European Mountain ash

Our tree is about 40 years old and is dieing from borers. Is there anything I can do? This tree causes the perfect amount of shade for many of my plants. I would like to plant a similar type tree to take over when this tree is gone, hopefully not for a few more years. What tree would anyone recomment with the small leaves, 20 ft tall and wide, not affected by these borers? We live in eastern PA in a zone between 6 and 5. There is shale soil and lots of windy days.

Is it too late to treat the tree for borers? Merit is a very affective soil-drench borer control.

Scott

Try Amelanchier

Resin

Resin, I like them but they might be subject to the same borers, especially if it's something like round-headed apple borer. I would try something in a different family. Check with your local nursery and see what small trees they have that are not in the rose family, then come back to us with a short shopping list.
Guy S.

What about Cornus Alternifolia, Syringa reticulata, Cotinus obovatus, Stewartia pseudocamellia, or even Japanese Maples. Are you looking for just small leaves or more for a tree that doesn't cast heavy shade?

Bill

Thanks for these suggestions. First thing I'll do is get insect control for borers. I need small leaves, because there is a small pond nearby. Big leaves make a mess in the water. I need shade for the hostas around the trunk and partial shade about 10 feet out from the trunk. I'll check with the nursery and get back to you. I want to plant something now, so there is some shade when the ash is gone.

Still go with Guy's recommendation about nothing in the rose family. I don't think those are, but double check. If you have a pond nearby, I would go with a Japanese Maple as these look great near or over water. That only narrows your choices down to a few hundred varieties of Japanese Maples.

Bill

Well now, I live in PA and wallow amongst the borers. Seems there's one for every tree isn't there. The tree has made it 40 yrs, and for a Sorbus here that is pretty good. Bath is farther north and east than I am, and I would expect a Mountain Ash to do better there. The choice of Sorbus to plant probably wasn't the best anyways, it's a wonder Fireblight didn't get it first. (BTW, I assume you know it is borers because you see sawdust/holes?)

The treatment for borers is almost always chemical, and almost always a drench of some sort. If the pond has fish, please be aware that most (all?) the chemicals used are very toxic to fish in minute amounts. Dousing the ground in a dry spell and letting the chemical degrade and be absorbed can result in a healthy tree and living fish, but an application of chemicals just before a rain with a high water table might benefit only the tree and kill the fish. If you do it yourself, keep this in mind. If you hire it done, make sure they are aware of any carp, koi or amphibians you may be keeping in the pond.

Good sound advice Pete. Sometimes we overlook the obvious, even with directions.

Acer palmatum 'Seiryu' grows fast and is easy to locate and cheaper than others. I have one and it really is superb and it grows at least as wide as tall and probably wider overall. I'll have 1 year grafts next summer but your best bet is to buy a larger one to move things along.

Here's a photo of mine - planted in 2001 as a large 25 gallon size or so but easily grows 2-3 feet a year in my not so perfect climate. Photo from June 2004.

Dax