Why have an ash tree?

Trees are a true natural wonder. Each and every one of them has characteristics that make them unique: some stand out for having very brightly colored flowers, others for the size they reach once they reach adulthood, others for being able to grow more than 1 meter per year. year, … and others for its elegance, as is the case of the ash tree.

It is an ideal plant to have in medium-large gardens, where it will become a tree that the whole family will enjoy. You do not believe me? Discover this fantastic tree.

5 reasons to have an ash tree in the garden

Ash is a fast growing tree, which is great in medium to large gardens. As long as the weather is right for him, and he’s within ten meters of pipes and such, he can be the star of the place. Therefore, we are going to give you 5 reasons why we consider it to be a great plant:

Provides shade in summer, light in winter

If you are looking for a deciduous tree, that is, one that loses its leaves in some season of the year -in this case, winter- the ash tree is a good option. With its 15 meters high and its wide canopy, in summer you can protect yourself under its branches from the intense sun, while in winter-spring you can enjoy the flowers of the bulbous plants that you want to plant.

Its flowers are very decorative

The flowers, which are grouped in inflorescences, are very showy, white in color. Sprout in late winter when the rest of the plants are still hibernating, and they remain on the tree until early summer.

It grows in all types of soils

The ash tree is an “uncomplicated” plant. It can grow in all types of soils, including calcareous ones. Yes indeed, needs regular waterings since it does not resist drought. In fact, it grows naturally in humid and cool mountain areas, so in order for it to develop in the best possible way we have to provide it with plenty of water (without puddling the soil).

It gets lovely in the fall

Ash is an amazing tree. In spring and summer it has green leaves, but in autumn … things change. Depending on the species, it can have them redLike Ashinus americana or Ash dress, or yellow such as higher ash.

Resists cold without problems

If you live in an area where winter temperatures drop to -12ºC, you won’t have to worry. Ash withstands cold and frost without problems. So what are you waiting for to get one?

What is the care of the ash tree?

Ash is the common name for species of the genus Fraxinus. These trees can become very large, and have a very leafy crown, so they are great to plant in those large areas. But in order for them to be truly enjoyed, it is important to consider their needs, otherwise it would not be surprising if problems would arise within a few years of planting them in the ground:

Location

You need to feel the passing of the seasons, as well as the wind, the sun, the rain. Therefore, must always be outsidewithout protection. He may need a guardian while he’s young to help him stay upright, especially if the wind blows regularly.

Remember to plant it at least ten meters from where you have pipes.

When to plant the ash tree in the garden?

If you want to have an ash tree in the garden, you should know that there are several ways to plant it. And therefore several specific moments.

In case you opt for plant it from seedin addition to arming yourself with a lot, a lot of patienceyou will have to do it in springsince it is the best time for them to germinate, when the cold is over.

However, if you prefer to go for a root balled tree, then consider always planting it in the fall. Of course, during that first year you must protect it from winter, frost and extreme cold so that it does not deteriorate (keep in mind that it has to get used to its new location).

Earth

Prefers soils rich in organic matterthat is, fertile. It tolerates waterlogging, but will not live if the ground is kept dry for a long time.

In case you want to have it in a pot for a while, or if it is still a seedling, you can grow it in a pot with universal substrate, or mulch.

Irrigation

The ash tree wants water, and enough. Does not resist drought at all; in fact, I had one myself (I live in Mallorca, where the climate is typical Mediterranean, with heat and drought in summer) and the leaves began to turn brown when they lacked hydration.

Ideally, water it 3-4 times a week during the hottest and driest time of the year. In winter, as its activity will be drastically reduced due to the drop in temperatures, it will have to be watered less, once a week or so.

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It is interesting that, during spring and summeryou put some type of organic compost on it. For example, guano, mulch, or compost.

Pruning

The ash tree does not need pruning, as it is a tree whose beauty lies precisely in its natural growth and development (that is, not forced by humans). Yes, it is advisable to cut the dry branches at the end of winter, but nothing more.

Plagues and diseases

Although the ash tree is a tree that you might consider weak, the truth is that it has some pests and diseases that, by attacking it, can easily end its life. In fact, it is a big problem and the reason why you will have to watch it to prevent them or to act in time in case they occur.

The most common and those that can put the life of the tree at risk are the following:

acronecrosis

It is produced by a fungus, Chalara fraxinea. It is perhaps the most dangerous and deadly thing that can affect it, and that is that it attacks any ash tree, regardless of its age and condition.

