Isn't it amazing how old trees can get? What begins as a small sprout grows into a sturdy tree whose bark lasts for hundreds of years. In the past, lovers liked to immortalize themselves with carvings in the wood of a tree. The plants are therefore often witnesses to times long past. Ash trees can even live up to 300 years.
How old can an ash tree get?
Ash trees can reach an age of up to 300 years under good site conditions. The life expectancy and mandability of trees depend on the soil requirements, environment and development. Solitary ash trees live longer and are more productive than those in dense stands.
Requirements for old age
As a rule, ash trees reach an age of 250 years; under good site conditions, the deciduous trees can be even older, namely 300 years old.
Soil requirements
- dry or very moist
- calcareous
- loose soil
- profound
- base-rich
Environment
Beeches are increasingly competing with ash trees. They not only limit the general population, but also reduce the life expectancy of the ash tree. For this reason, the deciduous tree has developed a pioneering characteristic. It grows mainly on soils that are too moist for beech trees. Standing alone, the ash tree reaches a significantly older age than when it is standing.
Manhood
The same applies to the manhood of the ash tree, i.e. the point at which the deciduous tree forms seeds in order to reproduce. Trees that stand alone are already fertile after 20 to 30 years. In dense stands, the first buds only form after 40 to 45 years.
Development
Ash trees are among the largest deciduous trees in Europe. At the end of their life they sometimes reach heights of up to 40 meters. Growth increases rapidly even at a young age. But it's not just on the surface that the ash tree is growing in size. In order to ensure the supply of nutrients, the roots also spread widely. First of all, the tree still has a heart root. With age, this develops into a sinker root that grows up to 1.5 meters into the ground.
