Shriveled Leaf Tips on Ash Tree

My 38 year old white ash seems to be struggling this year. The leaf tips seem to be shriveling up near the end of branches. There is no sign of insect infestation or other blight. The plants have received plenty of water. Is there anything to this?

Take a closer look at the leaves. Ash plant bugs suck plant juices causing a subtle stippling of the leaves. Heavy feeding can cause tips of the leaves to brown. Fortunately healthy plants can tolerate this feeding. Ash trees displaying these symptoms may also be infested with anthracnose. This fungal disease causes brown irregular spots on leaves and some leaf drop. Rake and destroy fallen leaves to reduce infection next year. Excess moisture can cause the same symptoms (brown leaf tips) as drought. We can't stop the rain but we can make sure we don't add to the problem. Adjust irrigation systems and redirect sump pumps and downspouts if needed. If the symptoms don't match these problems and continue to spread, consult a certified arborist. They can check for yellows, verticillium wilt and decline.