Chalara fraxinea - Generic thread

[Gary Prentice]

3 hours ago, jonnygurkha said:

Yesterday I had to fell a reasonable sized Ash tree that was showing advanced signs of ADB. I had heard that the disease shortens the wood fibres and makes them weaker. When I looked at the hinge I would normally expect on a healthy Ash to see menacing looking pointy needles of fibre sticking up but on this one the fibres were indeed shorter and blunter. I certainly wouldn’t want to fell one with a significant lean in the wrong direction.

I don't get this!

I could kind of accept that local to the point of infection there may be some changes in wood characteristics but even with advanced dieback within the crown I can't imagine it would alter the base of the stem.

 

My thoughts are based on how trees react to the DED fungus, compartmentalising infected twigs, tertiary and secondary branches - a progressive compartmentalisation process. I imagine that ash reacts in a similar way.

 

Could it be that as the vascular function diminishes with the loss of foliage/water uptake the lower moisture levels reduce the strength of the wood fibres in tension? I dunno 

 

The FISA guidance I read this week (IIRC) focused more on not using wedges for felling due to the vibrations causing dead limbs to fracture. Can't remember much about short grain when felling.

 

EDIT. Would/could drought conditions alter 'fibre strength'? Could there be a relationship there? 

Edited August 31, 2019 by Gary Prentice

[Paul Cleaver]

1 hour ago, Gary Prentice said:

I don't get this!

I could kind of accept that local to the point of infection there may be some changes in wood characteristics but even with advanced dieback within the crown I can't imagine it would alter the base of the stem.

 

My thoughts are based on how trees react to the DED fungus, compartmentalising infected twigs, tertiary and secondary branches - a progressive compartmentalisation process. I imagine that ash reacts in a similar way.

 

Could it be that as the vascular function diminishes with the loss of foliage/water uptake the lower moisture levels reduce the strength of the wood fibres in tension? I dunno 

 

The FISA guidance I read this week (IIRC) focused more on not using wedges for felling due to the vibrations causing dead limbs to fracture. Can't remember much about short grain when felling.

 

EDIT. Would/could drought conditions alter 'fibre strength'? Could there be a relationship there? 

We could do with members posting their pictures of  larger ADB felled trees as Jonny has done, and see if they are similar characteristics.

[Gary Prentice]

Just now, Paul Cleaver said:

We could do with members posting their pictures of  larger ADB felled trees as Jonny has done, and see if they are similar characteristics.

Seems like there are a lot of unknowns with this disease, so every ones experiences and observations are useful and would go towards a better understanding. Good idea Paul 

[ESS]

I have spent a couple of days this week felling oversize diseased trees. Tbh any decay at the butt end could have been expected of trees of that size on that particular type of ground. 

I have felled a few parcels now , and certainly from a felling point have seen little difference in how the trees respond to non diseased trees.

I did take photos ,but sadly they are of poor quality and would be of little value to the discussion.

[The avantgardener]

I have mentioned a few posts back the observations we found when recently felling 550+ Ash with ADB, some with poor crowns, some completely gone.

I would estimate that 50 percent had some basal decay but no external sign/fungus present on the butt, these are plantation trees, not coppice stools and drawn up well in a mixed Beech compartment, no drought issues have been noted in any other tree species in this compartment, so why would drought only effect the Ash?

[Youngstu]

I manage and work in a woodland in North Devon. We have quite a few ash in certain parts of the site. During the summer I had noticed a few showing signs of dieback, but have now noticed quite a few completely leafless crowns. Would you assume that they are dieback and remove if in a high traffic area and if safe to do so or would you expect some ash to have completely lost their leaves at this time of year?

Thanks for any thoughts

[sandspider]

The only ash I have (South Wales) with no (or very few) leaves at the moment have dieback. Your ash may be different, get someone who knows to check, but I'd fear the worst...

[timbernut]

Yesterday I had to fell a reasonable sized Ash tree that was showing advanced signs of ADB. I had heard that the disease shortens the wood fibres and makes them weaker. When I looked at the hinge I would normally expect on a healthy Ash to see menacing looking pointy needles of fibre sticking up but on this one the fibres were indeed shorter and blunter. I certainly wouldn’t want to fell one with a significant lean in the wrong direction.

We have noticed the grain is not as fibrous as it was when felling and they break away from the stump sooner, also spoke to a friend who does a lot of roadside work for County Highways and he said the same thing

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

have you seen this FISA guidance

 

Guidance to follow  

Edited September 18, 2019 by AA Teccie (Paul)

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Safety Guidance Note - Felling dead ash - April 2018.pdf