The plant is still in it's pot but it has been kept watered - not that it's particularly sunny or hot here. The other possibility is the quality of your gardening. Other host plants that are usually only slightly affected include linden (basswood), tulip tree, hickory, birch, and walnut. I am not so familiar with gardening in your area, but this might help. The second told us it looked to be the same and that we had a 50/50 chance of bringing it back in the spring if we fertilized in the fall. All rights reserved The Tree Center 2020. thetreecenter.com Phytophthora root rot is caused by a wet spring or leaving your maple tree in poorly drained soil. This is the first year that this has happened. For example I suppose in the short term even more watering would help. Tree Categories Tree categories on the left will give you information about the specific tree type and lots of great pictures of that tree species. 1. It'll look similar on a maple. Come back every week for our latest tips on what to do in your yard. Next year, do this treatment once in the spring after the last frost and you'll avoid these bugs altogether. Then plant another, healthy specimen – the red maple is a good choice. . I'm guessing the height of the tree at about 50' and do not know how old it is because I've only lived here 3 years. If you decide to keep them, here is what to do. I should have done this sooner. I really want to save the tree. If they are powdery, and rub off, it could be powdery mildew, that can occur in hot, humid weather. Other Japanese maple pests are scale, mealybug and mites. You can also find out about those that pose a potential risk to the UK but are not present yet. Now I have many dead branches and leaves and keys are turning brown and dying at a fast rate. This is the second year I have noticed this. In very early spring I noticed red-brown sap on some branches which have now died off. Is there something I can fill this hole with like a foam insulation product? By now they are probably spread around, ready to release new spores. The branches themselves are still alive. Unlike many of the items in this article, scorch isn't caused by a bacteria or a fungus, which also means that it's not infectious. We have had a very wet spring/summer so far, so lack of moisture is not the problem. Are other red maples in your neighborhood affected too? Though sunset maple trees, often referred to as 'Red Sunset', are prized as the most successful red maple cultivar, issues may still arise. I wanted to replace it with a red maple, as I was constantly trimming weight off the branches for the Bradford because of it’s reputation for splitting. My tree has been 1/2 dark green and on the northside 1/2 of the leaves are pale yellow. Then a rapid warming after that. Yes, it does sound like it, and if several branches are already dead, it is probably past saving. As for the red/black spots, I agree - they're probably galls and those don't cause the leaking sap problem, nor will they kill your tree. The first few years we loved them as they did not produce “keys”, but about 5 years they started producing “keys”. any guesses? Treatment of these needle diseases must be based on the particular disease, the size of the tree involved, and the setting. Powdery mildew on a soy bean plant. Squirrels are stopping to sniff it as well. Sometimes, whole branches or the entire crown can wilt and die in a short period of time. It almost looks as though someone has sprayed them with white paint or something. Get the kind of braces that are covered with rubber or a similar thick, soft material so that they don't dig into the tree. The maple tree tar spot is fairly easy to identify. At this point, they cover the driveway, the back deck, and most of the back yard. In the last 2 weeks at the base of the lower branches (center of the tree) it has begun to leaf out, but no leafs yet on the surrounding branches. The ants aren't responsible for your tree problems though- they're just the cleanup crew when there is honeydew (caused by a tree injury). You might consider having someone come in and do a deep root feeding with a high-nitrogen fertilizer in late winter next year – just as the buds are beginning to swell. It doesn't look like tar spot, but the dots look like they're part of the leaf so I am wondering if it is a disease. No more sap noticed since then despite other new cracks each year. Are you sure you have the right tree? Question: Why aren't my Purple Maples purple? next door to us, the people rent . I purchased some nice 12 foot trees last fall and planted them. I’m hazarding a guess that at least 70% of Prunus get this, not much you can do other than cut it out and apply dormant oil. Go ahead, get a bottle of it and get an application on the ground ASAP. Should I be worried? From what you have previously said, it sounds like vert. What can I do to eradicate the mites and prevent the tar spot from emerging again this year? Hi, our tree was fine last bloom– leaves