Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil to see if it is bone dry.
- Check if the browning is happening on the outer edges of the canopy.
- Look for signs of salt damage if the tree is near a road.
Likely causes
Drought Stress
Most likelyHow to tell: The edges and tips of the leaves become dry and brittle during hot, dry spells. This is the tree trying to conserve water.
What to do: Water the tree deeply once every 7 to 14 days. Ensure the water reaches 12 inches deep into the soil to encourage strong root growth.
Salt Accumulation
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear after a winter where road salt was used nearby. The salt builds up in the soil and prevents the roots from taking up water.
What to do: Flush the soil around the tree with large amounts of fresh water in the spring. This helps leach the excess salts away from the root zone.
Find out what's wrong with your green ash
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
Worry if the browning is accompanied by significant twig dieback. It is normal for leaf tips to brown slightly during extreme heat waves.
Stopping it coming back
Apply a 3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree to keep the soil cool and moist.
Green Ash: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your green ash and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
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Questions people ask
- Should I trim off the brown tips?
- You can trim them for aesthetics, but it does not fix the underlying issue. Focus on watering instead.
- Does this mean my tree has a disease?
- Brown tips are usually environmental. If you see spots or lesions, it might be Anthracnose.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Green Ash
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.