It is characterized by causing necrosis in the branches, leaves and little by little in the whole tree. As if it dried.

Worst of all, there is no cure, and the only way to keep it from affecting others is to nip it in the bud and burn it as soon as possible.

Agrilus planipennis

This strange name is actually that of a beetle. One that can be deadly. It affects many ash trees because this animal is able to live in the wood of the tree.

In North America, for example, they are fighting this plague because if it affects the ash tree, it kills it without being able to remedy it.

sphinx ligustri

It is another of the pests that must be watched, especially in the months of July and August, which are when they are most likely to appear. And what is? Well, we are talking about a lepidoptera, that is, a flying insect, which attacks the ash tree at night.

Its presence can be detected in the tree because it causes complete defoliation.

abraxas pantaria

Continuing with the beetles, you should not only worry about one, but several. Another of the important ones that are a pest for the ash tree is this one that damages the tree in several phases: as a larva, it will consume the leaves and cause defoliation to occur. At this stage, it can be removed. Already in the adult phase it is more complicated, and what it does is completely consume the tree.

emerald borer

This insect, a mix between a wasp and a beetle, is a major problem for ash trees, because they can kill them in a very short time.

Being an adult does not cause problems. Until the moment of laying the eggs arrives. When this happens, this animal is capable of making a hole at the base of its trunk and leaving its eggs there. Upon hatching, the larvae enter the tree and consume it from the inside. In other words, they kill them.

listen vesicatoria

Another of the pests that you cannot lose sight of in ash trees is this, that of a beetle (another beetle) characterized by having a body with metallic reflections (and measure between 15 and 20mm) that can completely defoliate the plant.

Root rot

This sickness It has to do with excessive risks.which causes the leaves to look yellow or brown and fall off. The problem is that, when we see it like this, we tend to end up watering more and of course, we kill it completely.

ash TB

It is caused by a bacterium, the pseudomonas syringae, capable of creating lumps on the trunk of the tree as tubercles. At first they are isolated, and it is possible that for that reason you do not give importance to it, but as time goes on new ones will form and weaken the plant itself.

The only solution in these cases is to remove those parts and apply some treatment to prevent it from spreading (such as a cupric fungicide).

Rusticity

Resists up to -18ºC.

What types of ash are there?

After all we’ve talked about, there’s no doubt that the ash is one of the most imposing and beautiful trees you could have in your garden for many, many years. However, one thing you may not know is how many types of ash trees there are. Because we not only have one species, but many.

Specifically, and related to the genus Fraxinus, to which the ash tree belongs, we can find about 60 different species. What does it depend on? Well, from the area of ​​the world as well as from the growth that it has.

Not all of them are known, and in fact giving you a list would be too boring, so we are going to tell you a little about which are the most representative and which are easier to find.

Ashinus americana

It is capable of measuring more than 15 meters and is resistant to frost and extreme cold. Its trunk is very straight and grows very fast, developing a large crown. Its leaves are deciduous and are characterized by having between 5 and 9 green or yellow lanceonate leaves in autumn.

Ash narrowfolia

It is also called the “southern ash” and the truth is that it is one of the largest. Can reach 25 meters in height and has a gray trunk. The leaves (always three by three) are made up of about 11 leaflets and it also has flowers, although these are not very pretty.

higher ash

You may not know him by this name, but in reality it is the European ash, the most common of all. It has dark brown branches and trunk and green leaves that turn yellow in autumn.

Ash dress

It is capable of growing up to 12 meters high and is characterized by its green leaves accompanied by very fragrant white flowers. Yes, it is from deciduous leaf and the flowers remain a few months (between the end of spring and the beginning of summer).

Pennsylvania ash

It is called the American red ash, or green ash. It can reach 15-20 meters in height and is characterized by having a very straight trunk with a wide crown that provides a lot of shade.

How are the roots of the ash tree?

We must warn you that the ash it is a tree whose root system is not small to say the least. Nor weak. It seeks moisture and is capable of developing fairly large and strong roots. So much so that they could damage the buildings around them.

Therefore, it is recommended that, at the time of putting it, there is no one in a radius of 10 meters. In this way we will ensure that the tree does not negatively affect any construction.

How does the ash tree look in the fall?

One of the most beautiful characteristics of the ash tree is the ability to change the hue of its leaves. While in spring and summer they are usually dark green, in autumn they change to yellow. Yes, it will look as if they fell off, but it is actually something from the tree and will last for a few weeks.

In addition, it also has white flowers, very showy and with an intoxicating aroma.

What do you think of the ash tree?