Does this need removing?

[JackFairbrother]

Hi, there’s an Ash tree with this damage on the side of it. Do you think it’s best if we remove it if there’s potential to collapse close to the house

 

Thanks!

[sime42]

48 minutes ago, JackFairbrother said:

Hi, there’s an Ash tree with this damage on the side of it. Do you think it’s best if we remove it if there’s potential to collapse close to the house

 

Thanks!

 

I would remove it. With damage like that, whatever it is, it's days are probably numbered. The tree looks to be quite young and small from that photo; easier to do it now rather than when it becomes more of an issue as it grows bigger.

 

 

[Will C]

Have you a picture that shows the whole tree and the context it is in?

I would of said from the bark it looks like ash so has a high chance of dying from adb anyway but any ash that are not infected are important as a future seed bank to breed resistant trees from for the future. 

[JackFairbrother]

8 hours ago, JackFairbrother said:

Hi, there’s an Ash tree with this damage on the side of it. Do you think it’s best if we remove it if there’s potential to collapse close to the house

 

Thanks!

Thanks for your replies. I’ve added the image of tree from further back

[maybelateron]

I reckon that pic is in keeping with it having ADB

[JackFairbrother]

Okay, thank you. Can you explain why? Read online about the crown being reduced ? 

[Mark Bolam]

Reducing the crown is absolutely the last thing you should do to an ash.

The regen is more susceptible to Chalara.

 

It’s got terrible form anyway with that bent trunk and weak union.

 

I would fell it, preferably today.

[sime42]

I quite like that trunk form actually, it's somehow got the form and grace of a belly dancer.

[rapalaman]

That’ll be so brittle it’ll shatter on impact into thousands of pieces if it does have adb. Wouldn’t advise climbing it 👍

[Paul in the woods]

I wouldn't say that tree.has obvious signs of dieback, just looks poorly grown and the damage at the base done by garden machinery or similar. I would expect to see some epicormic growth growing from the trunk and thicker branches if it has ADB (vigorous long straight shoots) and some dead wood in the crown.

 

Having said that, ash is also susceptible to other diseases such as canker and with the base as it is I would consider removal and planting something more suitable if near houses.

 

 

[Joe Newton]

Fell and replace sooner rather than later. It could carry on for another decade or two, but then it's a much bigger tree with a compromised base, and your tree surgeon will roll his eyes when you ask why it's going to be more expensive.