaining any tree. Watering, fertilizing, and pruning as needed are the primary considerations you’ll want to take with you on your ash tree journey.

So, keep on reading to learn about caring for your ash tree!

Water, Especially When it’s Hotter

For maintaining and sustaining trees young or old (or anywhere in between), watering for ash trees is a huge factor to be considered.

As you begin maintaining and watering your tree, you’ll want to opt for a product that can help you ensure even irrigation around the base of your ash tree.

A product like this Irrigation/Hydroponics Dripline offers a very simple to use method of creating drip irrigation. This option is not only simple but cost effective.

It’s essentially a dripline you can place in a circular shape around the base of the ash tree to make sure you don’t have to worry constantly about checking the moisture around your soil. 

Even with a product like this, you’ll want to check your soil moisture every once in a while so you have the best idea you can of how the moisture is looking.

Although ash trees are drought-tolerant, you want to do what you can to make sure they don’t have to tolerate a lack of water unless wholly necessary.

Ash trees need to be watered quite frequently, when possible, at the beginning of their life to help them get beyond the initial stage of life.

A young tree that is working to get itself rooted in a location long-term may struggle significantly without the right amount of water. Therefore, we suggest using a mister throughout the day, along with your standard watering to help keep your young ash comfortable. 

During the sapling phase of an ash tree’s life, it needs a little less water than in its early years. This is because the tree is now established in its long-term environment, but does not yet have a root system that is as extensive as it will be later on in the tree’s lifetime. 

As the tree matures further, from its mid-life to maturity (around 60 years after the tree is planted), the tree will need more watering. 

Of course, watering depends on the season, the environmental factors surrounding the tree, and other needs your tree may have.

Make Sure To Fertilize Your Ash Tree

This is true, especially in harsher conditions. Though ash trees are drought-tolerant, if you can provide some water and top it off with fertilizer, your tree is going to thrive more than it would have with just some water.

Similarly, even when the conditions are ideal, your tree will do better with extra nutrients than it will without them.

Ash trees will do best with an all-purpose fertilizer such as a 10-10-10.

What are those 3 numbers, you ask? 

Fertilizers come with an NPK number, standing for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, to indicate the ratio of these commonly used fertilizer components. 

A balanced fertilizer is often recommended unless a tree or plant species particularly needs a certain element, like extra nitrogen, to do well.

Covington Naturals Liquid Fertilizer is a great product that lasts a long time and can help sustain your ash tree throughout its growth.

Don’t Worry, It’s OK To Prune!

You can use hand shears or hand pruners, lopping shears, pole pruners, or a saw to prune your tree, depending on the size of the branch, how high up it is, and how much you intend to prune away.

With an ash tree, and even most trees in North America, the best time to prune is going to be later in the winter because the tree is going into its dormant season. Also, later in the winter, it won’t be subject to damage from heavy freezes, as most will have already passed (if this is even a consideration in your area.)

It’s good to keep in mind pruning is still causing an open wound on your tree, and in late winter, your tree is phasing out of its dormant season. This means it will take the impending growing season to recover from the cuts caused by the pruning, and all will be well!

The Gonicc 8” Professional Sharp Bypass Pruning Shears are quite a popular option for equipment and are a great starting place if you are unsure of where to go next.

You’ll be able to cut tree branches that are just about an inch in diameter, so if you’re looking to trim away some smaller branches around your tree, these might be just what you need.

If you’ve got some larger branches, but not huge, (think about 1-2.5 inches in diameter) invest in some lopping shears to help you get the job done.

Say you’ve got some high-up branches that aren’t huge, but just too tall to reach with some hand pruners. Pole pruners are going to come in handy because they can reach up high and allow you to avoid pulling out the big ladder that you might otherwise have to drag out from your garage or shed.

Finally, if you have larger branches and need to remove them for any reason (this might go beyond your ‘regular’ pruning), use a saw or call a professional to check things out .

You can read more about when to prune large trees here.

That’s It For Now!

Ash trees are a versatile, adaptable genus of trees that truly act as a wonderful outdoor highlight in your space. 

Keep these tips in mind when you are trying to plant, grow, or simply maintain your own ash tree.

For now, friends, that is all we have for you. As always, thank you so much for trusting us to help you along your ash tree journey. I’ve been there, and I’m glad I get to help you, too!

Until next time!

References

Peper, P. J., Alzate, C. P., McNeil, J. W., & Hashemi, J. (2014). Allometric equations for urban ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in Oakville, Southern Ontario, Canada. Urban forestry & urban greening, 13(1), 175-183.

