We live in Kimberley, BC and have a question about an Ash tree in our back yard. The tree is in full sun and gets adequate water. The year we moved into our house (about 7 years ago) the previous owners had cut some limbs off an Ash tree in our yard and did not seal the wounds. Subsequently the health of tree seems to have diminished. It flourished for about a year and then began to decline (on the main trunk the bark is splitting, branches sag and berries are few in number). Neighbour's Ash trees are healthy and fine. Is it possible that the scar left after trimming allowed in fungus or some other type of organism? Do you think we should treat it? During the winter this year, a limb cracked and needs to come off, should we make a clean cut and seal it with some sealant? Could you tell us what we should use to seal wounds and make our tree healthier? If left to it's own devices we feel that it will likely be dead in a couple of years. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If you discover your mountain ash (Sorbus) has a infestation coming in through the pruning cuts possibly it is something that could be painted with copper, but you need to find out exactly what is happening. Since you can't dig the trees up and take them somewhere to be diagnosed you may have to hire a consulting arborist or other expert to come out and have a look. Painting pruning cuts with tar-like materials is no longer considered standard practice.
Thanks for responding Ron, It looks like it's a Cytospora Canker. From what I've been reading, there is no treatment and I'm not really interested in chemicals anyway. Water lots and hope for the best and if it doesn't work out well, there's always firewood and a new tree. If you have any other suggestions I'd really appreciate it.
If you're saying you saw some pictures and comments on the internet that seemed to fit be sure you have a set of specific characters that differentiate this condition from others before settling on it. Otherwise it might be something else.