normal. Yes, the spots in Tar Spot can be raise – thicker than the leaf – it’s normal. This doesn’t sound like that. These are insect pests, not diseases, which is why we didn’t cover them, but you do raise a good point, because they can easily be thought a disease, since they sure don’t look like insects to new gardeners! Top 10 Tree Diseases (And What to Do About Them) Luke Miller Updated: Apr. Thank you. Tar spots may cause premature defoliation but are not known to kill trees. You are not going to lose your trees. Japanese maple trees are susceptible to diseases such as anthracnose, verticillium wilt, tar spot, leaf spot, leaf scorch and root rot. This year after a 8 inch rainfall in three days in which the back yard was under water 2-3 inches I noticed that there are parts of the tree that the leaves are shriveled and falling off I bought my house about 4 yrs ago and there's a maple tree in the middle of my backyard. If it had green leaves when you bought it, could be it had been sitting in deep shade for a time, or just leafed out after being held in cold storage. The red maple produces green foliage that changes to showy reds and oranges with fall’s onset. It is unsightly, but not harmful. Over the past few weeks, after a prolonged period of dry and very hot weather in NY, the leaves have turned from red to a greenish brown color and are drooping. Any thoughts? Hopefully there won't be a late frost again next year! But it’s on Condo grounds and they won’t want to spend the money to remove it unless they are certain it is doomed. Can these be termites and if so is there any way to save this tree before it is totally eaten up? I was told it could be Anthracnose, but uncertain how to treat it or if it is treatable this late in the season? Our other maple is not affected, & we did not put red bark-mulch around it. After any windstorm there is always a plethora of these small dead branches scattered on the ground. I have it on my maple trees in my own front yard as well. It is important to note that maple leaf gall will not harm the tree- it is just unsightly. If it does seem like wilt, get some lawn food and sprinkle it all around the roots of the tree – often if you give the tree a big feeding like this it will put on a spurt of growth and grow away from the disease. Both trees were planted in new home subdivisions where the topsoil was replaced with basic dirt. Next, I would make sure that the tree gets enough water if you don't have a lot of rainfall- your tree will need this kind of TLC all summer. Any ideas. I took the tape off and the bark looks weird and almost wet on one. All the branches that had sap on them had died and there were definite wounds and splits on them, these were on lower portions (roughly 5 ft. from ground and above) and were removed about a month ago. Powdery mildew is like what it sounds like - a white powdery substance on the branches and leaves of a plant. I can definitely see how as the tree is getting older the weight of the branches could be pulling the stems even further apart. This disease is becoming a big problem in some places. There are dead small branches at the outer limbs. If it is growing more actively it will stay green longer, and might have not been ready when you had the weather conditions that cause red coloring (warm days and cool nights). The leaves start showing up very late in the spring (that too sparingly). If that is a problem where you live, the braces may not work, but regardless, it is worth a try. Another problem is Verticillium Wilt - requires pruning to remove the affected branches. Heart rot will literally rot away your tree, in many cases destroying a tree within a season or two. The disease begins in bark layers, then extends into inner wood and often leaves oozing, wet areas on the bark. not only the top limbs are white but lower ones also, My friends built a house 5 yrs ago, the maple in their front yard looks like it has tar spot as well as the verticulium fungus I knocked a dead branch off and it had a ring in it. Try to get a proper diagnosis to help you make the right decision for your tree. There are a few diseases that can occur and it is helpful to be able to recognize them and even more helpful to know what steps can reduce the chances of them occurring. Japanese Maple Tree Diseases. If you lose some leaves, but the tree still looks full, then it’s probably not much to worry about, but if it is extensive leaf drop, it could be the beginning of Verticillium wilt. The underlying cause of your problem may be related to the amount of sunlight your tree is receiving. If this area covers a lot of the diameter of the trunk, explore with your knife, and if it is mostly brown underneath, then I am afraid it’s time to go shopping for a new tree. I would take a "wait and see" approach if the rest of the tree appears to be in good health, and it was healthy overall last year. Maple spindle gall (left) and maple bladder gall (right) are common cosmetic issues that plague