Pugh, S. A., Liebhold, A. M., & Morin, R. S. (2011). Changes in ash tree demography associated with emerald ash borer invasion, indicated by regional forest inventory data from the Great Lakes States. Canadian journal of forest research, 41(11), 2165-2175.

While it’s nice to soak up the sun on a warm summer day, we can probably all agree that it’s a wonderful feeling to sit underneath a tree and soak in that shade. We all know of the popular trees like oak and maple, but did you know that other trees like ash trees are good shade trees?

Ash trees are ideal shade trees! They are large, fast-growing trees that provide lots of shade. Ash trees are also low-maintenance trees that have huge canopies, making them perfect for your backyard or along streets. Ash trees do attract emerald ash borers pests in certain states.

If you’re debating on what tree to plant in your sunny backyard, look no further, we’ve got that covered. Read on to learn why ash trees make wonderful shade trees.

Are Ash Trees Good Shade Trees?

Let’s talk about shade trees. 

Shade trees are usually large trees with large, sprawling canopies that provide shade to their environment.

Ash trees adapt to just about all soil types and are even drought tolerant. They also grow anywhere from 30-120 feet tall and have a canopy that reaches 40-50 feet! Talk about a huge tree! Additionally, ash trees grow at a medium to fast rate, with 12-24 inches of growth each year.

As we mentioned, ash trees adapt to and grow in all soil types, so if your soil is acidic, alkaline, sandy, moist, well-draining, clayey, or wet, you can bet an ash tree can grow there. 

Ash trees do well in Zones 2-9, which are almost all USDA Hardiness Zones. 

So, back to the question at hand, are ash trees good shade trees?

Absolutely! Because of their wide, sprawling canopy that reaches anywhere between 40-50 feet, you can bet they’ll provide you with lots of shade on a hot summer day. 

You can learn more about ash trees in our article about ash tree daily water requirements.

In addition to this, you can also learn a plethora about what makes a good shade tree from a book such as The Sibley Guide To Trees.

1. Ash Trees Have A Huge Canopy That Provides Shade

According to Vanderbilt University, among ash trees, there are three of the most common ashes that you’ll see. This includes the white ash, Fraxinus Americana, and the green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica. 

White Ash 

The white ash, Fraxinus Americana, is found throughout northeastern and central North America, except for the southern coast of the United States. White ashes get their name from the pale grey undersides of their leaves. 

The white ash tree reaches anywhere between 60-90 feet tall and can even reach up to 120 feet tall in certain cases. It has a moderately dense, pyramidal crown that reaches 40-50 feet, which creates sizable shaded areas. 

It is classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN Red List measures the status of biological diversity and evaluates how close species are to extinction.

However, the white ash is susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases. The main pest that affects the white ash is the lilac borer, but this is not limited to the banded and emerald ash borers, leaf spot, and canker diseases.

The white ash grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9 and grows well in almost all soils. Additionally, it grows at a medium rate with a growth rate of 13-24” every year!

Green Ash 

The green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, is an extremely adaptable tree. It is native to Iowa but is found throughout the United States. It is generally found near wetland areas but is also found in many other habitats.

It has a pyramidal crown shape that is slightly rounded. Like other ash trees, the green ash will grow best in full sun and well-draining soils, but will grow in just about every soil it’s put in! The green ash grows best in almost all zones, but more specifically, USDA Hardiness Zones 2-9.

According to Iowa State University, green ash is the fastest-growing ash tree, growing more than 2 feet per year! It also reaches a height of anywhere between 50-80 feet tall and wide! Because of its fast growth rate and large size, it is widely used as a shade tree! 

To start your own green ash tree, get off on the right food with these Green Ash Seeds!

Unfortunately, like all ash trees, green ash is susceptible to lots of pests and diseases. It is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Some of the most notable pests are the emerald ash borer, and the lilac borer. It is also susceptible to diseases like ash rust, ash dieback, anthracnose, and verticillium wilt. 

2. Ash Trees Can Grow Across Most Of The United States

Ash trees grow well in USDA Hardiness Zones 2-9, which is just about every zone. But, just like most plants, which zone they will grow in will depend on the variety.

We mentioned green ash trees and white ash trees, let’s recap what zones those do well in.;

• The green ash tree grows best in Hardiness Zones 3-9. 
• The white ash tree grows best in Hardiness Zones 4-9. 

If you live in Zones 4-9 you can bet these will take well to your climate. 

3. Ash Trees Do Well In All Soil Types

As we mentioned, ash trees grow in just about all soil types, but let’s get into that a little bit more. 

