Dealing With Dead And Dying Ash Trees
Hundreds of thousands of ash trees will be removed as a result of the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle that kills all native ash trees. Although some valuable trees can and will be saved it leaves us with a dilemma regarding what to do with all the removed trees. Rainbow Treecare has focused on maximizing the benefits of trees by keeping them healthy and maintained; now we are exploring how to maximize the use of removed trees through Urban Wood Utilization. Urban Wood Utilization has evolved in the Twin Cities over the years. Ten years ago much of the wood was burned or land filled. Today, there are three current options in the Twin Cities area for utilization of ash trees.
- Mulch Manufacturing and Compost
- Energy Production
- Manufacturing of Beautiful and Unique Wood Products
Mulch Manufacturing and Compost
Ash is NOT a great wood for mulch manufacturing. It is a hardwood that does not accept dye or colors well; it fades quickly, and decomposes rapidly. This is not ideal mulch for homeowners, but will work for city use in parks and areas that do not require a “maintained appearance”. Chipped ash will not spread the Emerald Ash Borer. Ash can be used to produce compost; however there are many more materials, like leaf debris, that contribute to the compost market.
Energy Production
The City of Saint Paul is unique in that many downtown buildings, including the capital building, are heated and cooled using energy produced by wood chips. This plant, located just down from the Science Museum, incinerates local wood debris to create energy. The plant currently receives a great amount of wood from municipalities and tree companies. Ash is a fine wood for energy production. Although the plant requires large amounts of debris to operate, it may not have the capacity to use all the ash wood that will be generated from Emerald Ash Borer destruction.
Manufacturing of Beautiful and Unique Wood Products
The use of Urban Wood for home building and consumer products is just beginning to take shape. Many beautiful products can be manufactured from ash wood such as, flooring, cabinets, picture frames, and much more. Wood from the Hood is one local company specializing in urban wood products. Traditionally ash has been under-utilized in the Midwest because oak is abundant. However, ash is a high quality hardwood that is comparable to oak, but offers more character and often is less costly.
If you own an ash tree, or any species, and want it turned into a wood product, Rainbow Treecare can help. If you do not own a tree but want to integrate a piece of urban wood into your home, contact Wood from the Hood. Most experts agree that the future planting of ash as an urban tree or as a timber production tree is limited at best. Turning ash trees into beautiful wood products is a way to keep the legacy of these trees and have a piece of history in your home.
Links to:
District Energy – St. Paul
http://www.districtenergy.com/Wood From The Hood
http://www.woodfromthehood.com/Emerald Ash Borer Experts
http://www.eabexperts.com/
