Image - Flickr / Virens (Latin for greening)
Trees are a basic decorative element of any garden. There are several sizes, so we can choose the one we like the most from a wide variety.
One of the most interesting is the american ash. It is very resistant to drought, grows in poor soils, and as if that were not enough, its autumnal coloration is magnificent.
Origin and characteristics of the American ash
Distribution range of American ash
Our protagonist is originally from North America. Its scientific name is Fraxinus Americana, and belongs to the Oleaceae family. It has a reasonably fast growth rate, reaching 35 meters in height. Its leaves are deciduous, falling in autumn-winter, and sprouting again in spring. A noteworthy feature is that newer leaflets have a tendency to take on a very nice ivory color.
It blooms in spring, but you should know that it is necessary for there to be male and female specimens for them to pollinate. If there are, then during the summer the fruit will form, which is a samara about 5cm long, in which there are a dozen winged seeds.
In autumn he puts on his red suit, making the landscape look spectacular. If you don't believe me, take a look at this image:
Image - Flickr / Kew on Flickr // American ash in fall (the one on the right)
This incredible tree has a life expectancy of 100 years, so if you are looking for durable plants ... this is yours as well it is very easy to grow. You just have to locate it in a sunny area, and water it regularly avoiding waterlogging. Here are more tips:
How do you take care of yourself?
To have a well-cared for specimen, we recommend the following:
Climate
These trees They are from temperate and temperate-cold climates. They need to feel the passing of the seasons in order to grow, otherwise they would die. That is why they can only live in areas where springs and summers are mild, autumn cool with some frost, and cold winters with snowfall.
Location
For what was commented before, and for being a large species, you must place your copy outside, in full sun, at a distance of at least ten meters from pipes and paved floors.
Earth
Image - Flickr / Virens (Latin for greening)
- Garden: grows in soils rich in organic matter, well drained and slightly acidic, although it tolerates neutral ones.
- Flower pot: During its youth it can be grown in a pot filled with a universal substrate or with a substrate for acidic plants. But when it reaches one meter in height, the ideal is to plant it in the ground.
Irrigation
The American ash does not withstand drought; Moreover, in its places of origin we will find it in the humid high areas, always near fresh water courses. Taking this into account, You have to water it very often: about 3-4 times a week in summer, and about 2 a week the rest of the year.
If you have it in a pot, during the summer you can take advantage of it and put a plate under it so that the substrate stays humid for a longer time.
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During the growing season (spring and summer) it is advisable to fertilize it with organic fertilizers. A regular contribution, for example every 15 days, of compost, guano, manure or earthworm humus, will make the plant grow with health and strength.
Pruning
Don't need it. However, you can remove dead, diseased, and weak branches in fall when it runs out of leaves, or in late winter before it sprouts.
Do this with pruning tools previously disinfected to prevent infection.
Planting or transplanting time
En spring, when the frosts have passed.
If it is in a pot, you should pass it to a larger one every 2 years.
Multiplication
Image - Wikimedia / MPF
It multiplies by seeds in autumn-winter, as these need to be cold before germinating. For this you can do two things:
- If you live in an area with cold autumns and winters with frosts, plant them in pots with substrate for seedlings and let nature take its course.
- If you live in an area with a mild climate, it is better to stratify in the fridge for three months by putting them in tuppers with vermiculite and then putting this in the fridge, and then planting them in seedbeds in spring.
Rusticity
American ash resists frost down to -18ºC.
What uses is given to American ash?
It has several:
Ornamental
It is a tree of great beauty, perfect for spacious gardens. As an isolated specimen it is perfect, since in addition provides a nice shade.
Medicinal
By the way, did you know that it has medicinal properties? Yes Yes. The roots are used to lose weight and / or maintain weight, since they are diuretic and tonic. But they are also very effective in controlling sweat.
Wood
Timber used in the manufacture of hand toolsas well as baseball bats.
As you can see, the American ash is a tree for everything.
Did you know the incredible qualities of ash? What do you think?
Hello Monica. In my house there have been cracks, there are those who attribute them to an American ash tree that I have planted in a "bit" of my patio, I think it is a humidity problem in my patio. A doubt, ash roots tend to sink or lift a house? Greetings and Thanks
Hello Hector.
Yes, unfortunately the roots of the ash tree can lift floors and buildings 🙁.
A greeting.
Hello Monica. I want to ask you if you know how far the roots can spread. I am interested in knowing because I want to plant one but the space in the garden is somewhat reduced. Approximately 4 meters per side.
Thank you.
Hi Ricardo.
Ash roots tend to go deeper rather than horizontally. But it is true that if they "detect" moisture, even if it is in the most superficial layer of the soil, they will go for it even if it is several meters away. I can't tell you how many those meters are, since it depends on the type of land, the growing conditions, the climate, etc. But boy, the longer the soil is dry, that is, the less it is watered, the more the roots will spread looking for moisture.
One option is to prune it. The lower it is, the less the roots will develop as the plant will not need so much water or so much "food. The time for this is autumn or early spring.
A greeting.
therefore it must be kept moist. What if I place a cement pipe in the ground before planting it so that the roots go deep and not horizontal since they would run into the cement? Thank you
Hello Fernando.
The roots of the American ash tree grow mainly vertically, and not so horizontally. What happens is that if there is a source of water nearby (less than 4m), irrigation boxes, pipes, or anything else, it will find it, and then it could destroy it.
If there are not, they are usually planted in parks at a minimum distance of 2-3 meters from the cemented soil, since if it were planted closer, it could end up breaking it.
Anyway, to avoid problems, you can make a large planting hole, 1m x 1m, and put an anti-rhizome mesh, sold in nurseries. This will ensure that the roots grow downward.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, could you plant it ten feet from a lake in wet ground because it is close to the water table?
