Lots of dead EAB Ash trees on our new property. My area was basically ground zero for EAB. Figured Id do some test cuts on the stuff on the ground was hoping it would still be good and...... It is. Pretty amazing and awesome its still good. Going to burn some of it tonight.
Nice salvaging on the long-dead Ash. Let her rip tater chip! Here in Connecticut EAB wasn't detected until 2012, and I've harvested a couple trees that were down on the ground about 3 years that were barely worth my time. That outer punky layer was spreading like cancer deep into the heart wood. It probably didn't help that the ones I went after were close to wetlands.
Yeah I have a theory maybe the longer they stay standing before they fall the grain tightens some and prevents rot.
Most standing dead EAB ash have it rot from the ground up and top down. Middle section was still pretty good. Cut some in early November and it was just used. Ive seen downed dead trees stay good for a couple years especially in the bark is off. I have several in my woods i want to harvest. Snow cover has me waiting to
Amazing how long it stays good even when on the ground. Cut some behind my in laws neighbors last winter that I could tell had been down for some time and it was still good.
We started cutting EAB damaged trees in 2002. Although I don't remember what year some started falling, but it may have been 2015. I think I cut the last dead ash in the winter of 2018-19. There are still a few standing but not many and no doubt not worth cutting.
I've been burning a lot of EAB ash for the last couple of years. It's easy to scrounge with all the trees they're taking down around me. People call me often to get the cut piles out of their yards. Dries fast, ignites easy and puts out decent heat. The only down side is it's poor coaling .
I'm surprised there's any bark left on 10 yr old eab killed ash. My last couple of standing ash in the yard still have bark, but it is starting to slough off. They died only last year as the first non leaf out years. These will be coming down this spring. Then going right into the stacks.
