Sick Raywood Ash on a Cul-de-Sac

Q. We have four established Raywood ash trees on our small cul-de-sac. Three are doing fine but the one directly in front of my condo is not. Just over the last few weeks, several brown dying  branches have appeared. Our landscaper said all that needed to be done was to trim the branches and give it more water. What’s your thoughts?

A. Large dying branches in ash trees may be from a disease called ash decline. It can be from a lack of water but if the tree doesn’t look much better after three weeks when larger amounts of water are applied, then it is probably ash decline disease. There is no cure for ash decline and the tree should be replaced with a tree that is NOT an ash tree.  

Ash decline disease or drought. Water the area under the tree with a sprinkler for an hour once a week for three weeks and find out.

            Plant diseases don't happen all at once just like they don't happen all at once with diseases in humans or animals. The reason you see it on one tree is because it may be just beginning. Eventually if one tree has it, they will all get it whether that is in 10 years or 15 years, I don't know. Keep an eye on the others. Remove infected trees early.