Hello,

It is not surprising that you have some ash seedlings, just as there are lots of small elms in woods and landscapes.  Unfortunately, most of these succumb to their respective pests and meet untimely deaths.  Emerald ash borer is still common in Michigan, so if you want these trees to survive you will need to treat them with appropriate insecticides yearly for the foreseeable future.  The following article lists the emerald ash borer insecticide treatments commonly available:

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/homeowner-guide-emerald-ash-borer-insecticide-treatments/#:~:text=Most%20of%20the%20products%20available,spring%20to%20be%20most%20effective.

For this reason, it is not recommended to plant ash in the Midwest at this time.  Here is some information on ash:

https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/green-ash-not-recommended/

Slippery elm is also not a recommended species to plant due to its susceptibility to Dutch elm disease.  Here is some information on slippery elm:

https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/slippery-elm-not-recommended/

If you want to plant a forest, look at the trees currently doing well in surrounding woods: oaks, (white, red, bur, black and swamp white are all good options), black cherry, hickory, hophornbeam and maples (and don't forget an Amelanchier)  are all natives that make up the native forest in southern Michigan.  Just remember that oaks should not be pruned during the growing season, as they are susceptible to oak wilt.  I recommend growing oak despite this, because they are critical to our ecosystem.

To find more information on these trees, the site links above to Morton Arboretum would be a good place to start.  

Every spring  conservations districts have tree sales where seedlings can be purchased very cheaply.  You may want to think about that next winter (they start taking orders in March, I think)

https://www.macd.org/

I hope this answers your questions.  Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.

Ruth

Hello,

Yes, it is fine to ask more questions.  I would plan to transplant the seedlings when they are dormant early next spring.  Before that time, you can be clearing out unwanted species and preparing the planting spots for the trees that you want to dig up and move.  It would be helpful to keep those seedlings as vigorous as possible by making sure they have water- at least an inch a week.  Also, because seedlings often get munched more readily than more mature trees of the same species, many people recommend protecting new transplants with a cage.  I have found this to be critical in establishing very small trees.  Before digging them up in the spring, make sure they are well watered for a few days prior.  Watering after transplanting is crucial for the first few years after being transplanted. Here is some more good advice about digging and moving seedling trees:

http://rocklandcce.org/resources/transplanting-trees-and-shrubs

Ruth