I have a large ash tree (in the UK) - it appears to have started to
drop sticky deposits that look just like granular sugar. Problem is
it's all over the patio, and gets picked up on shoes etc, as well as
making the furniture sticky.

It's never done this before - does anyone know what causes it, and /or
how long it lasts for???

From:


I have a large ash tree (in the UK) - it appears to have started to
drop sticky deposits that look just like granular sugar.
.. . .
It's never done this before - does anyone know what causes it, and /or
how long it lasts for???

Many species of Fraxinus, the ash tree, exude a sugary substance which the
ancient Greeks called méli, i.e. honey. This substance was harvested
commercially until the early part of this century, and is found on Fraxinus
excelsior in northern Europe and Fraxinus ornus in the mountains of Greece.

This fact sheds light on certain themes in classical literature - the idea of a
golden age when men ate acorns and honey that dripped from trees, the idea that
bees collect honey from the leaves and branches of trees, and that ash tree
nymphs were nurses of the infant Zeus in the Cretan cave of Dicte. (They fed
him honey). Also, a new etymology of the Greek word for ash tree is proposed in
light of these connections.
http://www.musaios.com/ash.htm

Looks like those silly greeks were harvesting a bunch of insect poop. Most
likley you have an insect problem on your tree, maybe aphids(though not common
on ash) or scale insects, which given a high population can create massive
amounts of poo. Look up into your tree and you will probably see them.

Toad

gardener wrote:

I have a large ash tree (in the UK) - it appears to have started to
drop sticky deposits that look just like granular sugar. Problem is
it's all over the patio, and gets picked up on shoes etc, as well as
making the furniture sticky.

It's never done this before - does anyone know what causes it, and /or
how long it lasts for???

Several years ago, southern California was infested with an ash
whitefly. Not only did they drip their sweet excretions on the
ground under the trees, but the droplets were picked up by the wind
as they fell. Those airborne droplets would blow right through
window screens and leave a sticky mess on floors and furniture.

Besides making a mess, the ash whitefly was defoliating large
trees, weakening them and making them susceptible to other insect
damage. Finally, a parasitic wasp that feeds on the whitefly was
found. These were released throughout southern California. Less
than two years later, the problem was resolved.

Since the ash whitefly also causes serious damage to various food
crops, you might check with local agricultural agencies to see if
it is a problem in your area.

--

David E. Ross
http://www.rossde.com/

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