The Master Gardener Articles

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Ash Replacement Trees for EAB Damage

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) may result in a loss of many of our ash trees in Union County. If you are not sure of the trees you have on your property, bring in a leaf sample to OSU Extension Office for I.D. If the leaves are growing opposite on the branch and consist of 5-9 leaflets, it is probably an ash. It’s not too early to consider planting replacement trees. In OSU bulletin 924 (Ash Replacements for Urban and Woodland Planting) bald cypress is one of the trees recommended. Bald Cypress (Taxadium distichum) will grow well in coarse sand to heavy clay with soil pH of 4.5 (acid) to 7.5 (alkaline). It will tolerate excessively wet soils and is drought tolerant once established. This conifer loses its leaves in the winter (deciduous conifer). Its leaves are very fine textured, medium green, turning russet in the fall. The fibrous bark is a reddish brown and quite attractive.  Grows up to 50 feet in 30-40 years. It has a columnar habit of growth and will do well in narrow landscape area.

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is another excellent replacement for Ash. The maple tolerates heavy clay soils which are slightly acid (6.5 – 7.0 pH). It tolerates wet sites well but does not do well on droughty sites. It will exhibit micronutrient deficiencies in high pH soils (>7.0). The foliage is medium textured, dark green on top and light on the underside. Fall color is outstanding (yellow to scarlet). This tree has an upright oval shape. ‘Autumn Blaze’ is an outstanding cultivar of red maple. It is more drought tolerant then the true Acer rubrum cultivars and has excellent fall color. For more information on Ash Replacement Trees see ‘Ash Replacements for Urban and Woodland Plantings OSU Bulletin 924 or contact George McVey, Extension Program Assistant, Horticulture, Master Gardener Coordinator at gmcvey@ag.osu.edu or call the OSU Extension Office, Union County at 937.644.8117 or toll free at 800.859.8584.