The green ash tree adapts well to all different soil types. It does best in wet soils, but can also grow in moist, and well-draining soils, and is slightly drought tolerant. Additionally, it does well in acidic and alkaline soils, loamy, sandy, and clayey soils!

The green ash tree also tolerates soil compaction, which is when the compression of soil creates a reduction in space between the soil pores. This can be a result of a lack of water within the soil, making the soil more compact, denser, and harder for roots to penetrate. 

The white ash tree grows best in moist, and well-draining soils. But it can grow in acidic and alkaline soils, as well as loamy, sandy, moist, well-draining, and even wet soils. 

To keep your ash trees looking happy and healthy, try out a fertilizer such as Humboldts Secret Base A & B Bundle.

White ash trees are fairly shock-tolerant and have a good soil salt tolerance, which is why they can handle a variety of soils. 

4. Ash Trees Are Drought Tolerant Shade Trees

We mentioned the green ash tree being slightly drought tolerant. On the other hand, the white ash tree is moderately drought tolerant. 

Now, if you live in the desert, we’re not saying this is necessarily a good tree choice. All we’re saying is that because ash trees are fairly tolerant of most conditions if you live in an area that gets a somewhat low to a fair amount of precipitation. This would be a good choice for a shade tree!

The green ash tree can tolerate being planted on highways, in urban areas with pollution, in reclamation areas, and even around parking lots.

Fertilizer can be a great addition to the care of your trees. Fertilizer not only strengthens the tree but can also strengthen the tree’s immune system. If you already have one, a 10-10-10 fertilizer is perfect for your ash tree. 

A 10-10-10 fertilizer has an equal ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The GreenView 2129872 Multi-Purpose Fertilizer is a 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer, which is ideal for your ash tree. As with all chemical applications, before you apply it make sure to read the label for directions!

5. Ash Trees Are Extremely Fast Growing

Ash trees are mostly moderate to fast-growing trees, which makes this a great choice as a shade tree. 

The green ash tree has a fast growth rate, growing more than two feet every year. 

The white ash tree has a medium to the fast growth rate of 1 to 2 feet every year, meaning in just 10 years they can reach 12 to 24 feet tall!

We recommend checking in your area to see if ash trees are recommended for planting. Currently, because of the emerald ash borer, planting ash trees is not recommended in some places. 

Ash trees are kind of the powerhouse of shade-providing trees, aside from their susceptibility to pests and diseases. 

Should I Plant An Ash Tree?

Alright time for the bad news, while ash trees make great shade trees, tolerate almost everything, and are fast-growing, they are not recommended to plant in certain areas due to the emerald ash borer. 

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service lists the states where the emerald ash borer is found, which include:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

The good news is that research done by scientists suggests that green ash trees that survived, and were considered lingering from emerald ash borer infestations, were less preferred by the emerald ash borers, resulting in a higher tolerance or resistance to them. 

Research also suggests that the emerald ash borer preferred blue and black ash trees. Conservation efforts are currently focused on long-term control of the infestation, and will likely result in selective breeding in ash trees for emerald ash borer resistance.

What’s Good About Ash Trees?

Ash trees are part of the flowering plant genus called Fraxinus. Included in this genus are also lilac trees and olive trees. The ash tree name goes back to the Latin and Indo-European language to mean spear because ash tree wood was good for spear shafts. 

One amazing thing about ash trees is that they are a vital food source for frogs in North America. As their leaves fall into ponds and other water bodies, they provide a food source for tadpoles. Additionally, ash trees provide food and shelter for insects, birds, and mammals.

Ash trees are known for their hard, dense, elastic-like wood and are used for things like bows, and baseball bats. Additionally, ashes are used for electric and acoustic guitar bodies. And these are only a few of the many uses of ash wood. Ash trees even make outstanding firewood!

If you want to plant an ash tree of your very own, despite the emerald ash borer, consider starting off with something like these American White Ash Seeds, or these European Ash Seeds!

Ash trees have a few key features, including opposite leaves, which only a few trees have, and their well-known seed pods! Can you guess what those are? They are helicopter seeds! You know those cool-looking things you throw up in the air and they come twirling down? Yep, those are ash tree seeds!

Unfortunately, ash trees have been declining at a steady and incredibly fast rate due to the emerald ash borer, a wood-boring beetle. The emerald ash borer larvae feed on the vascular system of the tree, which is responsible for nutrient and water flow. Feeding on the vascular system prevents all nutrients and water from flowing to the rest of the tree. 

That’s A Wrap!

That’s all we’ve got today! So the answer to the question: are ash trees good shade trees? Yes! Ash trees are great shade trees. But let’s recap everything we covered!

