I live in upstate NY on the canadian border. It is only a matter of time before the infestation arrives and I have a fair number of ash tress that I burn in my outdoor furnace. Also still have some live elm trees. I have a few questions as I know others have already been through this problem. Any advise would be appreciated.

1.) When the bugs arrive, how long does it take to kill all the ash?
2.) Does the bug leave the very young ash trees alone?
3.) When a tree is killed, how long is it still useable firewood if left standing? I leave my dead elms up until half the bark has begun to peel.
Thank You

Most of the ash here are dead or dying. This has been my observation.

1.) Trees don't die immediately. I would say its several year process. First you will notice top limbs dying. Then every year it will get worse. I still have live trees in my yard that are getting worse every season.

2.) I do have a couple of 3 inch ash in my yard that aren't showing any signs, but my understanding is that it will get them all.

3.) I cut down a 24" yard tree over the winter that was showing some pretty severe infestation and the wood was still good. The tree was still alive though. My experience is that ash doesn't last very long once its totally dead.

Bob I am in Ontario sw , the ash borer is starting to arrive here. Don't have a lot of ash in my bush, but some. I had planted about 20 around my yard . They are now about 8 inch diamitor., I sent to do your own pest control, Think they are in Tennesse. On line Got a drench from them to control the borer. Mix with water and pour around trunk , this time of year. Needs to be done every second year. So far mine are ok. . The chemical is absorbed by the tree roots and comes up with the sap, killing the larva..
You will see the tops , start to die. probably take 2 years. , might as well plan on harvesting them. If there are logs , cut them, if mills will take them.. Hope the small seedlings will survive. You will see small holes in bark where the adult has emerged. hope that helps. old243

Funny you ask, iv got a ton of ash that’s been dead on my property, There are no leaves on the trees... I’m hard wooding my floors in my house so I figured I’d use ash because there all dead or almost dead.. I cut thirty or so trees this past week... when they hit the ground the tops exploded but the logs where fine. I’d have to say they been going down hill for the past five years...so I’d say you have some time to use them for firewood after the leaves are gone and tops dead

I’ll try to get some pics of the trees standing so you know what mine look like..

Joe, Question maybe you can answer. I've been burning ash for years and I've noticed when the tree is dead before you cut it the wood doesn't seem to burn as good as live killed ash, even when it seems dry. do you find this to be true?
Thanks in advance.

I still have more dead Ash to cut.
I make rustic benches and stools. So Ash limbs and log can be use for my purpose.



same bench, finished. For friend's new cabin

I really have no answer for you, I do know that ash is a lot lighter when it’s dry compared to say cherry when it’s dry.. beautiful hern

whartonrattrappe, this may answer your question...

The Firewood Poem

Beech wood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut's only good they say,
If for logs 'tis laid away.
Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom
Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter's cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.

Great looking benches Hern Are those made of trees that where dead or dying or trees that show no sign of the boring getting into them

Thanks, w side. Dead from Emerald Ash Bore on our property.
Dead. My trees show signs of boring, with many bore holes and no leaves..

Here's same log after I de-barked, from pic above,
Bore holes, zigzag bug pattern under bark, holes and tunneling throughout adds character to the 'rustic' look of my work.



trapper_Bob, sorry for being off topic.

just lit some in the fireplace here.have been cutting peoples for about a year now and getting ready to start the neighbors property.hit hard here.check out the market though as all of ours was going overseas but they finally woke up and realized they were importing an invasive and our prices have fallen dramatically.if it was mine,i'd be getting a hold of someone to see what price ash is in your area and if its even worth more as timber or better off making firewood outta it.

I had 20 acres of Ash die off 10 Years ago very little left now as most was burned in my outdoor furnace to heat my home and lure building. I would say the quality of firewood diminishes with time. Most left know would not be great firewood. The ash borers ad character to the pieces shown here made from ash.

I would sell the logs for timber and use the the tops for firewood. I wouldnt wait till they show signs of the bug. Its only a matter of time. You should make some money while you can.

We are near the epicenter of the emerald ash borer invasion. It will kill every tree no matter what you do. Some of them will send up sprouts to regrow as the borer doesn't kill the roots. They will grow to about 20-30 feet then the ash borers will kill it off again.

The wood stays good for a while but does degrade with time. We still have quite a bit of ash standing and they have been dead for 10 or so years. Be careful when you cut them down. They will start to fall and the top branches are VERY brittle and will break off and you will have a shower of baseball bat size spears rocketing down at you. There is quite a few people around here that have been seriously hurt from dropping dead ash. They usually rot at off at ground showing very little indication that they are barely standing, so be careful in the woods around an ash tree with any wind.

Ash is a very good wood and its a shame that we won't have any around any more. Gone just like the chestnut.

I agree with the previous posts. Once the borers hit the trees will be dead in a few years. They stand for a few years after dying before falling and definitely are dangerous widow makers when cutting them. Give off good heat but burn faster then oak or hard maple.

All my ash trees died from the top down so you got plenty of time to see it coming. Half the tree had leaves for years and got cut down before it ever actually died.

All of your questions have been answered but I will just add this, dead Ash can be dangerous, they tend to shatter apart when felling and should not be climbed or rigged from. If you have any Ash around your buildings I would advise either treating them to keep them alive or cutting them down as soon as they start to show decline. Personally when I do find Ash borer on my farm I will cut down all the live trees during the winter as to not have to deal with them when they are dead.

The ash started to die here about 4 years ago and I can’t tell you how many I’ve cut down the the owner had been treating . Don’t waste your money on chemicals, they are only 80% effective under ideal conditions. The good news is it makes excellent firewood!