Peter Dowdall: How to combat ash dieback in our gardens
An ash tree in leaf. File picture
Ash dieback is a phrase that has, unfortunately, become all too familiar in recent years. It’s hard to overstate just how big a problem it’s become for our native ash, Fraxinus excelsior. This is a tree that’s been part of our hedgerows, woodlands and fields for centuries, giving structure to the landscape and providing everything from wildlife corridors to the raw material for hurleys and tool handles. Now it’s under real threat.
The trouble starts with a fungus called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. It spreads by spores that drift through the air in summer and settle on ash leaves. From there, it works its way into the shoots, eventually blocking the tree’s water supply. You’ll see the first signs as blackened patches on the leaves or wilting new growth. As it progresses, branches die back and often sprout new shoots lower down in a desperate effort to survive.
