Turning Ash Trees into Opportunity: Making the Most of a Local Resource

Across Middle Tennessee, a lot of homeowners and landowners are facing the same story — the once-beautiful Ash trees on their property are dying or have already died. The culprit is the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive beetle that’s been slowly spreading across the eastern U.S. for over two decades. This small, metallic-green insect bores beneath the bark, cutting off the tree’s ability to transport nutrients. Once infected, an Ash tree usually dies within a few years.

The U.S. Forest Service and state forestry agencies are working hard to combat the spread — introducing natural predators, regulating firewood movement, and supporting replanting efforts — but for now, many Ash trees across Tennessee are being cut down for safety and prevention.

As a sawyer, I’ve been milling a lot of Ash logs lately around Middle Tennessee. And while it’s always tough to see a tree go, there’s a real opportunity here to make something useful, beautiful, and lasting from this wood.

The Strength and Beauty of Ash

Ash is one of the most versatile North American hardwoods. It’s light in color, strong, and easy to work with — much like oak, but often with a straighter grain and smoother finish. It machines and sands beautifully, holds fasteners well, and is known for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

Importantly, the integrity of Ash wood is not compromised if the tree is milled soon after it’s cut down. The real issues only appear if the logs sit too long before sawing — that’s when insects and rot can take hold. Freshly felled or properly stored logs, on the other hand, produce clean, stable boards that are ideal for projects around the homestead.

Great Uses for Rough-Sawn Ash Lumber Around the Homestead

If you’ve got some Ash logs on your property — or you’ve had your trees milled recently — here are a few great ways to put that lumber to use:

1. Workbenches and Tool Handles – Ash’s toughness and shock resistance make it perfect for benches, mallets, and handles for hammers, axes, and garden tools.

2. Flooring and Paneling – Its bright tone and attractive grain give a clean, rustic look to interiors.

3. Furniture Building – Tables, chairs, shelves, and bed frames all benefit from Ash’s strength and easy workability.

4. Outdoor Projects – With a good finish or treatment, Ash performs well in porches, pergolas, and outdoor seating.

5. Barn Repairs or Shed Framing – It’s strong enough for utility structures and farm applications.

6. Firewood Racks, Chicken Coops, or Raised Beds – If you’ve got shorter or narrower boards, they’re still perfect for small projects around the property.

7. Turning Blanks and Craft Projects – Offcuts and smaller pieces make excellent turning stock for bowls, handles, and decorative work.

Saw It, Stack It, Use It

The Emerald Ash Borer has turned many living Ash trees into hazards, but with a sawmill and some planning, they don’t have to go to waste. Milling your Ash now not only preserves the value of the wood — it also keeps the story of your land alive in the form of something useful and long-lasting.

So if you’ve had to take down Ash trees on your property, don’t just haul them off. Let’s turn them into a resource. Rough-sawn Ash lumber is strong, stable, and full of potential — ready to become something that’ll last for generations.

Do you have an Ash tree that needs to come down or logs that need to be milled? Don’t let them go to waste. I can help you turn them into rough-sawn lumber or ready-to-use material for your next project.

Reach out or send me a message — let’s talk about what your Ash trees can become.

Best

Jason