Ash trees are ideal shade trees! They are large, fast-growing trees that have huge, sprawling, dense canopies. Ash trees are also low-maintenance trees that tolerate a variety of soil and weather conditions, making them perfect for your yard. 

Because they provide so much shade they are commonly planted in parks, along parking lots, on residential streets, and even along highways. 

Ash trees have a medium to fast growth rate, growing anywhere between 1-2 feet per year! Additionally, they do well in Zones 2-9. 

Unfortunately, ash trees are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases that have caused the ash tree population to decline rapidly. Conservation efforts are being taken to combat the spread of pests and disease, but currently, the USDA says the best way to combat the spread is to not move firewood. 

Although planting ash trees is not recommended in some areas, it’s best to check with your local and state government to see if there are any regulations and if it is recommended to plant ash trees in your region.

References

Duan, Jian J., Leah S. Bauer, Roy G. Van Driesche, and Juli R. Gould. “Progress and challenges of protecting North American ash trees from the emerald ash borer using biological control.” Forests 9, no. 3 (2018): 142.

Knight, Kathleen S., John P. Brown, and Robert P. Long. “Factors affecting the survival of ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees infested by emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis).” Biological Invasions 15, no. 2 (2013): 371-383.

McCullough, Deborah G., Therese M. Poland, and David Cappaert. “Attraction of the emerald ash borer to ash trees stressed by girdling, herbicide treatment, or wounding.” Canadian Journal of Forest Research 39, no. 7 (2009): 1331-1345.

Mota-Sanchez, David, Bert M. Cregg, Deborah G. McCullough, Therese M. Poland, and Robert M. Hollingworth. “Distribution of trunk-injected 14C-imidacloprid in ash trees and effects on emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) adults.” Crop Protection 28, no. 8 (2009): 655-661.

Smitley, D. R., Doccola, J. J., & Cox, D. L. (2010). Multiple-year protection of ash trees from emerald ash borer with a single trunk injection of emamectin benzoate, and single-year protection with an imidacloprid basal drench. Journal of Arboriculture, 36(5), 206.

So, how much water do ash trees actually need to do well in a given environment? Ash trees are drought tolerant and grow well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8. In general, here’s how much water ash trees need:

In the summer, new ash trees should be watered every 7-10 days with water reaching 2-3ft deep. In general during fall, spring, and winter, water your ash tree every 1-3 weeks. Ash trees generally need more water when it’s hotter and less when its colder. Established ash trees need less water.

Let’s dive deeper into the methods that you can use to water your ash tree and just how much water ash tree seeds, cuttings, seedling, saplings all specifically need!

Do Ash Trees Need Lots Of Water? 

Since ash trees can grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8, exactly how much water do they even really need? Well, although ash trees are drought resistant most of them do best in moist soil. 

According to North Carolina State Extension, the white ash tree grows best in rich, moist soil, like that that you’d find in certain mountainous areas or near riverbeds.

Ash trees need different amounts of water at different stages of their life. For example, a sapling would do very poorly if watered as much as a mature tree. That amount of water would be too much for such a small organism.

So, how much water does an ash tree need at different stages of its life? Let’s dive into that now!

Want to learn more about watering trees? Check out our article about Here’s How Much Water Coconut Trees Need (Watering Tips)

How Often Should You Water Ash Trees?

Water requirements for your ash tree will also partly depend on the season.

Established trees in the summer should be watered every 7-10 days or so, during the fall and spring months, this can be decreased to roughly every 10-20 days, as the soil becomes drier.

During winter months, the rate of your watering can significantly decrease, to as infrequently as 14-21 days.

New Mexico State University gives a good explanation for a decrease in water requirements in the winter. As leaves drop from deciduous ash trees in the fall and winter, the use of water by the tree also decreases due to less volume of the tree, i.e. leaves, requiring water.

Next, we’re going to go over every possible scenario for watering your ash tree!

Watering Ash Tree Seeds

If you plan to grow your ash tree from seed, you’ll want to ensure that the soil around your seeds is kept constantly moist. Depending on your location, the amount of water for this requirement may change. 

We recommend checking the soil daily to ensure that it appears adequately moist and not too wet. Toward the end of the summer months, you can expect to lessen the amount of watering that you do. As temperatures begin to lower, the soil retains a bit more moisture on its own.

Watering Ash Tree Cuttings 

If you are starting from cuttings of an already-established ash tree, water requirements will vary as well. This is also referred to as propagating.

For this process, you’ll want to remove an 7-8inch section of greenwood from your ash tree. Next, remove all the leaves from this section, and place it into a pot filled with soil. 

