Remove ash tree?

[kmac322]

Hello,

I have a big ash tree in my backyard, but the emerald ash borer has been hitting the area pretty hard recently (Indianapolis, IN). I got the tree treated by trunk injection last year and didn't do anything this year. The tree maybe looks a bit better this year, but I'm wondering if I should just get rid of it now. I'd like to keep the tree, so if it's worth a shot to continue treating it, I'd be willing to do so, even if that meant I ended up spending money treating it and had to get it taken out anyway in a few years. I've attached four pictures, two from July 2017 and two from June 2016 to show the change from last year. What do you think? Is it worth saving? What is the best way to go about treating it?

 

[GregManning]

If it was injection treated properly, this tree should last.
Injections should last 3-4 yrs.

Personally, I'd have someone remove the dead wood, for saftey & esthetics.

 

[JD3000]

Good point Greg. The studies show that injections to control borers are effective longer than the manufacturer and some applicators will tell you.

Doesnt seem like the tree has regressed so continuing treatment seems viable.

I would also look into having the brittle dead removed as well as a bed expandion to make the roots happier. I would personally want to examine the root flair so the stone and hostas may have to be moved.

 

[kmac322]

Thanks for the input. I'll keep it around for now and see how things go in the next few years.

 

[JD3000]

Failed to mention, emmamectin is the longer lasting injection insecticide

 

[Frax]

I agree with getting rid of the dead wood, not just for looks, but it'll be easier to monitor the tree. That way you'll be sure to notice any future dead wood.

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[GregManning]

I agree with getting rid of the dead wood, not just for looks, but it'll be easier to monitor the tree. That way you'll be sure to notice any future dead wood.

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Yep !

 

[kmac322]

Thanks for the feedback. I went ahead and got it trimmed. We'll see how it does the next couple of years.

 

[oldoakman]

Good pruning job.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Good advice ahead of me...nothing to add there

a buddy of mine had a saying:

Ash grown deadwood for a living!

This was from the pre-EAB era.

One year I deadwooded a client's ash afternfull leaf out...late June timeframe Cleaned the inner ⅔ of the crown and the leafy canopy down to about 1.5" diameter dead. The tree looked spectacular when we were done.

I had occasion to drive by at the end of the growing season. Whew...so much fuzzy dead twigs and some larger branches had died over the summer. After seeing that tree I changed my approach on my proposal and sales talk. Nothing that I missed. It was the tree