Ash Tree Replacements

[bugs4cy]

There are 9 counties in Iowa that are known to be infested. To see the map, go to http://iowatreepests.com/eab_locations.html. At this point in time, Polk is not known to be infested.

Why do I keep using the words 'known to be infested'? Because infestations are generally 3-5 years old before we find them. We follow up on suspect tree calls on a daily basis. Last week alone we took down entire trees or branches of ~5 trees in Polk County alone - we did not find an EAB infestation in any of them.

ISU Extension recommends that homeowners consider a treatment if EAB is known to be within 15 miles of your tree if you wish to keep/prolong the life of your ash. AND, you need to evaluate the health and size of the tree to determine if it is a good candidate for treatment. ISU's bulletin on treatment options can be downloaded for free here.

Discount removals … I have mixed feeling about the word 'discount'. I receive too many calls from homeowners that prepay fly-by-night people to trim and/or remove trees. Make sure you hire someone that is insured - here is a great list of things to consider. I am constantly amazed how many people pre-pay for services, fail to get a contract in writing, and general engage in sketchy practices and then are completely amazed it blows up in their face.

If you want to treat, I recommend you consider hiring a profession to inject. There is a compound that is labeled for 2 years (and early research is showing 3 years when not in the worst part of the infestation curve), so you don't have to treat every year. I am not a fan of the homeowner-applied compounds that can run off site, fail to be taken up by the target tree, be taken up by other plants that pose a risk to pollinators, etc.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. This is how I spend most of my days...

 

[CYCLNST8]

^Thank you^

I was freaked out about a recent local news story. Sounds like they're cutting down all the Ash Trees in Waterworks park. So far it sounds like your options are either:

1) cut the tree down now
2) let the bugs kill your tree, then cut it down
3) treat a healthy tree every 2-3 years for the rest of eternity.

I love the shade my ash provides. I'd hate to lose it.

 

[VeloClone]

I was surprised to find out about the Japanese Beetles/Linden conection since the two lindens in my front yard have about doubled in size since I moved into my house about 9 1/2 years ago with no evidence of defoliation. Maybe the beetles can't handle the Minnesota climate enough to really thrive.

I also have an ash in my backyard and I'm sure is just a matter of time. It is a crooked, leaning tree that isn't worth saving but unfortunately is really the only source of substantial mid-afternoon shade on my house. I guess I should avoid the rush and co-plant the tree's replacement now. If my ash is roughly 8" in diameter how close can I safely plant the replacement? We kind of like the location and don't want to go too far away if we can help it. I already have about 16 trees on my 1/3 acre lot - 13 in that small back yard - so I don't want to further limit the already scarce open space. I already have 3 maples (3 varieties) so I will definitely steer clear of a maple. I'm thinking an oak if I can find one that is relatively fast growing that won't be just a garbage tree.

By the way, where was CF when I lost my flowering crab about 7 years ago? I lost it to some fungus or disease. I heard that it was going around after it was too late - but I'm sure CF would have informed me. I thought the defoliation was just a drought problem. I really liked that little tree.

 

[dtISU]

Bored?

Check out the Iowa DNR Urban Forestry site, where they have links to the 200+ urban tree inventories done so far in Iowa communities with <5,000 residents. Here you can see the species makeup of the public trees. In short = too many maples.

Community Tree Inventories

How can you have too many maples? Maples are awesome trees.

 

[somecyguy]

How can you have too many maples? Maples are awesome trees.

I have 4 maples in my yard and though I do like them, they seem to be more susceptible to strong winds than other trees. Once of them is half as tall after storms took off the top and the other 3 have all had major limbs break. None of the other trees in my yard have that problem.

 

[1100011CS]

I was surprised to find out about the Japanese Beetles/Linden conection since the two lindens in my front yard have about doubled in size since I moved into my house about 9 1/2 years ago with no evidence of defoliation. Maybe the beetles can't handle the Minnesota climate enough to really thrive.

I also have an ash in my backyard and I'm sure is just a matter of time. It is a crooked, leaning tree that isn't worth saving but unfortunately is really the only source of substantial mid-afternoon shade on my house. I guess I should avoid the rush and co-plant the tree's replacement now. If my ash is roughly 8" in diameter how close can I safely plant the replacement? We kind of like the location and don't want to go too far away if we can help it. I already have about 16 trees on my 1/3 acre lot - 13 in that small back yard - so I don't want to further limit the already scarce open space. I already have 3 maples (3 varieties) so I will definitely steer clear of a maple. I'm thinking an oak if I can find one that is relatively fast growing that won't be just a garbage tree.

By the way, where was CF when I lost my flowering crab about 7 years ago? I lost it to some fungus or disease. I heard that it was going around after it was too late - but I'm sure CF would have informed me. I thought the defoliation was just a drought problem. I really liked that little tree.

