In Kentucky, ash trees are being threatened by a non-native insect called the emerald ash borer (EAB). Native to eastern Asia, EAB was first discovered in North America in 2002 in southeast Michigan.
Since then, it has been moving steadily west, and was first discovered in Kentucky in 2009 in Montgomery County. The insect attacks all species of ash trees, and although it does not typically kill them outright, it causes enough damage that the tree eventually dies.
EAB feeds on the inner bark of the tree, disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and food. EAB larvae then create serpentine-shaped tunnels just beneath the bark, interfering with the flow of sap and further weakening the tree.
In addition, adult EABs lay eggs on the bark, which hatch and further damage the tree. Eventually, after 3-4 years of EAB attack, the tree will die. Easily spread through human movement, EAB can affect entire forests and has become one of the most destructive invasive insect species in the U. S.
The best way to protect ash trees in Kentucky is to always check firewood before moving it across county lines, as this is one of the main ways that EAB spreads. There are also insecticides available to prevent and treat EAB infestations; however, these must be applied early in the season and they must be repeated annually.
If it is too late to save an ash tree, homeowners should replace it with a different species to prevent its demise.
What states have ash trees?
Ash trees can be found across much of the United States. More specifically, they can be found in all states east of the Rockies, as well as in some states west of the Rockies, with the exception of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.
This includes states such as Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and North Dakota.
Ash trees may also be found in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
How do you tell if a tree is an ash tree?
First, look for compound leaves, with 5 to 9 leaflets. Also look for small buds that have short stalks, the leaflets will have smooth margins, and the underside of the leaves will generally have a whitish or gray-green hue.
The bark of the ash tree will be scaly and generally have diamond patterns. Look for clusters of small purple flowers, and light brown seed pods with seeds that have a propeller shape. The bark will turn darker as the tree matures.
Additionally, ash wood is tougher than other hardwoods, so check the wood to see if it’s strong and heavy. Lastly, ash trees are particularly susceptible to attacks by the emerald ash borer, so check for signs of infestation.
If the tree has any of these signs, then it may be an ash tree.
Where are ash trees grown?
Ash trees (Fraxinus species) can be found growing in a variety of areas worldwide. It is a species of tree that is native to temperate climates in the northern hemisphere, and parts of South America, Australasia, and Africa.
In North America, they can be found in most parts of the continent, including Alaska and northern Canada. In Europe they are found as far north as Scandinavia, and as far south as Portugal. In the eastern United States, ash trees thrive in large numbers, especially in the Appalachian and Great Lakes regions.
They are also found in abundance throughout the Midwest, Southeast, Gulf Coast, Southwest, and California. Ash trees prefer moist, fertile soil and well-drained areas. They will tolerate cold temperatures and drought, but their growth is more rapid in areas with adequate moisture and drainage.
Why are ash trees special?
Ash trees are special for a variety of reasons. They are incredibly resilient and hardy, making them a great choice for a variety of landscapes. They have a long lifespan and adapt to a variety of soil types and climates.
Ash trees are fast-growing, strong and have a beautiful branching pattern when mature. Additionally, ash trees help support wildlife, providing a great source of food, shelter, and nesting grounds for birds.
The leaves provide food for wildlife and the tree’s large, spreading canopy also provides shade. Ash trees are also a popular source of wood, as they are extremely durable and make great firewood. Ash wood also has many uses in carpentry, furniture making, and even instrument making.
Ash trees not only provide captivating beauty and vast eco-benefits, but they can also be used for a variety of crafts and projects.
Are ash trees good for yard?
Yes, ash trees are a great choice for yards. Ash trees are attractive trees that come in a wide range of sizes, making them perfect for any yard size. They have a strong, straight trunk and an upright, oval-shaped canopy that provides pleasant shade year-round.
They are also very disease resistant, making them a great choice for those who want a low-maintenance tree. In addition, because of their wide spread and branching structure, ash trees are also very wind-resistant and can weather storms better than many other trees.
Finally, ash trees are excellent in attracting birds, providing a colorful and lively addition to your yard.
Is ash wood good to burn?
Whether or not ash wood is good to burn depends on a few different factors. Generally speaking, ash wood is considered to be a hardwood and is a great choice for both a fireplace and a wood stove. As a hardwood, ash wood is dense, providing greater heat output than softwoods and also burns for longer periods of time.
It produces a gradual, steady heat, perfect for maintaining a low-burning fire. Additionally, ash wood is known to have little sap in comparison to other types of wood, meaning it doesn’t spark or pop as much as other types of wood.
Ash wood also releases few sparks, so it’s considered the best choice of firewood when it comes to safety. When it comes to burning ash wood, it is important to note that it can sometimes seem difficult to light, so it is often recommended to make sure the wood is very dry in order to get the most out of the fire.
Do ash trees grow in Florida?
Yes, ash trees can be found in many parts of Florida. Ash trees are in the genus Fraxinus and are members of the Oleaceae family. There are six species of ash trees that can be found in the state. These species include Fraxinus americana (white ash), Fraxinus caroliniana (Carolina ash), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash), Fraxinus profunda (pumpkin ash), Fraxinus tomentosa (Shumard oak), and Fraxinus quadrangulata (blue ash).
