Ash tree problem

[T A Derrickson]

 

  

  

  

  Howdy from Tennessee.

I have noticed an Ash tree on my farm is not budding out this year. I've attached some pic's of what may be the problem. Question is - what is causing this?

Thanks!

[WDH]

It is a heart rot fungus.  Harvest the tree.  It has reached the end of its life. 

[Ron Wenrich]

Looks to me that the tree got skinned up.  Something took a chunk of bark off, and that invited the heartrot fungus.  The tree couldn't heal it over.

The tree death could be due to something else.  Up our way, ash have been dying off due to a variety of sources.  The emerald ash borer is just getting into the area.  We've also had problems with anthracnose and ash dieback.  Your tree is weakened due to the heart rot, and would be more susceptible to any type of attack.

[T A Derrickson]

Thanks so much for the diagnosis. Tree is coming down tomorrow.

Do I need to be worried about the fungus spreading?  Any special precautions I need to take?

Thanks again.

[WDH]

No.  The fungal spores are everywhere in the environment already.  Fungal spores are everywhere. That is the way of things.