Hamburg gardener lost 50 ash trees; see how she coped

garden where ash trees used to be in Hamburg NY
Red-osier dogwoods, which are shrubs, have filled in the spaces vacated by the ash trees. The remaining trees you see are maples. This view is along the side of Carol and Rick Stumpf’s backyard in Hamburg. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko
berries on red-osier dogwood
White berries add interest to the red-osier dogwoods. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

by Connie Oswald Stofko

When Carol and Rick Stumpf bought an empty lot for their home 30 years ago, ash trees were already established. A house and gardens followed and the Stumpfs enjoyed their landscape.

“It was all shaded back here,” Carol said. “I had all my beds how I wanted them.” She gazed longingly around her huge backyard, remembering how it used to be before her mature ash trees–and many others across Western New York– were killed by emerald ash borers. There was little that anyone could do.

“We had to take down at least 50 ash trees,” Carol said. “”My heart was breaking, but I was worried they were going to fall.”

What would she tell other gardeners who lost trees?

“It’s okay,” Carol said. “Change is okay. It’s always evolving, always changing.

“At first, it hurt. But, okay, now I have some sun beds. I couldn’t even grow a coneflower before. My yard evolved.”

Tip #1: To fill in the empty spaces left by the dead ash trees, Carol planted red-osier dogwoods.

“They grow quickly,” Carol said. “They filled in within three years. They give us privacy.”

Tip #2: “I learned from experience that you should have a variety of trees,” Carol said. “Otherwise, when something bad happens, there go all of your trees.”

Carol and her husband Rick shared their landscape during the Buzz Around Hamburg Garden Walk in 2023.

plants in garden--some that like shade, some that like sun
Are the gardens really sunny now after so many trees were lost? Carol Stumpf pointed to the brunnera, in lower right, which likes shade, and lamb’s ear, at lower left, which likes sun. “They’re both doing well, so I don’t know,” she said.
garden under maple tree in Hamburg NY
A garden is situated under a maple tree at the front of the yard. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko
bubbler fountain in Hamburg NY
A bubbler fountain adds to the garden. You can see that Carol Stumpf can now grow coneflowers. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

8 Comments on “Hamburg gardener lost 50 ash trees; see how she coped

  1. I also have my ash trees treated to save them from EAB. The downside is that the chemicals that kill the ash borer also will prevent any other insect from living on the tree, thus no caterpillars for birds to stuff down the gaping throats of their young.

  2. We had to have 10 Ash trees taken down along our property line. They were just cut down without removing the base and roots. I now have a gorgeous hedge of ash that when the trunk circumference gets to 3-4″ (the bore goes for older wood) I will cut them down again. We have another Ash, 40′ tall that we have been inoculating for over 15 years. Worth every penny.

  3. This is an interesting discussion. Meredith, the only government grants I have seen are for taking down ash trees or replacing them with other kinds of trees.

  4. Gardeners are the eternal optimists! Thanks for sharing this inspiring story and thanks to the gardeners that treat ash trees at their own expense. It would been nice if some government funding was available , maybe it is🤔

  5. My husband is a certified ISA arborist and we have been treating Ash for EAB for about 12 years. The best product available for treatment is injection called Tree-age (emamectin benzoate) and the pricing is determined by tree diameter at chest height. (Eg. a 10″ diameter tree may cost $90-$100 to inject, labeled for 2 years protection, but often in our experience can go 3 years). So, yes, as earlier stated, it is usually cheaper to treat and save, compared to removal and possible replacement, and you retain your older, larger tree.
    Researchers have stated that EAB takes about 12 years to pass thru an area, damaging & killing trees, but then the threat is reduced since the population of the insect moves on to find other living trees on which to lay eggs. This is depicted as a bell curve, with the peak of the curve representing the peak time of infestation. We are on the downside of the curve (EAB was found near Buffalo Airport in 2009). Researchers have stated that at this point of the ‘curve’ treatment for EAB can be in a ‘monitoring’ stage, with automatic treatments not absolutely mandatory. (In Detroit, where the EAB first hit in the US, this ‘bell curve’ lasted about 12 years; then about 8 years after that EAB seemed to experience an ‘uptick’, perhaps since small passed-over trees had grown, giving off more volatiles, and EAB returned to find them.) Some people may choose not to take the ‘chance’ of stopping treatments and will go ahead with regular injections. Evaluation of Ash should be done only after full leafout (usually mid-June) on an individual basis to determine how to proceed. Monitoring trees every year for thinning canopy, etc. will help indicate whether EAB infestation has returned and the status of the tree. Among other things to consider is existing damage, date of last treatment, product used, etc.. Much more can be said on the subject, but I hope this general info has been helpful. Feel free to reach out to us at Williams-lawncare.com for more info.

  6. If someone has an ash tree they really want to save, you can get a treatment for it. I think I pay about $175 every three years (I could be off by up to $100) and my ash is still going strong (not so for the one I chose not to treat). I figure it may in some small way help the environment by killing whatever ash borers decide to move in. I figured with my estimated lifespan, treating the tree was actually on par or cheaper than having it removed, and I get to enjoy the tree.

  7. i feel your pain – as do many i’m sure. you’ve done a real nice job. my gardens went from all shade of an old hedgerow to mostly sun. i’m surprised at how well a lot of the hosta are taking it. i’ve moved some hosta around and i’ve started to fill in with conifers and smaller shrubs. It’s coming along OK.

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