What would you do? I'm a rec climber and want to KEEP my healthy ash tree...

[Reach]

Do you mean get the new trees going right now? I was told it may end bad when they start cutting down the tree if it smashes the younger trees below?

I would say plant now, and hire a reputable company for the removal when it is time - if they’re any good, they can work around an obstacle or two. It may cost a little more, and a crane may be necessary if there’s a lot of plantings to avoid, but in my opinion it’s well worth the cost to have a new tree already established and on its way to maturity when the old tree is removed.

 

[flushcut]

Do you mean get the new trees going right now? I was told it may end bad when they start cutting down the tree if it smashes the younger trees below?

Yes plant now. If the tree crew aren't complete hacks the new tree will be fine. It might be a PITA but we work around targets every day that's why we get paid, to not smash shit.

 

[ATH]

Remember, the ash is in the tree lawn. Possibly (see previous discussion) the city's responsibility to remove.

I've heard city crews say "we'll just drop it in the road and repair the asphalt later". I don't think that guy is going to protect the new tree so well...

 

[flushcut]

LOL yeah there are those city crews.
I was living in Milwaukee at the time I saw a crew just catch the rear bumper and window of a Geo Metro with the trunk of a bigish elm. The Geo almost lifted it's front wheels.

 

[cerviarborist]

If you're going to remove the Ash right away, then wait to plant a new one, if you're going to site the new tree within the fall zone of the one you're taking out.

Above all, do not plant a replacement tree in that crappy little excuse of a tree lawn where the Ash is currently sited. Do yourself, sidewalks, your neighborhood and the new tree a big favor and plant it as close to the center of your yard as possible, taking sewer lines, gas and water lines into consideration. Call 811 and get a dig tickets so that all the utility companies will come out and mark their utilities, then try to site the tree in a spot where future repairs or replacement of underground utilities won't cause undue harm to the roots of the tree. I typically spend 3-4x the time it actually takes to plant the tree, in assessing the site and finding the best (most sustainable) location to plant it.

If you're going to wait awhile to remove the Ash, and want to plant a replacement tree in a better spot (near, but not directly underneath) the removal tree, you can let the canopy of the old tree shade out the new one, which will encourage it to grow up, rather than out, which will make a big difference in how the new tree develops. Young trees benefit from the shade of nearby mature trees, which encourages excurrent, rather than decurrent growth without the need for the more rigorous structural pruning needs of young trees planted in full sun.