UK Ash Late?

TC

TC

Participating member
Anyone else in the UK noticed Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is extremely late coming into full leaf this year?

Especially the older trees.

Anyone got any idea why?
 
[ QUOTE ]
I was under the impression that's just how they grow being ring porous and all...

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't think that would be relevant to when the tree is finally in full leaf.

I know that Ash is normally the last two weeks in May, but I'm seeing mature Ash trees that haven't even broken bud yet.

My own personal theory on ring porous is that, it is an adaptation to summer drought. Big old vessels at the start of the growing season to get as much water into the tree as possible before the long dry summer months arrive.

Diffuse porous trees are obviously expecting rain through the summer, so their strategy is to lay down the big vessels throughout the entire growing season.

I'm gonna try and work out how Ash, being ring porous would make their leaves come out later.
 
I've noticed it on a couple of surveys I'm working on. Not only are they late, they aren't very vigorous when they do decide to burst - kind of dragging their heels like a kid that doesn't want to go to school but knows he must. Looks like the crown is sparse, when in reality on closer inspection, seems only half the buds are deciding to go for it??? Mind you, with 7 degrees and snow a possibility on the tops, I didn't feel like going for it this morning either
tongue.gif
.
 
Could it be that the Ash population is not in fact late, it's just that everything else was very early?

And this has confused us all? I had a client phone me last week to say that she thought her 100 year old Ash had died, I had a look at it, was just budding very slightly. Told her that 'all the Ash's were late this year apart from the young ones'. Maybe what I should have said was 'everything else is early'?

The British Isles had an unusually warm early spring. The oaks were out well before any signs of life on the Ash's.

Global warming? climate change? But then why is Ash not responding like the other trees and shrubs? Is it reluctant to evolve like the other trees?

Maybe it does not react to certain types of external stimuli? like unusual weather patterns.

Maybe it's strategy is to wait and what's happening first before it commits to anything.

Anyone know how the Ash's(Fraxinus excelsior) are doing in mainland Europe?
 
Must be somthing to do with last years weather it also proves the old wives tale ash before oak is a load of rubbish as we have been soaked this week!
 
I thought they were all coming good this week, just seen about 6 large mature Ash's in different locations which are only just showing the slightest signs of bud break, why are they so slow this year?

There must be something going on with these trees, when they do finally come into full leaf they will have been exceptionally late.

It seems to be the older trees
 
I seem to recall them being late falling last year too steve......
Only one im really worried about is one that has just come on leaf but very chlorotic after a 20% reduction on it in dormancy,they seem to be catching up round here though.
Theres not many oaks around here but they where early.
 
Here they started blooming very early due to the extremely hot early spring. Cold may made them halt and the buds are breaking now because of good, warm weather. Ash is a heathloving tree.
Being ring porous means that the ash and the oak as well need to make new vessels for transportation before developing new leaves, subsequently ring porous species´ bud break is later in the spring than diffuse porous.
Cheers
Svein
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Kask Stihl NORTHEASTERN Arborists Wesspur TreeStuff.com Teufelberger Westminster X-Rigging Teufelberger
Back
Top Bottom