These species can be found in a variety of habitats in the state. They may be found growing in damp, fertile areas, on upland sites, in wetland areas, and in coastal plains. Because ash trees prefer moist soils and plenty of sunlight, they are commonly found near wetlands, rivers, streams, and lakes.
Ash trees can be seen growing on roadways, in parks, and in home landscapes. Ash trees are beautiful and can add shade, texture, and color to any landscape.
Why do they call it an ash tree?
The name ash tree is derived from the Old English word “æsc” which is thought to come from the Proto-Germanic word for “spear”. This is likely due to the fact that the ash tree produces strong, straight-grained wood that is highly suitable for use in spears and other weapons.
Since the ash tree was often used to make spears, many cultures associated it with strength and protection which likely led to it being named the “ash tree. ” Ash trees are also easily recognizable by their opposite branching pattern, bark with diamond-shaped ridges, and their compound leaves.
The leaves of an ash tree typically have 5-11 leaflets and their colors often range from light to dark green.
Is the emerald ash borer still a problem?
Yes, the emerald ash borer is still a problem. The emerald ash borer is an invasive species of beetle from Asia that was accidentally introduced to the United States in the early 2000s. It has caused devastation to the ash tree population across the United States, killing millions of ash trees.
The beetle feeds on and bores into the bark of ash trees, preventing water and nutrients from reaching the tree. The larvae of the beetle also damage the tree’s inner bark and core wood, leading to fungal infections and eventual tree death.
The emerald ash borer continues to spread and cause serious environmental damage, and the insect’s range has spread to over 30 states in the United States. As of now, there are no successful methods to fully eradicate the beetle population, meaning widespread damage is unavoidable.
Scientists and arborists are researching and developing ways to contain the spread of the beetle, but unfortunately, the emerald ash borer is still a major problem.
Where is the emerald ash borer now?
The emerald ash borer (EAB) has spread throughout the United States and is now present in 35 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
EAB has also been found in the province of Ontario in Canada. It is believed that EAB was transported in the wood of shipping crates and pallets, and has been spread throughout North America since its original detection in 2002 near Detroit.
The EAB is still spreading to new locations, so it is important to remain vigilant and actively monitor the spread at the local level.
Do emerald ash borers live in dead wood?
No, emerald ash borers (EABs) do not typically live in dead wood. They are a species of beetle that primarily targets and feeds on ash trees (Fraxinus species). Because EABs prefer to feed on ash tree tissue that still contains a healthy balance of nutrients, they are found mainly in living ash tree bark and wood.
When an ash tree has already died or is significantly weakened, EABs will usually become inactive or depart the tree in search of other, healthier food sources. The exception to this is when a dead EAB tree is infested by a new generation of EABs; however this is not a common or significant source of infestation.
What trees look like an ash tree?
The most common are boxelder, mountain ash, and blue ash. Boxelder trees are usually identified by their smooth bark, which can appear light grayish-brown or reddish-brown. The leaves of the boxelder tree have 3-5 distinct leaflets, and its fruit resembles small butterfly wings.
Mountain ash trees have leaves that are bright green with deep lobes, which resemble a hand with five fingers. The bark of this tree is usually light grayish-brown or reddish-brown and is scaly or grooved.
Blue ashes can be identified by their papery bark, which is usually a medium gray. The leaves of the blue ash tree have leaflets that are more dimensional than the boxelder tree and they also have slightly serrated edges.
The blue ash tree also produces a round, samara-like fruit. All of these trees have pinnately compound leaves and can easily be confused with an ash tree.
How can you tell an ash tree from a leaf?
Differentiating between an ash tree and a leaf can be tricky since they are both generally green in color. One of the best ways to tell them apart is to look carefully at the shape and arrangement of the leaves.
Ash trees typically have leaves that are compound and oval shaped, with several leaflets growing on a single stem. These leaflets are arranged alternately up and down the stem, which is another way to tell an ash tree from a leaf.
Additionally, ash trees can be identified by the diamond-shaped pattern that their buds form on the twigs. The buds are greyish-brown in color and clustered together in pairs, which form a diamond-like shape.
Finally, ash trees are easily identified in the autumn months by the clusters of small, green to purple samaras they produce. The samaras are long, thin seed pods that hang in clusters from the branches of the tree.
This can help you to easily differentiate an ash tree from a leaf.
What is the difference between an ash tree and a mountain ash tree?
An ash tree (Fraxinus) is a species of flowering plant in the olive family and is native to the Northern Hemisphere. Ash trees are often large and can reach heights up to 45 meters (140 feet). They are deciduous trees that are valued for their hard and strong wood.
Ash trees have pinnate leaves, meaning the leaflets are arranged along the central stalk of the leaf in a feather pattern. The flowers are small, often greenish-white, and the fruit is a long, narrow samara that are commonly referred to as keys.
Mountain ash (Sorbus) trees are a different species of flowering plant in the rose family. Mountain ash is native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Mountain ash trees are much shorter than ash trees and are often used for ornamental landscaping due to their impressive appearance and ease of growth.
They are deciduous trees and generally grow between 6 and 12 meters (20 to 40 feet). Mountain ash leaves are simple, not pinnate like the leaves of and ash trees. They are alternate and have serrated margins, which give the trees a fern-like appearance.
The flowers have 5 petals each and are yellow or white. The fruit of mountain ash trees is a bright red or orange berry-like pome with 1 to 5 seeds inside.