Question
QUESTION: Hello there,
I live in Ireland, and i just wanted to know what is the best way to proppgate ash??
thanks

ANSWER: Hi Ben,
Thanx for your question.  I was lucky enough to visit Ireland back in 1992.  It is the home of some of my ancestors on my mother's side.  

Can you tell me what kind of ash we are talking about?  Mountain Ash (Sorbus scopulina), Evergreen Ash (Fraxinus uhdei), Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)...Let me know please, so I can give you a good answer.

Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Great!!, when I say what is the best way to propagate ash, I meant by taking cutting from the branches and then growing trees from them???I don't want you to tell me about the seeds.The tree is a mountain ash tree, now during spring is the best time to do this right??

Answer
Hi Ben,
Thanx for the clarification.  The moutain ash is also called a rowan, correct?  I answered a question like this a while back for a fellow in the U.K., I think it was.  

You can take cuttings from your favorite rowan and make new trees.  The best way to do this is to take cuttings from green wood.  Take cuttings in the spring, after the last frost, that are from the green wood, about 15-20 cm long, strip all of the leaves except the last two or three.  Dip the cuttings in a rooting hormone and then stick the cuttings in moist, warm sand and keep the cuttings warm until the cuttings begin to root.  Rooting may begin as soon as 8 weeks.  You can check by gently probing around the cutting.  Chances are, it will take several months to get the large root growth.  

If your cuttings start sprouting new leaves, there is probably a significant root system and it's time to take the cuttings out of the rooting environment and plant the cuttings in separate pots.  Transfer the potted cuttings outdoors, provided, the environment is warm enough.  Place the potted cuttings in a place where they are shaded from direct sun, protected from extremes in rain, wind, hail, etc., for 10 days.  After that, plant your seedlings wherever you like as long as they get 8 hours of direct sunlight.

I hope this helps.
Tom