maples. Is that was you are seeing? The spots are probably unrelated, and something minor. As time goes on, the fungus eventually affects the outward portions of the tree, such as the branches and leaves. Do this ASAP. Silver maples pruned in March 2018. Plant resistant strains. Maples can show several different leaf-spots that are usually brown, scattered all over the leaf and sometimes join together into larger areas of dead tissue. The inner part of the leaf around the veins may remain green. Maple trees (Acer spp.) As well, there are so many to choose from! Nothing to worry about. Sapstreak isn't easy to catch because it mainly affects the inside of the tree. Everything seemed to be fine but now most of the leaves are dead (dry up and turn brown) on one of the larger trees and the other one has lost a lot of the leaves in the top 1/3 of the tree. I have a very large maple tree in the back of my property that has been dropping leaves for over a month. It doesn’t sound good. A tree that old is not likely to give up with one bad event, unless it is Verticillium, which gets in through damaged roots, hence the question about the ground around the tree. I had thought that the spots had stopped spreading (I don't seem to be getting any more leaves that turn completely brown), but it's recently put out some new leaves, but those too are developing spots. Though sunset maple trees, often referred to as 'Red Sunset', are prized as the most successful red maple cultivar, issues may still arise. It’s had that for a few years. It's caused by unfavorably dry weather conditions. This year the die off is extensive and we have lost 75% of the leaves on the entire tree. Lichens are not harmful – since the tree is new they probably developed in the nursery, which must have been in a place with very clean area, since lichens are a sign of that. Hire a tree care company with root feeding equipment – its a spike on a hose connected to a pump and a tank – and have them feed next spring with a high nitrogen fertilizer at the highest dose they can. Xylella fastidiosa: Leafhoppers and spittle bugs carry the bacteria from tree to tree. We have three Maples at the end of our garden and I think they're about 30 years old. I live in Dallas ,Texas and have a red maple that we planted four years ago and blooms great every year however this spring as of today I am still awaiting leaves. What is killing your tree, I believe, is that it has a split trunk, that is splitting even further. we cut it down . This condition you describe is sun scorch; the leaves may turn yellow or red, and in severe cases, turn brown and curl up around the edges. Maple Wilt. Second, contact your county Cooperative Extension office- they can visit your tree to make a correct diagnosis of the problem. Sorry you are losing a mature tree – it is always sad when that happens, but this disease is hard to control, and does destroy a lot of trees. Learn more about the symptoms of maple leaf blister and maple anthracnose, two foliar diseases of maple trees that can appear in late spring on the same tree. Everything is covered. Hi Mike, I suspect, based on your location, that your maple was anothr casualty of this year's late frost. In that case, your tree may be unsavable. The fungus then inches upwards from the root system and infects the trunk of the tree. I realize this is an Acer genus forum bur black wart things starting on the ends of branches sounds like black know to me. It sounds like tar spot – which, as discussed in the blogs and comments, is basically harmless. Scratch the bark on some of the shoots with no leaves left. Clean up the leaves and bag or burn them in the fall. Could this pile of wood be any sort of an issue? Thanks for your response about the split trunk being the likley cause of stress to our Japanese maple. I am assuming this is a mature tree? Otherwise, you will probably see a steady decline, with that branch you mention suddenly dying completely. Tar spot on maple and sycamore is not actually "tar" on the leaves, but rather a fungal disease. Sap oozes from the canker in the bark. Please help as I do not want to lose these wonderful trees. Also, there has been no construction around this tree. If there are other trees nearby with it, then there is not much at all you can do. I do have pictures, I am not sure if I can send to you or upload. This spring it was very late sprouting its buds and the leaves are now sparse and smaller on the lower half of the tree. Usually called ‘Tar spot’, it only affects certain maples, has no effect on other plants, and hey, it doesn’t even hurt the maples to any significant degree – just makes them look unsightly. Maple Wilt. Tree fungus diseases can’t be treated and cured, and so, as an essential part of gardening, it’s necessary to prevent it from developing. Seems like it started around 2010 in many areas, so it has been a while. I have a 25 to 30 year old sugar maple. Feed with a tree fertilizer, and cover the soil with a rich organic