My last Ash tree is done. I'm wondering how long you folks would let it stand. I'm 3years ahead, though not css for 3years. About 2 with the dead ash in my stacks. It's close to the house,but wouldn't crush it.
If you feel alright about leaving it up, then by all means. Seeing as how it is probably infested, well then....
After a year or so the top will shatter like fine crystal dropped on concrete when the tree hits the ground. Not so much a problem as it is a mess to clean up.
I fell a 2+ year dead standing a couple weeks ago. The tops exploded. I just raked all the sticks together and burned them right on the (stone) driveway
I'd drop it this summer. If not this memorial day weekend. You don't want to be looking at a dead tree all summer. In the stacks it will be future btu's.
I've never noticed that many sticks coming down until after many years being dead. How long will they last after no leaf? That is always difficult to tell but in our experience, many, many years as ash is a long lasting wood. However, over time the roots dry and rot out and then the tree can come tumbling down. We have had just a very few break the tops out before the whole tree dropped but not many. To be safe and to have it look better in the yard, probably best to get it down but worry not about the wood keeping. Split and stack then top cover and it will last decades.
Too bad about the bugs. I'm hoping for some kind of miracle where it doesn't make it here. I couldn't begin to guess how many I have - I'd have to give an estimate in acres. To your question, if it was me, dead = fair game. And I don't like looking at dead trees in my lawn for very long. They look much nicer CSS'd. :stacke:
I'm surprised you're not seeing EAB there, it's been here in central Pa for a couple of years. Hopefully it stays away from your area
I have one that almost died last year, I think it had one branch with green leaves on it. This year it's toast. In my experience, as soon as they're noticeably dead, they barf sticks all over the place and explode when dropped. Cut as soon as possible to minimize debris spread, and it will be seasoned and ready to use by fall if necessary. Ash will stay good in the stacks for years if kept dry.
