GardenWizzPlant Care Card

Common Ash

Fraxinus excelsior · Tree

Hardiness
H6 Hardy — very cold winter (to −15 to −20°C)
Position
Full sun
Height × Spread
12–43 m × —
Soil
Moist but well-drained alkaline or neutral soil; particularly associated with basic soils on calcareous substrates.
Flowering
—
Toxicity
No specific toxicity is listed by the RHS. This is not a guarantee of safety — check with a vet or the ASPCA before pets or children eat any plant.

Watch out for

Ash dieback: No cure exists; remove dead wood to prevent falling hazards and avoid moving infected ash material.

Honey fungus: Improve drainage and soil aeration; remove severely infected trees to prevent spread to nearby plants.

Ash borer: Maintain tree health through proper watering and mulching; prune out infested branches if detected early.

Ash yellows: No specific cure; focus on maintaining overall tree vigor and removing dead wood to reduce stress.

Slugs and snails: Use physical barriers like copper tape or organic pellets around young plants during damp weather.

Full guide: gardenwizz.com/plants/common-ash © GardenWizz — UK gardening encyclopedia