Question
"IN THE SACRAMENTO, CA AREA I HAVE A RAYWOOD ASH TREE THAT WAS PLANTED ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. UNTIL THIS SUMMER IT HAS FILLED OUT VERY, VERY NICE EACH SPRNG.
NOW I SEE BIG PATCHES OF BRANCHES IN THE TOP OF THE TREE THAT ARE BARE. IT SEEMS LIKE ONE "SECTION" WILL BE LEAFLESS WHILE ABOUT 60% OF ALL THE BRANCHES LOOK PERFECTLY NORMAL IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF LEAVES OR "FULLNESS." .
IS MY TREE DYEING? CAN I DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE TREE?
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND PHOTOS IF THAT WOULD HELP.
THANK YOU!!
Answer
It does not look too good for this tree. Without looking at the tree it is difficult to ID the real problem but I would guess that it has Hypoxylon canker. This disease will kill branches and over time can kill the tree. Hypoxylon infects usually tree under stress. I would for sure take out the dead branches. IF you do not see any green leaves on these then I would assume they were dead or near so. IF there is green leaves you could wait until next Spring and then see if they bud out new leaves but I would not give it too much hope. IF you cut the dead limbs you will have a lopped sided tree and maybe over many years it will fill out. Assuming the stress has been solved. I would if you leave the tree or wait until next Spring fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. This will help the overall health of the tree. If it is hypxoylon canker it might be a losing battle and you might just want to go ahead and cut the tree but I would check first with the local specialist.
I would also call the Ca Forestry state agency and ask one of their Foresters to come take a look. They have an Urban Forester there in Sacramento
and a Pest Management Specialist. I would call the Pest folks first. Here is the contact information.
Central and Southern Sierra:
Tom Smith
P.O. Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94266-2460
(916) 599-6882
tom.smith@fire.ca.gov
John Melvin, State Urban Forester
P.O. Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94244-2460
(916) 657-2289
(916) 508-2767 cell
(916) 653-8957 fax
John.Melvin@fire.ca.gov
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