[CANUFNET] Managing Water Sprouts on Ash

[Ken Marchant]

I have the following comments on managing water sprouts/epicormic shoots on 
ash trees which have been killed by EAB.
In most cases, the roots of EAB infested trees have been severely 
compromised by EAB and will be severely weakened.  For that reason, most 
infested trees die and will not successfully re-establish from shoots. 
Where some shoots survive, a single shoot could be selected and trained as a 
primary stem.  Once it has established its own roots and gets out of its 
epicormic stage of growth, there is no reason that I can see why it can't 
grow into a healthy tree if the conditions are right.  These will be 
attacked by EAB emerging from larger trees but cannot, on their own sustain 
a local EAB population until they get around 10 cm or so dbh.  Ash are not 
shade tolerant so any trees you select would have to be in an area with at 
least some direct sunlight during the day.

In my opinion, allowing shoots to grow up to caliper sized trees will have 
no impact on local EAB population levels or the overall epidemiology of the 
insect as you are dealing with such a small percentage of the overall ash 
population.  EAB is here to stay and while the current epidemic will pass, 
it will recur at greatly diminished levels at some time in the future where 
there are sufficient qualities of suitable ash trees to sustain it.  It is 
hoped by this time that currently emerging biocontrol organisms will have an 
impact on future outbreaks of EAB... but this is only wishful thinking at 
the present time.

One thing to consider when selecting street trees (and some park trees) is 
that these rarely represent the genome of our "wild" ash trees... most are 
mid-west cultivars of the green ash sub-species and are not native to this 
part of the world.  Many surviving street trees will not play a major role 
in re-establishing our endemic populations of red and white ash.

Ken Marchant
Guelph, Ontario
519 824-3412

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Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 12:00 PM
Subject: CANUFNET Digest, Vol 90, Issue 15


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>   1. water sprouts on Ash for rejuvenating (Pat and Dan Kerr)
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2012 13:58:22 -0400
> From: Pat and Dan Kerr <kerrpad at sympatico.ca>
> To: <canufnet at list.web.net>
> Subject: [CANUFNET] water sprouts on Ash for rejuvenating
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> HI John
> I've heard some US urban areas are trying this idea re costing but you are
> the first I've heard to try it in forested areas.
>
>>From what I've heard part of the reason to use water sprouts is to support
> ash dependent species until we get better answers. In forested areas, it
> would also support gene conservation.
>
> One US researcher, who is most interested in this idea, is an EAB
> specialist. This researcher said selecting the sprouts will not promote 
> EAB.
> EAB will never be eliminated in North America. It has gone too far. I am 
> not
> allowed to use the researcher's name or provide you the contact number.
>
> But someone else should address the safety issues.
>
> Let me know what happens.
> Pat Kerr
>
>
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>   1. water sprouts on Ash for rejuvenating. (Hennessy, John)
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> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:33:05 -0400
> From: "Hennessy, John" <John.Hennessy at brampton.ca>
> To: "'canufnet at list.web.net'" <canufnet at list.web.net>
> Subject: [CANUFNET] water sprouts on Ash for rejuvenating.
> Message-ID:
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> Hello all,
>
> I have been selecting vigorous shoots from selected recently removed Ash.
> Relative to stumping and replacing out right, I thought this was a valid
> option for rejuvenation considering fiscal concerns . Some selected shoots
> have reached heights of 1.6m in a two year growth period! I am concerned
> about their attachment points though. Some of our recent weather has 
> snapped
> some of the new replenishing water sprouts which is having me question
> whether this idea is a poor one. Further to that I have a concern about
> perpetuating E.A.B. cycle, by providing new food sources.
> Some street trees have been selected, some from parks, and some from 
> remnant
> forests and small isolated stands. It is the remnant forests where I think
> my efforts should be focused, any opinions are welcomed
> I am curious how my fellow foresters are dealing with these new "Ash
> Shrubs"!  Is this idea crazy?
> I look forward to replies.
>
> Many thanks,
> John.
>
> John  Hennessy
> Forestry Inspector
> Community Services
> City Of Brampton
> (416) 795-1834.
>
>
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