mulch like garden compost, or rotted animal manure. Make sure your tree gets plenty of water during drought periods this year and perhaps use a liquid tree fertilizer or tree fertilizer spikes to help it quickly get over any stress. Rake up and destroy the leaves if you can, to break the cycle. Maple wilt is one of the more serious maple tree diseases. We just bought this house last summer and they’re my only shade. Remember that you need to remove those lower branches gradually over the next few years, so that you develop a trunk of a suitable height for the situation you have planted the tree into. In that case it sounds like dryness. no spots. Are there no options to save our trees? You may see ants around these areas, but they won't harm your tree - they're just collecting the sap. There are red/black dots on the top of the leaves also (looks like your maple bladder gall pictures) but we have had that in the past. Carpenter worm infestations are often overlooked. Lots of rain, or a late frost? Last year we had blossoms that dried up into crusty black balls. Am I not watering them enough??? This disease is another fungus that enters through the roots and blocks the water passages inside the tree. Get to work diagnosing tree diseases with our pictoral summary of 10 common tree diseases. The base of the tree is mulched, and it is on a slight slope in the yard so gets good drainage. Older maples tend to leaf out on the outermost part of the branches, while the inner parts of the branches have fewer leaves and small branches. Best to only collect seed from healthy trees. I haven’t noticed spots on the leaves in the front yard but the same thing happens. Dead major limbs could identify borer infestations.". Problems such as pests and diseases typically attack weakened maples. Maple trees have single leaves, while ash have several small leaflets on a central stalk. After hard pruning there will be many new shoots, more than the tree needs. This is a common disease in certain years – then it goes away for several. Planted a red maple tree in my newly landscaped front lawn in June. Dieback generally around the crown; external signs appear long after the tree has been infected, Try to prevent the roots from getting damaged or wounded; some trees recover for no apparent reason, Ten to brown spots with a purple or red center. Phyllosticta mimima is a relatively small threat to your tree. Thank you. No dropping yet, just an off color and the curls. It’s about 2 ft long a 2 inch wide area. Calling the nursery early in the year, I applied fish fertilizer, and the leaves that were there brightened, and thickened, but no new leaves on those problem branches. What is happening? I have 4 acer atropurpureum maples.. 3 are doing well no problems... but one something (I think) eating the leaves... some of the leaves have fallen off the others have very light brown marks on them, kind of thin lines then bigger in parts.... edges of the leaves look like they have been nibbled ...I have had a good look on and under the leaves and so far haven't spotted anything... it's a small plant as ive only had them since last year.. Tighten the nut or nuts until the crack closes up. Your tree should recover - don't cover or treat the areas where the limbs were cut, as they will heal on their own. If you are willing to make the investment, with an uncertain outcome, then moving that water away and having an arborist do a high-nitrogen root feeding in early spring could do the trick. is my tree dying ? Is it a disease or a growth phase? Since Verticillium enters through damaged roots, it is important to try to not damage the roots of your maple trees. Article and pictures by David Marks. It started developing leaves this spring, but although it’s covered with green leaves, it has hundreds of shriveled up tiny brown leaves and scaly brown bumps on the branches that fall off when I touch them. A large tree like that will need plenty of watering during the first few seasons, so that could be the reason it is loosing leaves – they dry faster on the windward side. We’ll call the horticulturist again to come take a look, as I’m not entirely sure it requires removal at this point. I expect this will stop as the branches grow out and mature. Soil is not very well drained, high amounts of clay and low lying, and it has been a very rainy year so far and much of last one too, but the tree has good drainage from where it stands as our yard slopes from there. They just seem to dry up and die. The maple did well the first year, last year, with bright red foliage in fall, though lonely in a big spot to itself. Any clues? That means water regularly, fertilize annually, keep the area around the trees clean , prune when necessary and seek help immediately if you notice your tree looking ill or having problems. If you're unsure about how to care for the tree or perform the tracing, call your county Cooperative Extension office for assistance- they have tree specialists who are ready