Hi Guillermo.
As long as there are no pipes or floors or anything to break, yes, no problem.
A greeting.
Tebho 3 American ash trees the temperatures here in norye de mexi or are up to 40 degrees or more on occasions that I must water them so much 2 of them already measure about 10 meters, glass 6 meters.
The other one of them is drying some full bouquets I do not know why
Hello Tomas.
In these conditions you should water them daily, or every two days, so that they do not lack water.
A greeting.
My tree leaves are drying many from one day to another that I do not have happened I have 2 and only one is like that xfa grs.
Hello Norma Alicia.
Have you checked if it has any plagues? Although the two trees are of the same species and, therefore, need the same care, it usually happens that there is one that is a little less resistant or that needs more "pampering".
Have you paid them? If not, it is advisable to do it in spring and summer. Normally, a diseased plant does not have to be fertilized, but if it happens that it has never been fertilized, that is precisely what it needs to recover.
I recommend the guano, which is natural and has a fast effectiveness.
A greeting.
very good information, see how I distinguish a male from a female, I have 5 ash trees which only have the trunk and nothing has flowered..thanks!
Hi Nicolas.
Well ... we have to wait for them to flourish 🙂.
I show you photos of the flowers:
Are http://ichn.iec.cat
A greeting.
I want to plant 1 red ash or ficus in 1 green space d 3mt approx; (between 1 plastic pool and the cemented house)… what do I put in the transplant so that the roots don't break anything? Or didn't I plant any trees there?
Hi Analia.
I do not recommend it. It is a very small space for a tree - of any species.
However, you can put a bush that is shaped like a tree, such as a Polygala (resistant to -5ºC), or a Cassia.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a garden of 3 square meters, it is built around
. What shrub or plant do you advise me to put?
Hello Sandra.
Where are you from?
Small shrubs there are many, but not all are adapted to all climates:
-Lagerstroemia indica: it needs acid soils and a temperate climate with mild frosts.
-Callistemon viminalis: does not support strong frosts.
-Viburnum opalus: grows in temperate zones.
-Cassia fistula: can not stand the cold.
-Euryops: support mild frosts.
-Acer palmatum: acid soil, semi-shade and temperate climates with frosts.
A greeting.
hello, this type of plant can be used for the sidewalk?
Hello Jose Luis
No, the ash tree has very invasive roots. It must be planted at a minimum distance of 10 meters from pipes, soil, etc.
A greeting.
Hello, I can't quite understand which is the species that turns red and which is the one that turns yellow. I would like to have both. Could you clarify this for me? The other question is whether both species can be mixed in the same space.
From already thank you very much,
Santiago
Hello Santiago Juana.
The Fraxinus americana turns red, and the Fraxinus ornus yellow.
And yes, of course, they can be mixed without problems, since they belong to the same genus (that is, they share almost all of their DNA).
A greeting.
Hello, I live in Cordoba in the Punilla Valley next to the river, I have an American ash tree and I am arguing with my sister because she says that it is an invasive species and therefore does not allow native plants to grow. Could you inform me? Thank you so much!
Hi Guadalupe.
The American ash is native to eastern North America, from Quebec to northern Florida.
I have no record of an invasive tree being declared anywhere in the world. What I have seen is that it has been included in the red list of threatened species. You can see it this article.
Greetings.
Hello, I took out a change of Fresno, for transplantation and without wanting to remove it without the root, it can be planted anyway!
Hi Stephanie.
You can try it, but keep in mind that it is better to reproduce it by seed.
Greetings.
Thank you, this post was very useful for my biology homework, God bless you.
Thank you. Greetings.
Hello Monica
I have an ash tree planted in a pot
the problem is that the leaves are not taking on the characteristic dark green color, they grow and stay
light green, like when they just come out.
Could you tell me what is it due to?
From already thank you very much
Paul Monty
Cordoba Argentina
Hello, I planted a Fresno 6 feet from a concrete pool. Do you recommend that I transplant it? Or do I leave it?
And then I also put a red ash 6 meters from my house? What do you advise me?
Hello Santiago.
Ideally, they would have been planted about 10 meters away. But you have the option of pruning them so they don't grow too big. That way they will not need to expand so much.
Greetings.
Hello, can the ash be left in a pot? I have a 40 m2 patio and I don't want to have problems with the roots.
Hi Cintia.
Let's see, because it can be done, it is possible, but it is not ideal. And anyway you have to prune it to keep it as a tree, at the end of winter. You also have to change the pot from time to time, so that it grows.
Greetings.
Hello. I want to plant a red ash tree on my sidewalk. When should I plant it? Do its leaves turn red naturally or do they need a special substrate to get that color? I wouldn't like to buy one and then have its leaves turn yellow instead of red (it happened to me with a sweetgum that turned reddish in the first two years and then they were just yellow). I await your response. Thank you!
Hello Olga.
For a tree to change its leaves, the climate and soil must be suitable. If the sweetgum tree does not usually turn red, it will be difficult for the ash tree to do so. It needs fertile soil, with a spongy texture, and it must not be thirsty in spring and much of the summer.
A greeting.
Good morning, I'm from Mendoza, Argentina. Last August I planted an American ash tree (they gave it to me with bare roots). Throughout the spring and summer it didn't grow a single leaf or a single bud. But yesterday, May 16, buds appeared on the trunk and it started to turn green. My question is whether it is at risk of freezing since the coldest days of autumn and winter are coming. Thank you very much.
Hello Mariela.
How is your tree doing? Ash trees are frost-resistant, but if they sprout as winter approaches, they may lose those buds.
A greeting.