Ash trees are dying by the millions due to a combination of factors, including climate change, insect infestations, and disease. One of the main culprits is the emerald ash borer, an invasive species of beetle that has killed millions of ash trees in North America, particuarily in states and provinces that surround the Great Lakes.
The emerald ash borer is a small beetle that attacks all species of ash trees, including white ash, green ash, and black ash. The beetles lay their eggs on the bark of the trees, and when the eggs hatch, the larvae bore into the tree and feed on the inner bark, disrupting the tree's ability to transport nutrients and water.
Climate change is also a contributing factor in the decline of ash trees. Warmer temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns can make trees more susceptible to insect infestations and diseases.
Unfortunately, there is currently no effective treatment for emerald ash borer infestations, and many ash trees have had to be removed to prevent the spread of the beetles. However, there are efforts underway to develop new strategies for controlling the beetles and protecting ash trees from further damage, including growing trees out west in protected micro-climate zones.
The amount of destruction is staggering. Almost every ash tree is infected. Scientists predict that more than 99% of all ash trees growing in the east will die off by the time this is over.
The insect doing all the damage of course is the emerald ash borer, an invasive creature that drills deep into the tree to nest in the fall and lay eggs. Thousands hatch the following spring emerging from the inner tree to strip off just about every leaf that grows on the tree. Two or three years of this eventually kills the tree.
While scientists attempt to create a borer resistant ash tree, Tree Plantation is working on establishing protected "safe zones" to grow ash trees. Particularly white ash in different parts of world to save this tree. Some of these areas are in western Canada, Washington and Oregon States, while others are across oceans in New Zealand, the U.K. and North Central Continental Europe.
At the time of this writing, there are no ash tree plantations due to the fact that this tree until recently was naturally abundant in Eastern North America.
Growing white or green ash in a conventional cultivated row plantation would be almost guaranteed to fail if established in the east. In the west, this type of plantation would fare better but would have difficulty adapting to a new growing environment (less humidity). It would also be susceptible to stronger winds that commonly blow over the open topography of the west.
A Crop Circle Tree Plantation, however, would protect trees from the prevailing wind and hold moisture, thereby building and retaining humidity close to the trees growing within the plantation. As the trees mature and bear seeds, they are gathered and stored to repopulate the east once the borer has run out of trees to feed on and eventually dies off and save the ash tree from extinction.
White ash (Fraxinus americana) is a species of ash tree that is native to eastern North America. It is a large deciduous tree that can grow up to 80 feet tall with a trunk diameter of up to 3 feet. White ash is commonly found in hardwood forests and is also widely planted as a shade tree.
White ash wood is highly valued for its strength, flexibility, and shock resistance. The wood has a light to medium brown color with a straight grain pattern and a relatively coarse texture. It is easy to work with hand and machine tools and takes stain and finishes well. White ash wood is used in the construction of furniture, flooring, tool handles, sports equipment, and other items that require a strong and flexible wood.
In addition to its use as a source of wood, white ash has a range of other uses. The tree is commonly planted as a shade tree and is also used for erosion control and habitat restoration. The leaves and bark of the tree have been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including fever, coughs, and sore throats.
The value of white ash wood depends on its quality and market demand. It is widely considered to be one of the premier hardwoods and is highly valued by woodworkers, artisans, and craftspeople. However, white ash trees have been affected by the emerald ash borer, a destructive insect that has led to a decline in availability. As a result, the value of white ash wood may increase in the future. Overall, white ash is a versatile and valuable species of tree with a range of uses and qualities.
White ash can grow more than 200 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter. Finding a tree of that size, however, is extremely rare. More than likely it was cut down decades ago or has died from the current insect infestation.
WWhite ash wood, green ash wood, black ash wood, blue ash wood, Carolina ash wood, and manna ash wood all come from different species of ash trees and have distinct qualities and uses. Here are some of the key differences between these types of ash wood:
The following comments were collected from a national wood products discussion forum using white ash in the United States and Canada.
White ash wood should be kiln dried before milling. I have been a professional floorman for years and have seen the effects that moisture can have on wood floors. First, it will acclimate to less than 12% and that takes more than a few weeks in the house. If you are in a very dry climate, it can go as low as 5%. In Oklahoma it varies from 6 to 9 % depending on the season. There will be seasonal movement if you have humidity fluctuation. Secondly, if you lay flooring with too high of a moisture content over a moisture barrier (not optional) and sand it flat, the top of the board will dry out faster than the bottom and the result will be cupping. Even if you are laying 1.5" flooring, wide plank will cup even more noticeably. If you re-sand, it will crown when it finally dries out completely, so remember, be safe and buy kiln dried ash.
When my parents passed away, I inherited the family farm, which I hadn't explored since I was a kid. The farm is large, about 800 acres including a 300-acre woodlot. I had a professional timber man survey the woodlot so I could get an idea of what was there wood wise. It turns out that 40 percent of the woodlot was populated white ash. My dad and his dad before him had managed the bush pretty good as most the white ash where over 100 years old and 150 feet tall. My timber man expressed interest in cutting the white ash out of there for $250,000, but I think I will continue to manage the forest and keep the farm in the family. Fortunately, I don’t need the money so it's nice to be able to leave them as is.
Not only has the Emerald Ash borer devastated white ash but it is killing all the green ash across the American east as well. The devastation is most noticeable in cities and towns where green ash was planted as a landscape tree.
Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is a species of ash tree that is native to North America. It is a medium to large-sized deciduous tree that can grow up to 70 feet tall with a trunk diameter of up to 2 feet. Green ash is commonly found in riparian zones and floodplains, but can also grow in upland areas.