Finally, you’ll want to ensure that the area of the section that used to have leaves attached is partially buried (about 3 nodes where leaves used to be attached is a safe reference) and water the soil thoroughly. 

Make sure the pot can support some of the water draining from the soil as needed so that it doesn’t retain too much moisture.

You’ll want to mist both the soil and the cutting daily to keep it moist. 

For either of these first two planting methods, you can use the misting technique to keep the soil in your pot moist. Using a product like this Ebristar Glass Plant Mister will allow you to easily keep your soil moist, and in doing so will help maintain a good environment for your plant to grow. 

What’s even cooler is the bottle itself is such a unique statement piece that doesn’t need to be put out of sight in the cupboard. Leave it among your plants and it’ll also act as an additional piece of decor. 

Watering Ash Tree Seedlings

If you decide to plant a seedling itself, an already growing juvenile plant, you can plant your ash tree directly into the soil outdoors. There is no need for the potting method that is used for the first two stages of planting. 

However, if you planted an ash tree from either a seed or a cutting, you’ll eventually have a seedling that is ready to be planted directly into the outdoor soil, so this is an important step. 

Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources brings up a good consideration when planting anything in your landscape, you should be sure to check for underground gas and utility lines before digging anywhere. 

However, it is best to leave roots straight down as you plant, you don’t want any small roots sticking to the sides as they could quickly dry out, especially without proper watering. 

At this stage, you will want to adjust your watering practices for any plant outside. There is much more soil and a larger plant to work with. 

A product like this Irrigation/Hydroponics Dripline with 6-in Emitter Spacing is a simple to use and cheap method of drip irrigation that can be placed in a circular shape around the base of your young ash tree to ensure even irrigation.

Watering Ash Tree Saplings

Regardless of how your ash tree began its growth, once it is a sapling you can expect to water your ash tree a bit more frequently. 

You could plant your tree at this stage, as well, if you opt to buy a sapling as opposed to growing from a seed, cutting, or seedling.

The biggest factor in a successful sapling relocation comes back to the roots and the amount of moisture they receive. Dry roots will be the biggest cause of struggle when seeing how an ash tree assimilates to its new environment.

The general rule of thumb is that ash trees should start being watered at the same rate, and depth in the soil around this time of the tree’s life. 

You should water newly planted trees every 7 to 10 days, which tends to be the standard for most species of trees. 

The depth at which irrigation should penetrate the soil is about 24-36 inches, or 2-3 feet deep. This can be achieved by using irrigation systems like the one referenced above.

Watering Young Ash Trees

Young ash trees, older than a sapling but not quite in the ‘teenage years’ so to speak, will also require different amounts of water.

While this tree is not anymore newly planted, but not yet mature either, the frequency of watering can actually decrease for a period of time. This is because the tree is no longer trying to become established in the soil like it was at the beginning as a seedling or sapling. Additionally, it has a less extensive root system than it would during mid-life and at maturity. 

You can water young, established trees every 14-20 days or so to maintain moisture, but again, avoid overwatering, which could spell peril for this young tree.

Watering Almost Mature Ash Trees

Once your ash tree is nearing maturity, you can increase the frequency of watering a bit more. Mid-life ash trees are generally anywhere from 3-16 years of age (or more) depending on the tree species itself. 

The consistency of watering at this stage of life will remain the same throughout the rest of the ash tree’s life!

So, let’s move on to the next section to discuss the final stage of watering requirements for your ash tree.

Watering Mature Ash Trees

Ash trees reach maturity at anywhere from 16-60 years of age. This depends on many environmental factors, but the essence of it is that a tree at this stage of life will only require different amounts of watering when the seasons change. 

A mature ash tree can be watered anywhere between every 7-21 days, depending on the time of year and general soil conditions.

That’s All For Today!

Well, that’s all we have for now! Thanks for sticking around and learning how much water ash trees actually need.  

Let’s recap, in short, yes, ash trees need to be properly maintained with proper watering practices. 

Thank you for learning with us! As always, we wish you success as you embark or continue on your personal tree journey. Until next time, friends!

References:

Arbab, N., Grabosky, J., & Leopold, R. (2022). Economic Assessment of Urban Ash Tree Management Options in New Jersey. Sustainability, 14(4), 2172.

Vertessy, R. A., Hatton, T. J., Reece, P., O’sullivan, S. K., & Benyon, R. G. (1997). Estimating stand water use of large mountain ash trees and validation of the sap flow measurement technique. Tree Physiology, 17(12), 747-756.