Can this Ash be saved?

[aesmith]

Hi,

This tree originally had three main stems, one going straight up,  one to the North running near vertical with little branching until the top, and the third branch to the South where it's not shaded by anything is more spread out.   A few years ago the central stem broke off at around 30'.    Now last week the North stem failed where it branches from the main trunk.  That happened during strong winds but it looks as if it was rotten internally and I'm wondering if the tree can recover.  And if it can, would we be better cutting back the branch to the S to remove some of the weight on the joint?

 

Here's the remaining tree after the severed branch was removed (visible in background) ..

 

And close up of the damage on the main trunk.  The split runs maybe 5 or 6 inches below the saw cut ...

 

Thanks, Tony S

[nepia]

The tree won't die but it presents a great opportunity for other lives - fungi, bacteria, insects and so on.  By all means reduce the south limb to reduce leverage but the tree overall is now a real habitat in the making.

Edited October 19, 2018 by nepia

[Treeation]

Theres no reason to presume the tree cant have a future....might not look the best balance wise and long term it may not survive the oncoming pressure from ash die back but in theory it will carry on for years as it is and as Nepia says will be a fantastic habitat veteran tree in the making

[aesmith]

Great thanks, I'm all in favour of habitat.   Unless someone thinks otherwise I think what we'll do is reduce that S limb removing the lower parts, and we'll see how it goes.  The good news is that in it's location it's unlikely to do much damage if yet another part breaks off.  Would it be worth bevelling the saw cut so it's not horizontal?

 

Ash die back is an issue given so much of our cover is Ash, but growing up replacements will take a lot of time.  I might plant Beech in a suitable place near this one as an eventual successor, we'll be planting some in any case this winter.