Green ash wood is valued for its strength, flexibility, and shock resistance. The wood has a light yellow to brown color with a straight grain pattern and a relatively coarse texture. It is easy to work with hand and machine tools and takes stain and finishes well. Green ash wood is used in the construction of furniture, flooring, tool handles, sports equipment, and other items that require a strong and flexible wood.
In addition to its use as a source of wood, green ash has a range of other uses. The tree is commonly planted as a shade tree and is also used for erosion control and habitat restoration. The leaves and bark of the tree have been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including fever, coughs, and sore throats.
The value of green ash wood depends on its quality and market demand. It is widely available and less expensive than other species of ash trees, such as white ash or black ash. However, like other species of ash trees, green ash has been affected by the emerald ash borer and other factors that have led to a decline in availability. As a result, the value of green ash wood may increase in the future, making it a sought-after wood for woodworkers, artisans, and craftspeople. Overall, green ash is a versatile and valuable species of tree with a range of uses and qualities.
Black ash (Fraxinus nigra) is a species of ash tree that is native to North America. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree that can grow up to 80 feet tall with a trunk diameter of up to 3 feet. Black ash is commonly found in wetland habitats such as swamps, bogs, and riverbanks.
Black ash is highly valued for its wood, which has a unique structure that makes it ideal for weaving and basket making. The wood is very flexible and can be easily split into thin, even strips. This property makes it perfect for weaving baskets, furniture, and other household items.
In addition to its uses in weaving and basket making, black ash wood is also valued for its strength, durability, and shock resistance. It is used in the construction of tool handles, baseball bats, and other items that require a strong and durable wood.
Black ash wood has a distinct light brown color with a straight grain pattern. The wood has a fine texture and a relatively low density, making it easy to work with hand and machine tools. Black ash is also resistant to rot and decay, which makes it a popular choice for outdoor projects.
The value of black ash wood varies depending on the quality of the wood and the market demand. However, due to the decline of ash trees caused by the emerald ash borer and other factors, the availability of black ash wood has become limited, which has led to an increase in its value. Today, black ash is highly sought after by artisans, craftspeople, and woodworkers who appreciate its unique qualities and versatility.
Blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata) is a species of ash tree that is native to the eastern and central regions of North America. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree that can grow up to 80 feet tall with a trunk diameter of up to 3 feet. Blue ash is named after the blue-green dye that is extracted from its inner bark.
Blue ash wood is highly valued for its strength and durability. It has a distinct blue-gray color and a pronounced grain pattern. The wood is very hard and dense, making it ideal for use in flooring, furniture, tool handles, and other applications that require a strong and durable wood.
In addition to its use as a source of wood, blue ash has historically been used for medicinal purposes. The inner bark of the tree contains a compound called fraxin, which has been used to treat a variety of ailments, including fever, dysentery, and rheumatism.
The value of blue ash wood depends on its quality and market demand. However, like other species of ash trees, blue ash has been affected by the emerald ash borer and other factors that have led to a decline in availability. As a result, the value of blue ash wood has increased in recent years, making it a sought-after wood for woodworkers, artisans, and craftspeople.
In addition to its wood and medicinal properties, blue ash is also valued for its ornamental qualities. The tree has attractive bark, leaves, and flowers, which make it a popular choice for landscaping and urban forestry projects. Overall, blue ash is a versatile and valuable species of tree with a range of uses and qualities.
Carolina ash (Fraxinus caroliniana) is a species of ash tree that is native to the southeastern United States. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree that can grow up to 50 feet tall with a trunk diameter of up to 2 feet. Carolina ash is found in a variety of habitats, including swamps, floodplains, and upland forests.
Carolina ash wood is highly valued for its strength, durability, and shock resistance. It is used in the construction of tool handles, sports equipment, furniture, and other items that require a strong and durable wood. The wood has a light brown color with a straight grain pattern and a relatively fine texture. It is easy to work with hand and machine tools and takes stain and finishes well.
In addition to its use as a source of wood, Carolina ash has a range of other uses. The tree has been used for medicinal purposes by Native American tribes, who used a tea made from the bark to treat a variety of ailments. The tree is also valued for its ornamental qualities and is planted in urban and suburban areas for its shade and attractive foliage.
The value of Carolina ash wood depends on its quality and market demand. However, like other species of ash trees, Carolina ash has been affected by the emerald ash borer and other factors that have led to a decline in availability. As a result, the value of Carolina ash wood has increased in recent years, making it a sought-after wood for woodworkers, artisans, and craftspeople. Overall, Carolina ash is a versatile and valuable species of tree with a range of uses and qualities.
Manna ash (Fraxinus ornus) is a species of ash tree that is native to southern Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 feet tall with a trunk diameter of up to 2 feet. Manna ash is named after the sweet, sugary sap that exudes from the tree in the summer months, which has been used as a natural sweetener and medicinal agent.
Manna ash wood is valued for its strength, toughness, and elasticity. The wood has a light brown to white color with a straight grain pattern and a relatively fine texture. It is easy to work with hand and machine tools and takes stain and finishes well. Manna ash wood is used in the construction of furniture, tool handles, sports equipment, and other items that require a strong and durable wood.
In addition to its use as a source of wood, manna ash has a range of other uses. The sweet sap that exudes from the tree has been used as a natural sweetener, and the tree has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including coughs, fever, and digestive problems.
The value of manna ash wood depends on its quality and market demand. While not as well-known as other species of ash trees, such as white ash or black ash, manna ash wood is still highly valued by woodworkers and artisans for its strength, durability, and attractive appearance. Overall, manna ash is a versatile and valuable species of tree with a range of uses and qualities.