to help. They have been drippping sap since spring to the point we cannot park in our driveway without cleaning the windshield first. Still, that is certainly one of the very best maples for fall color! Once they fall to the ground, they overwinter there to reemerge in the spring months. The ants are coming because of the sap that is coming from the wound. We’ve had an EXTREMELY dry winter her in NW New Mexico. I am very meticulous with my front lawn. Now that its August, many of its leaves are yellowing and dropping off. If you are already losing foliage and branches, it doesn’t look promising, but take a ‘wait and see’ attitude, as you can’t do anything anyway. What is you suggestion pls. Charlotte Gerber (author) from upstate New York on September 01, 2010: Hi Ken, It could be several things, from scorch on the leaves (occurs in dry weather, high temps or windy conditions) to anthracnose (there's more info on this in this hub above). What is usually a beautiful tree looks like a Charlie brown christmas tree with dozens of leaves instead of thousands. I have to say that my tree (correct age about 35 years) has no markings or anything on the trunk. After a few years no more leaves will grow and the branch will die. You should in time see new tissue start to grow around the edges, and eventually the whole area will cover over with scar tissue, and finally disappear almost completely under new bark. (I could forward you some pictures if these could be of any). I would say the best way to ensure a tree gets adequate nutrients is to put mulch down, an inch or so at the most. Maple trees are often under a great deal of stress when planted in suburban settings due to urban pollution, soil disturbance and urban growth. Eventually you should plant the tree in the ground. Thank you. Have you had any unusual weather? Additionally, the pot is causing restriction of the roots, which is contributing to the problem. We live in the suburbs of Chicago and the soil consists of a fair amount of clay. So now the cars and deck are covered with sticky sap. My husband has been threatening to cut down our silver maples and I am beginning to agree with him. Did we damage or kill the tree? Thousands of new, high-quality pictures … If there is foamy liquid coming from the crack it is probably ‘slime flux’, an incurable bacterial disease. Some of the trunk is a lichen color, like the lichens are part of the grayish colored trunk. If this tree is in wet ground, that would be a contributing factor. Seems to be very widespread this year. There are a whole slew of possible culprits, from … (thank you!). You can treat trees with Bayer Advanced 12 month Tree and Shrub Insect Control. I suggest you have it taken down. How are you watering? There may be one or several spots on each leaf and leaves with a lot of spots may turn yellow and fall prematurely. If it does, then this could be honey fungus (Armillaria), which is usually fatal over a few years. After a bad storm the buds and new little leaves dried up and seems as though tree still looks it goes in the winter. Have you seen this in your area? My Maple tree is dying at the top the lower branches have spots like a round fungus on them. For the last two years it has started green in spring and then turns yellow all over and the top leaves start to droop and turn brownish. There is a good chance it will leaf out again, so don’t give up just yet! It is definitely a Sensation maple (Acer negundo) – when I say variegated, I mean that there are usually up to three colors on the leaves during growing season (i.e., red or rusty, green, yellow), and each spring/summer, the colors are slightly different than the previous season – for example, sometimes early spring brings red or rusty leaves within green leaves. I setup a page for it http://stoneblue.com/ken/mapletree with photos and description . Could it be something else? Next year it will be back with perfect leaves again. Is this maple wilt? Then see what happens next spring. Call your local Cooperative Extension office (your county office will have their number), and ask if they can help you identify what bug(s) are attacking your tree, and if the tree needs to come down for safety reasons. It doesn't seem to be any particular size of leaf or location. Maples are among the most popular trees for the garden, especially as shade trees. It sounds like you have a red-leaf maple, perhaps ‘Crimson King’ or some similar variety of Norway Maple (Acer platanoides). Should I try to get rid of them and if yes, how do I go aboput it? The leaves start out beautifully in the spring but are covered in black spots within weeks. This has been a problem for several season now, and it takes several unsuitable ones to reduce the spore population, but it will almost certainly disappear again. It looks like it has lichens on the trunk. Anthracnose Anthracnose (Discula spp., Kabatiella apocrypta) is a name for a group of diseases caused by several closely related fungi that attack many of