The most central and largest branch of our Mountain Ash is dying (woodpeckers are also at it) and the trunk looks like this. Is this a simple case of prune the dead branch and a bleached trunk? My wife seems to think it makes less and less berries each year.
It’s our most loved tree so hoping it’s nothing major.
by mlaneville
4 Comments
Where are you located? Any time I see a dying ash I pretty much assume emerald ash borer.
I don’t believe EAB goes after mountain ash as it’s not a real ash. I could be wrong as I was an arborist in western Canada for 16 years where EAB is not there yet (Calgary), and now in eastern Canada (SW Ontario) it’s very well a real thing.
Most likely fireblight in my opinion but without a in person inspection, hard to say.
Based on the 2 images provided, your mountain-ash may or may not be in decline.
Definitely looks like it’s in decline. Unfortunately mountain ash doesn’t compartmentalize very well so the mortality spiral is much quicker. I usually see them with some sort of white rot or fire blight around me, and if they’re older they’re usually coming out