Blaming the tree for a sinking foundation seems suspicious to me. Ash trees belong to the genus of flowering plants called Fraxinus. Learning how to identify these diseases will help you manage them properly. Arizona ash reaches heights of 40 to 50 feet (12-15 m.) and widths of 30 to 40 feet (9-12 m.). Ash trees have extensive root systems that are very close to the surface. An Arizona ash tree (Fraximus velutina) is known by a few different names including Fresno ash, velvet ash, leatherleaf ash, smooth ash, and desert ash. The Arizona ash tree is a stout, majestic tree with deep green leaves and a rounded canopy. Arizona ash (Fraximus velutina) is an upright, stately tree with a rounded canopy of deep green leaves. It is relatively short-lived, but may survive 50 years with proper care. Arizona ash trees vary in height from 30 to 50 feet, with a 45- to 60-foot spread depending on their growing conditions. Native to southwestern U.S. and Mexico, these seedless trees are a favorite in a wide range of landscapes from residential, to commercial and lawn applications. In fact, many other types of ash trees grow in Arizona as well. Use this magnificent tree for dense shade, as a street tree or in parks. It can live up to 50 years with the right tree maintenance and care. Arizona Ash Tree Information. Arizona Ash trees, Fraxinus velutina, are deciduous so that they can let the warmth of the sun in during the winter and cast a wide umbrella of shade just in time for the summer! You should definitely check with a foundation expert. There are over 65 species of ash trees. Surface roots can be a problem on wet sites and on clay soil but otherwise are grown in a range of soil from sand to clay (1). The trees are very susceptible to damage from ice loads. Arizona ash trees (Fraxinus velutina) are quite common to Arizona, and are well adapted to the sunny climate here. Their opposite green leaves turn yellow in the fall; the leaf shapes vary depending on the tree. This Gardenerdy article tells you about different diseases in Ash trees along with their treatment. It is found mostly in the United States (SW) and Mexico. It can also be used in large residential settings in combination with other evergreen plants. Factors such as changes in soil and climatic conditions, insect and fungal attacks, etc., make them highly susceptible to some diseases. Often their roots protrude from the ground. The Arizona ash is native to California, Texas, and Arizona. Normally, when I see a tree’s roots damage a foundation, it is lifting the foundation, not causing it to sink. Ash trees can live for hundreds of years, so before planting one it’s important that you decide on the right species and find the ideal spot to plant it. Wikipedia lists many ash trees according to regions where they are found. The Raywood Ash is reported to be seedless so the usual mess created by other ashes is absent. They have spreading, open crowns and single or multiple trunks with deeply furrowed bark. Once established the tree will need very little work, but you’ll get much better results if you carefully select what you’re going to plant and where you’re going to plant it.