Ash Tree Branches Dying in Mesa, Arizona?

Is your ash tree developing dead branches, bare spots, or a thinning canopy? If the top of your ash tree looks sparse while lower branches still have leaves, it is time to investigate what is happening. These symptoms do not automatically mean the tree must be removed.

Warner of Warner's Tree Surgery has more than 50 years of experience working with trees in the Phoenix area. He evaluates sick ash trees in Mesa and nearby communities, including Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, and Scottsdale.

Concerned about your ash tree? Call 480-969-8808 to discuss the symptoms and arrange an evaluation.

Watch: Why Are My Ash Tree's Branches Dying?

Join Warner at a Mesa home as he examines an ash tree with thinning foliage and dying branches. Learn why checking the tree and its growing conditions should come before choosing a treatment.

Why Are Branches Dying on My Ash Tree?

Branch dieback is a symptom, not a diagnosis. An ash tree may lose branches because of irrigation problems, root damage, environmental stress, insects, or disease. Several problems can produce similar symptoms, so choosing a treatment from appearance alone can miss the underlying cause.

Signs to Look For

Dead twigs or branches during the normal growing season.
A canopy that is becoming thinner than in previous years.
Bare upper branches while lower branches still have foliage.
Unusually small leaves or reduced new growth.
Clusters of small shoots growing along declining branches.
Symptoms that continue to worsen over time.

Many ash trees naturally lose their leaves during seasonal dormancy. Bare branches in winter do not, by themselves, establish that a tree is dying. The season, ash species, and condition of the buds and branches all matter.

Does Branch Dieback Mean Ash Decline?

Ash decline is one possible explanation for declining ash trees, but dead branches alone do not confirm it. Other problems can look similar. A careful evaluation, and sometimes laboratory testing, may be needed before a specific disease can be identified.

There is no guaranteed treatment that reverses confirmed ash decline. An evaluation can help determine whether a correctable growing problem is involved, whether supportive care is appropriate, and whether damaged branches create a safety concern.

What Should You Do First?

Note when the symptoms began and whether they affect one part of the tree or the entire canopy.
Check that the irrigation system operates and delivers water where intended.
Tell Warner about recent digging, landscaping changes, or changes to the watering schedule.
Take photographs showing the entire tree and close views of the affected areas.
Have the cause evaluated before selecting fertilizers, pesticides, or other treatments.

Keep people and pets away from hanging or visibly unstable branches. Large dead limbs should be assessed by a qualified tree professional.

Can an Ash Tree With Dead Branches Be Saved?

Sometimes a tree can improve when a correctable problem is found. The outlook depends on the cause, the amount of living canopy, root condition, and structural safety. Dead branches will not become living branches again, but the remaining tree may benefit from an appropriate care plan.

Talk With Warner About Your Ash Tree

If your ash tree has dying branches, thinning foliage, or declining growth, call Warner's Tree Surgery at 480-969-8808. Serving Mesa and nearby Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, and Scottsdale.