Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior)

El fraxinus excelsior It is a tree that we find in much of Europe. It has an elegant bearing, with a leafy and wide crown which gives a shade that many appreciate. In addition, it is decorative in all seasons of the year, even in winter when it runs out of leaves.

Neither frost nor heat scare him, although vegetates best in areas where the climate is temperate, with not too hot summers and cool winters.

Origin and characteristics of fraxinus excelsior

It is known by the names common ash, broadleaf ash, and northern ash, and is native from northern Spain to Russia. It is also found in the UK. Its scientific name is Fraxinus excelsior, and it is a deciduous tree that can reach 40 meters in height. The trunk has a greyish bark, smooth and with lenticels.

The cup is wide, 4 or 5 meters in diameter. The branches have black buds, a characteristic that differentiates them from other ash trees. The leaves are imparipinnate, composed of 9 to 13 lance-shaped pinnae or leaflets with toothed margins. They are green in spring and summer, and yellow, orange or reddish in autumn before falling to the ground.

It blooms in spring, before the leaves sprout. The inflorescences are small panicles with flowers that are usually unisexual, but also hermaphrodite. The fruit is a winged samara measuring about 5 centimeters long..

For what do you use it?

Common ash used as a garden tree. It not only has ornamental value, but also provides shade, as well as being able to serve as a refuge or a resting place for some animals, such as birds or insects.

But it also has other uses, which are:

• Medicinal: both the green leaves and the bark are used to relieve arthritis, gout, constipation, fever and arthralgia.
• Wood: It is used to make handles, furniture, sports rackets, and rackets. It is hard, but also flexible, and does not break easily.

How to care for the northern ash?

It grows fast, but only if the environmental and cultivation conditions allow it. Therefore, it is interesting that the things that we are going to explain to you below are taken into account:

Location

It is a tree that should be kept outside, in a sunny exposure, and not only that, but it is also advisable to plant it in the ground as soon as possible. And we are talking about a plant that can become very large. In a pot its growth is limited by the lack of space; Moreover, it would not be surprising if it would break it as it grew, since its roots are strong.

Likewise, it must be planted as far as possible from pipes and paved floors, with a minimum distance of 10 meters.

Earth

The land that the common ash needs it is fertile, that is, rich in organic matter. Also, it does not have to be easily flooded, since the roots do not like to be in permanent contact with water.

For seedlings and young potted plants, universal growing medium can be planted alone, or better mixed with 30% perlite. you can buy it here.

Irrigation

Generally, it has to be watered frequently in hot and dry climates, and less often if on the contrary the rains are abundant. It does not resist drought, so it is convenient to pour water on it until all the land is soaked.

In order to make the most of the water, it is advisable to make a tree -with soil from the garden for example- about 4 or 5 centimeters high around the tree. Thus, each time it is irrigated, the water will remain inside this pit, until it is absorbed by the soil and thus reaches the roots.

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You can pay your ash during the spring and summer, once every 15 or 30 days. For this purpose, you can use fertilizers of organic origin, such as manure or bat guano, for example. This way it will grow in better health, and somewhat faster than it would if it were not fertilized.

Transplant

El fraxinus excelsior is a tree that if it is in a pot, since it grows fast, it will need a bigger one every 1 or 2 years. To make sure, we must check at the end of the year if the roots come out through the holes in it, because if they do we will have to transplant it in the spring.

Still, I repeat it is best to plant it in the ground as soon as possible, also in spring. But it will only be done if it has rooted well before in the pot, and if it is healthy.

Multiplication

Multiply by seeds and cuttings in spring.

Rusticity

Its cultivation it is suitable in regions with a temperate climate, with mild summers, and without periods of drought. It resists frost down to -20ºC. From experience I can tell you that it tolerates temperatures of up to 38ºC during heat waves with very high humidity (80% or more) due to the influence of the Mediterranean Sea, and with light frosts of up to -2ºC, but it suffers a lot with the drought. For this reason, I do not recommend having it in the Mediterranean region or in others with a similar climate, unless it rains frequently.

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