Help with an Ash tree

acerlover86

I live in the UK, and today bought an young ash tree for the tidy sum of £1.85 from the discount clearance section of my local Homebase store.

My question is whether this tree will ever grow properly? It stands at just under 4 ft tall at the moment, but looks very unusual with just a main trunk and a few leaves at the top, therefore the very low price makes me think it might be a lost cause. I would like to give it a go though so is it possible? Do I need to do anything in particular to it?

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Joey Meister

I can see why you got it on discount, it looks like they topped it, either at the nursery or the store, they cut the main leader off causing it to produce the two side shoots , being young it may recover and one of the side shoots should start to grow upwards to take over as the new leader. if not you may have to train one to grow straight, also it looks like it may be planted a little deep, remove some soil around the trunk till you see the root flare and do not plant any deeper than the flare as it will cause future problems

Brent Ferris

I agree with treeluver. One of the side branches should assume apical dominance, it may need some help. Let the tree grow, and adjust its looks at it grows along. Trees are survivors, so let them survive.

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My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

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Garry Brockley

One other small point is that Fraxinus excelsior in the uk last about 35 to 40 years then rapidly go into decline usually hollowing out and dropping limbs, just thought i would tell you this before you plant it to grow over your shed or green house.

if you want a healthy ash tree just go to the local hedge row and pull up one of the self set seedlings, there are millions growing in the hedge rows of Britain i know i had a contract to control them a few years ago.

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Brent Ferris

That must have been an interesting contract to bid on Garry, you in Australia bidding on a contract in the UK, the commute must have been horrendous.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)

acerlover86

Thanks for the help, I'll stick with it and see how it does!

Garry Brockley

i moved to Aus 2 1/2 years ago better weather better life i ran council contracts for years before that, attempting to get them over here is a waste of time unless your in the boys club

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acerlover86

It died.

Brent Ferris

That's too bad.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)