What does emerald ash borer damage look like?

[Backwoods Savage]

The first two pictures were taken of the same tree (there's another in the background). Notice the tree has shed some of the outer layer of bark. During this stage, the trees will send out several suckers off the main trunk. Most of those seem to be from the 8' to 16' height.

The next picture was taken at the wood pile. The top two pieces are the bark and then the wood it came off of. Notice the roadmap! That ash was cut during the winter and split in March, yet the bark just fell off. Normally ash will hold its bark many years. I have some ash now in the wood pile that has been there for six years and the bark is still intact.

The bottom two pieces show some of the holes left by the ash borer.

I hope this helps you fellas that aren't sure what will happen to the ash trees other than that they will die. It is a sad, sad sight for sure. However, all is not lost because the ash does make excellent firewood. It's just that when they all start dieing, they go all at once.

 

[joshlaugh]

I would look closely at the bore holes on that last piece of wood. EAB that I have seen has the "d" shaped entry hole that no other wood borer would have.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Josh, while you do see a couple of round holes the others are D shaped. Perhaps I should have shown the pictures with the wood running up & down vs. a sideways look as the holes show up a little better that way. Just copy the picture and then turn it so you can see it better. I assure you, that is ash borer damage.

 

[karri0n]

Someone got a link to a map of known areas where the infestation is happening?

Thanks for the pics Dennis

 

[Backwoods Savage]

You are welcome. Look here for a map:

Ash Borer

 

[Todd]

Do these critters attack every type of Ash tree or just certain types?

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Todd, I really don't know on that one. All we have is the white ash here but there is some black ash not too far from here. I haven't heard about those so can't say. They sure do leave a mess of the woods though. You can imagine what I felt when I went back there one day and there were about 20 trees in a clump looking like the one in the picture.

 

[gzecc]

I am surprised NJ is not on the list? I thought it has been here for years!

 

[joshlaugh]

I don't think the species of ash matter, just that is only attacks ash trees, hence the name. There are plenty of other insect boring species that only attack oak, maple etc..

 

[JustWood]

I'm thinkin' maybe that tree died from EAB AND/OR the root system being submerged in water.

 

[LLigetfa]

...OR the root system being submerged in water.

I have Black Ash growing on my land standing in water like that. I'm guessing it's just Spring runoff. Black Ash grows in swamps all around here.

 

[hensonconst1]

I look at that map and see Kentucky, but it is not there. Why not? Do we not have ash south of the Ohio.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I'm thinkin' maybe that tree died from EAB AND/OR the root system being submerged in water.

That's only a part time thing Lee. Even trees like to take a bath once in a while. lol

 

[JSJAC]

I do not think that the map in the link is up to date.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

JSJAC, you are right. That map is only a couple of years old. lol

 

[Crash11]

I have a question related to this topic. I just cut down an ash tree a couple days ago that was dead from the EAB. When I went to try and split the first piece my Fiskars splitting axe just stuck into it because the wood was so soft. I think this tree has been dead so long that the wood has softened up, and I doubt there's any moisture given how light it feels. Almost like balsa wood. Is this what you guys refer to as "punky" wood? What are the problems with trying to burn this in a wood stove? Does it give out a lot of creosote?

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Crash, if the axe went into the wood and all the way through, it certainly must have been punky. But when you say the axe stuck, I'm not so sure.

Punky wood is very soft and an axe will just go right through. But your description of how light it feels and the fact that the tree has been dead for a long time does sound as if it could be punky. For burning, you get mostly smoke from it but will get some heat. We simply throw away anything that is punky but some folks do burn it. As long as it is dry it won't cause creosote. Also don't expect much heat from it.

Try burning some this summer when you have a wiener roast or just an outdoor gathering. You won't get a big fire but you will see what happens. You might have to get the fire started with some better wood though and then throw some of this on the top.

EDIT: We like to say that wood is not a sponge. That is, it won't soak up moisture from rain when it is in the stack. However, punky wood is a sponge! It can and will soak up much moisture and is very good at drawing ants at that point. That is why we throw all of our punky wood on the brush piles.

 

[Crash11]

Here's some pictures of a piece I was able to split.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

There is still some burning in those 2 top pictures. Heck, they would even make good kindling. On that bottom picture, is that an end; one that has been cut for a while? Looks bad.

 

[Crash11]

Those 3 pictures are all of the same piece of wood. Every piece I cut kinda looks like that on the end, but I was surprised to see how it looked in the middle of a split. The split looks good I think.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I agree with you Crash. They will give you some heat for sure.

 

[Crash11]

A little add-on to the conversation..... I spoke with my grandpa this weekend who has been at this stuff for a long long time. He said I should be using this wood as starter logs to get the box hot. Obviously there isn't a substantial amount of energy in wood that is that light, but it will burn nice and hot for a short time. So that's my plan for now is to make a seperate pile for this stuff.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

It might work Crash just because of how far along that wood is. However, normally ash does not burn that hot but will give good heat for a decent amount of time. What we do is usually put one or two pieces of soft maple in along with the ash. The maple burns quick and hot to start the ash and the ash will hold the fire for a long period. Each type of wood has its own characteristics. Naturally though, just before wood gets to the punk stage its not going to hold a long fire.

You definitely have the right idea of making a separate pile.