QuestionWe have 2 Shamel Ash trees in our front yard. The trees were here when we purchased the house in 1990. They were probably planted when the house was built in 1980 or soon thereafter. WIthin the last year, the leaves severely fell off and branches died and were removed. Then the bark began to separate and most of it fell off during a storm. What treatment is indicated? And/or are they likely to fall soon and should be taken down? One tree is approx. 30' tall with 16" trunk diameter; the other is approx. 20' tall with a 12" trunk diameter.
AnswerIf they still have some green foliage I would fertilize them with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good--apply just before a rain storm and you will not have to water. IF 3/4 of the foliage is dead or dying I would start plans to remove the tree. You can wait until next spring to see if the tree leafs out. If the bark all the way around the trunk is dead and peeling the tree will not last too long. Sorry.
