Root-Sprouting Ailanthus and Disappearing Spotted Lanternflies

Up at the corner of Harrison Street and Franklin Ave, a large Ailanthus tree was cut down last year. Ailanthus altissima, or tree of heaven, is a nonnative tree, sometimes loved, sometimes reviled. It was one of several trees removed at the corner, to make room for new ones. Because this particular tree was not treated with systemic herbicide to kill the roots as part of the removal, the roots live on, and on, and on.

Here are sprouts soon after the tree was cut,

along with hundreds of others in the yard, nicely delineating the 60 foot reach of the roots, far beyond the dripline.

One year later, with new trees in place, the hundreds of Ailanthus root sprouts are as robust as ever. Hard to say whether the dieback in the newly planted redbud is due to toxins released by the Ailanthus roots. 

The lawn of this rental unit is occasionally cut, so in theory the Ailanthus root sprouts will get weaker year to year, but the delayed mowing is allowing the roots to gather sustaining energy.

Last year there were still enough of the invasive Spotted Lanternflies around to show up on the sprouts, but this year, none. (I've seen a total of one lanternfly thus far this year.) Since the lanternflies thrived on Ailanthus, they provided an additional excuse to remove these nonnative trees. This particular tree, however, is having a long afterlife.

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