"Exploding" tree

[Flat Rock Farm]

What a shame, that's the first I have seen of EAB destruction. Now I know what to look for. About 25 years ago I reforested most of our property with White Spruce, White Pine and White Ash. The Ash trees are getting to be a decent size I would hate to loose any.

[Jaye]

I know what you mean. There is obviously no hope for this tree, but I am so sad that it has to go. :-(

[baronrenfrew]

Yep: the ash follows the path of the "Dutch elm disease," chestnut blight, butternut canker, not to mention the pine beetles gone rogue.

Eventually some trees will adapt. If they're a market size, take 'em down now or risk them becoming damaged and worthless.

Today we think of the maples as the big trees in our forest; but they were the understory trees under the chestnut which grew 50 or 100 feet higher.

Good luck with them.

[Arbor]

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if you have new shoots coming up i would clip some and root them and get them under cover-all ours were killed as well, and then if it is resistant to the bugs you will have something very special to take clippings and grafts from.

Unfortunately, new shoots have the same genetic make up of the parent plant. No resistance in anything that has already been severely infected. You are better off looking for random trees in areas that have long been infected (ie. Chatham/Kent area). This was tried with both American chestnut and American elm. There are a few cultivars they have discovered to be mildly resistant, but in the end the trees have succumbed. I see the odd elm tree around that still thrives, but whether it is seclusion or resistance I'm not sure. There is a beautiful specimen just off the Embro road. I've always thought to check the height on it, as it is nearly twice the height of the adjacent hydro poles.

[baronrenfrew]

Lots of elm here, they grow a decent size (2 feet diameter) then die. It might be the northern limit of the trees and the bugs which make holes that let the disease in.

[WLLady]

I live in the area that's been infected/affected with the emerald ash borer....we lost most of our trees about 5 years ago, and i keep looking for any survivors whenever i'm out. so far, no luck. we do have a couple of elm trees that seem to be doing okay, but they have yet to do the seed thing....
just incredible how much of our bush is/was ash....no matter where you are, there is at least 1 dead ash tree within 20 feet of you, no matter where in the bush you are standing. it's sad. darned imported bugs.

[Home Grown Poultry]

heres what my bush looks like due to the ash borer... 360º view... its pretty sad and quite dangerous. I bet at least half of the bush is dead ash.

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[Flat Rock Farm]

Wow, what a shame Al!! Can you use it for firewood??

[Home Grown Poultry]

it really is a shame isnt it! and heck yeah its great for fire wood! the only part thats really wet is the bark from the snow. im burning it right now. but I like to put about 4 days of wood under a shelf I made so it can completly dry... I really dont need any steam rising up through the pipe.

I filled the dump trailer, 5'x8'x30" biggest load I brought out yet.

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[baronrenfrew]

Man with a chainsaw... Arr arr arr (remember Tim the toolman Taylor). As a kid my toy was a dirtbike... Now its a chainsaw. Nothing like the feeling of cleaning a mess in the forest. I got 5 acres of dead oak on a rocky ridge of forest from the drought and heat of 2013 (or was it 2012?)
Take it easy getting into "chainsaw" shape Al, don't want to mess up your back.