Is there a thread on CF about this? I have a flowering crab that is dying and it looks like some kind of fungus all over it.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

I was getting worried about my ash trees this year. They are always the last to start leafing out and with the crazy spring we have had they finally started this week.
They were such little sticks when I planted them about 12 years ago and have finally started to look nice and provide some shade on the sidewalk. I would hate to lose them.

 

[VeloClone]

Is there a thread on CF about this? I have a flowering crab that is dying and it looks like some kind of fungus all over it.

I googled. Start here and get help for it now.

https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/bp/bp_39_w.pdf

 

[StClone]

Katsura Tree http://urbanext.illinois.edu/treeselector/detail_plant.cfm?PlantID=194 Big, beautiful, highly rated but requires soil that is not dry. Most irrigated yards in Iowa can grow it (Zone 5) unless rather acidic.

Hackberry gets another vote from me.

 

[norsemen]

We have several large ash trees on our property that I know we will eventually lose. We started planting replacements two years ago and I'll share our list:

Maples - go with sugar or red....red may grow a bit quicker. Avoid silver maples at all costs as rapid growth and weak wood. Will be full-sized trees. Great fall color.

Oak - slow growth but beautiful, strong trees. We have used more red oak or swamp white oak as they seem to grow a bit quicker. Burr or white oks are also available. Will be full size trees.

Ginkgo - beautiful delta shaped leaves turn brilliant yellow in fall. Very slow growth, avoid FEMALE trees as they have stinky fruit.

Black gum or tupelo - new find, lovely tree with shiny green leaves in summer, fire truck red in fall. Slow growth. Plant these next to ginkgo and you have an ISU fall display.

Elm - have tried the new, disease resistant varieties but too soon to tell. Loved the American elms that died off from Dutch Elm disease. Growth should be faster than oaks.

Katsura - smaller tree with beautiful fall foliage. SO far, so good.

My avoid at all costs list:

Silver Maple and willow - soft wood, lots of storm damage
Linden - love the tree but Japanese beetles defoliate
Autumn blaze maple - cross of silver and red maples. Tree has nice color and grows quickly but as others have mentioned, everyone seems to be planting them. Remember diversity!

 

[MaccloNe]

I have a few ABM and love them. Not many in my neighborhood though. My biggest tree is a 13 year old ash and will be a sad day when I lose it. Avoid black alders - they don't get full and have no fall color. Cheap though.

 

[StClone]

Katsura - smaller tree with beautiful fall foliage. SO far, so good.

Good suggestions Norsemen - But, I'd say 40' to 60' foot is not a small tree in reference to the Katsura Tree. Redbud is a small tree and another good recommendation in a lot of Iowa especially south of Highway 20. And in the same area Tulip Tree is a good tough tree; it is the largest native deciduous in the Eastern U.S. and as the name suggestions blooms huge pink on yellow tulip-like blooms.There are few on the Iowa State Campus: http://tinyurl.com/oaqh6ql

 

[DJSteve]

There is a compound that is labeled for 2 years (and early research is showing 3 years when not in the worst part of the infestation curve), so you don't have to treat every year.

Are you referring to Tree-age, or something else? 3 of the 5 trees on my property are ash, so I've been trying to keep an eye on this issue. The research results I saw seemed to indicate tree-age was significantly more effective than previous options... but sounds like it's pretty spendy.

 

[bugs4cy]

Yes, you can have too many maples - - too much of any one thing turns into a problem. Right now, average city in Iowa has 16-17% ash in their public tree inventory. And this same cities are 36% maple. If you think it is a major cost to lose all the ash, double it for maple. Let's say a new insect or disease lands in the US tomorrow that is a maple lover -> there go our maples. Right now Asian long horned beetle (ALB) is feasting on maples (and other trees) in Ohio, Massachusetts, and New York. This is a federally-regulated pest, meaning eradication efforts (including mandatory tree removal or treatment) are underway. We don't wan that hot mess in Iowa.

Linden & Japanese beetle in Minnesota - - Minnesota is partially infested, just like Iowa. JB are hot-spot infestations as the population builds up. One neighborhood can be decimated - another neighbor may not. It can hopscotch across many counties, with those in the middle barely affected.

Waiting to remove an ash tree until it dies -- just note that ash are brittle trees. As they start to decline/die, they start to drop branches. So, evaluated your liability. Will it hit person or property? And, if it is a tricky removal, and an ash is in decline, a climber will not go up in it to piece it out so the cost will increase varying with what equipment is needed.

Tree-Age, or Emamectin benzoate, is the compound that may provide multi-year protection.

I'm sure there was something else I needed to add, but I've lost my train of thought.