Common Ash

How to grow Common Ash

Written by the GardenDecoded editorial team · Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Written for UK gardens · How we research our guidance

Planting

New planting of ash is not sensible in the UK at present because of ash dieback, and nursery stock is restricted. Existing trees should be monitored rather than replaced like for like; if you need a large tree on chalk, consider field maple, hornbeam or lime instead.

Pruning

Remove dead and dangerous wood only. Trees weakened by dieback become brittle and drop limbs, so any work on a mature ash near a building, road or path should be assessed by a qualified arborist.

Propagation

Not advisable given the disease situation.

Pests and diseases

Ash dieback, caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, is now widespread across the UK and has killed a very large proportion of ash trees. Symptoms include crown thinning, blackened wilting shoots and diamond-shaped lesions where side shoots meet the stem.

Value to wildlife

Ash supports a large community of lichens, invertebrates and birds, and its light airy canopy allows a rich ground flora beneath — which is precisely why its loss matters so much.

Notes

A small proportion of ash shows natural tolerance to dieback, so a healthy mature tree is worth keeping under observation rather than felling pre-emptively. Get any tree in a fall zone professionally inspected.

This guidance was researched and written by GardenDecoded — see our editorial policy for how guides are checked and reviewed.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Fraxinus excelsior but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

Others in Fraxinus