Ash Tree lower limbs dying

[New Yankee]

Guys, We've got a 30-35 ft ash tree w/its lower limbs dying - leaves fell off and when I trimmed off a couple they were dry as a bone dead. The upper limbs and top look fine - good leaves, etc.

Do I have an insect issue or what? I years past (four years ago we had a tree company put it in, at which time it was probably 20 ft tall) I would feed it using a tree root feeder in Spring and Fall, but forgot to do it this year. I may have gotten behind on the water a couple times this Summer, but not too bad - when I would see the leaves start to curl I'd soak it good.

I'd hate to lose the thing, it's just getting to be a good size!

[18 inch Crappie]

Water Water Water Water, buy the time you see the leaves curl up your about a week late on getting it water. Kinda like humans, by the time were thursty its to late we should drink lots of water before we get thursty.I have a Aspen that in the summer the leaves turn brown and fall off, It is because I did not give it a good soaking of water. Not saying there may be something else wrong but with the weather we have been having I would bet on the magic water.

[New Yankee]

Guys, I thought I'd revive this post and ask for more advice. Spring has been plenty wet, and I did fertilize the tree a few weeks ago. Have two lower limbs that appear dead, and have trimed off similar limbs at the rate of about one a year. I'm hoping I don't have borers of some type.

There is some bark at the bottom of the tree at the ground level that is peeling as well. Any clues would be appreciated. Neighbor has one as well, and has just a couple of small branches dead down low. The top is doing fine, but at this rate, in a few years I'll have very little left...

[Powerstroke]

Ash trees grow relatively fast and most trees "self-prune" as they get older. In general any branch on your tree below 20 feet will come off or die eventually because they grow in a certain style and care for themselves.

Things I would want to know are what is the damage like at the base? Is it a little bark peeling or is it too the wood? Is this from hitting it with the mower or weed whip? If you can see the wood then you have already damaged some of the "arteries" of the tree.

Do the leaves curl up and fall off during the season or does the branch come back dead in the spring? Could be signs of insect or fungal diseases common on ash trees.

Are there "sucker" branches forming on the trunk? These are new shoots coming right off the truck and grow fast. These are signs of stress.

Things that I noticed that set off alarms or the amount of fertilizing and you said the leaves curl up between waterings.

I know it was transplanted, but I wouldn't fert more than once a year. It may be that its getting too much nitrogen and growing too quickly. The lower leaves aren't getting much sun and the plant decides they aren't necessary. It decides not to form buds, cuts off circulation and the branch dies. Leaves fall off in fall like normal and no one notices untill spring.

If your tree is wilting between waterings than I think its needs more regular watering and maybe some mulch to help protect the trunk area nad hold more moisture in the ground in the root zone. I'm thinking with all the fertilizer the top half of the tree (above ground) is growing too fast for the roots (bottom half). Most fertilizers don't focus enough on root development.

If the rest of the tree is otherwise healthy I think you need to try and water once a week. Just put the hose out there with a slow flow and let it SOAK in Go for at least 30-60mins.

Don't fertilize more than once a year.

Consider pruning out the interior of the tree some and focus on structure. Ash are a high maintenance tree and are usually pretty "dirty". If the rest of the tree seems healthy then I think what you're seeing is pretty natural.

Feel free to post back with answers to my questions or any other things you've noticed about the tree.

[New Yankee]

Thanks for the reply Powerstroke. I've taken a couple of pic's of the tree and will be happy to email them to you for your advice.

The wife told me about the bark issue and when I looked, it isn't at the base as I thought, but 4-5 ft up on the trunk. It also appears that (much to my dismay) there has been a borer (sp?) of sometype hiting the tree that I'm assuming has caused this problem.

The tree sits in a wet spot, so aside from the hot dry summer of last year, I'm pretty confident it's had enough H20. The dead limbs never bear leaves, and I think your comments about me over fertilizing are probably spot on - there are a few suckers on the trunk.

When I review your thoughts, it appears that I've 1) over fertilized 2) under protected for insects and probaly most importantly left this situation go to far at this point.

I'm very appreciative of your expertise and will happily email you pics if you would find that helpful.

Since I'm not a wizkid, I'd ask (if you desire) to drop me an email at ramagie(at)sio.midco.net so I might attach the pics with a return for your thoughts.

I've got a smaller (20 ft or so) patmore ash (the wife just told me it's name - same as in back) in the front that if this one is gone I'd hope to learn from my mistakes and keep it healthy.

[Failin'onPhalen]

If you see evidence of a borer, I would contact the So Dak Ag Dept. There is a slight chance it could be the emerald ash borer. The emerald ash borer is poised to invade WI, MN, and points west. In Michigan, near Detroit, it has nearly eliminated ALL of the ash trees...gooogle search for more info.

[New Yankee]

Failin' - I was worried about that as well. Googled it this morning and the Emerald doesn't appear to be what I've got. As I understand it, the tops die first, which is opposite. This one has been in the ground 5 years this fall, so it would have died by now from what I read. It was nursed locally so I don't think it could have been exposed to the emerald, but it did concern me. The bark and patterns left by the borer aren't what I see w/mine, they look like a bumble bee hole and the bark is off in 2" x 3" looking areas.

Read some material that said use a Bayer product with "MERIT" in it?

[Failin'onPhalen]

NY - I tip my cap to you with the research you have already done on this...unfortunately, I'm not the most knowledgeable about pesticides and their appropriate uses, so I can't help with recommending a treatment. Hopefully your local conservation district or st. ag. dept can help get you the answers. Good luck!

Phalen

[Powerstroke]

To me this doesn't sound like anything that would require a treatment. Its more about sound culteral practices. Although they are the easiest to fix, they are the easiest to cause and most people wait until there is a bug or disease problem before contacting help. Then they spray for something and hopes that solves it. Of course it will hit the bug/disease, but it doens't address the underlying issue.

Yankee I hope everything works out with your tree. The hardest part about trees is the time involved is so large. You may not notice the benefits of changes untill next year or later, but your tree will do better because of it.

[New Yankee]

Thanks for the tips and replies guys. I went to the nursery and described my problems (just on the tree ) and they thought it might be that it is getting too much water! I know last year I let it go a couple of times too dry, but it does sit in a wet spot when there is plenty of rain. I suspect over fertilizing and then letting it get too dry in the heat of the Summer while too wet sometimes has caused the problems, made it weaker and it is now showing the signs of my neglect.

I asked about Bayer Advanced Tree and Shub treatment with 'Merit" and if it would hurt the tree if it wasn't infected (although I think it has some infestation, I don't think that is causing ALL my issues)and was told it wouldn't hurt, so I dosed it (for once, according to instructions...)and will pay closer attention to it in the future! Hope it makes it, the top seems healthy, so maybe it was just 'crying out for some attention" - LOL!

[Powerstroke]

Merit is a very high quality product and works on many things. It is systemic so it will protect the tree for the entire season. I'm glad you were able to get some local help.