our finest shade trees. I wondered if my neighbour’s pile of wood (deck being replaced from a pool) could have anything to do with this as it has been on the ground on the other side of our fence for several months. I have lived in my house for 24 years and they were large trees even then. The dark spots could be tar spot, which is harmless, and increasingly common these days – it’s the early yellowing that is more of a concern. Scorch symptoms are light brown or tan dead areas between leaf veins or around the leaf margins. I have a lot of maple trees were i live and like Lizzannae the small trees that are only around a year old and only have a few leaves. Hang in a few more years and see how it develops. This is a much more serious disease that affects all kinds of maples, but Sugar Maple and Silver Maple are the ones most commonly affected. The early shriveling in fall is very characteristic of this disease. Don’t cover it, paint it, or do anything more. It gets partial shade and we water it every other day (it is very dry in Utah). So we bought a 6-7 foot red maple for approximately the same spot, in the middle of a no-shade, Wilmington, NC yard. One of them has been trimmed in the past, while the other has pretty much grown on its' own, it is huge. If there is the the tree is not worth saving, at that size. We lost a 35 foot Bradford pear tree to Florence which dominated our front yard, providing shade for everything else. I don't know much about trees but I'm worried about them. Now it is May and I’ve noticed that the leaves on the bottom branches have withered; they are crunchy, but have not changed color. What do I do for it or can anything be done? At the history museum in St. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully and apply it at the base of the tree to ensure the roots absorb the mix ingredients. http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant... http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/barkspli... maple bladder gall (caused by mites, looks like pimples, likes silver and red maples especially, usually appear in May), maple spindle gall (caused by eriophyid mites like. Four years back our newly constructed home came with two maple trees in our front yard. wilt. If you live in an area with natural woods around you, the most likely source for Black Knot, and what keeps it going, are wild Prunus species growing in the woods. The tree was very healthy and is about forty feet high with a good solid trunk and has a good amount of leaves already. It can make it harder for the tree to get the nutrients that it needs via photosynthesis, depending on how large the lichen is and how much of the tree it covers. To reduce spread, collect and bag or burn all the leaves – don’t put them into compost or mix with other leaves to mulch. Put outdoor wood preservative on the wood itself, keeping it away from the edges of the healthy bark – no black tree paint! it starts where the leave is attached to the leave stem. I'm in the mid-west and temps are in the upper 80's -90's. Verticillium Wilt, often called Maple wilt, is a very common disease that attacks a large number of trees. The Senske tech said it was a micro nutrient deficiency and did a deep nutrient treatment and sprayed the tree with an iron supplement. Small, curled up, brownish, some black spots and the bark appears to be coming off in strips. So i am sharing a fantastic website for a company which providing Pest Control services in Toronto.Maple Pest Control is serving Greater Toronto Area for over 20 years in pest control service to home and commercial places with latest techniques. If there are holes in the bark, I would think you have a beetle (of the borer variety) responsible. I put my irrigation hose by the drip line using the spray nozzle on soak for 3 to 8 hours every other day. A new tree often has no roots outside the old root-ball from the pot, which can dry out when the tree takes up lots of water to leaf-out. It would be a shame to remove it if it can be saved, it has grown significantly since we planted 5 years ago, provides shade, appeared healthy until after that freeze/snow storm we had this year. Anthracnose is commonly mistaken for tar spot. That tree is not variegated, and it’s a variety of Manitoba Maple, so winter injury is pretty unlikely, since it is so cold resistant. Then, they progress to the black spots on the leaves you see above. This confirms you have the disease, but its absence doesn’t mean you don’t. The branches can also develop cankers, which often strip them of their bark and kill them. and it will heal in time, closing over and leaving a slight scar that will become less noticeable each year.. My silver maple tree was planted around 1962 – was not the owner then as I would not have planted such a tree close to hydro wires – hydro keeps trimming the branches and I noticed for the last few years that there are fewer leaves. Sprays and chemicals are rarely needed, as your tree will normally never be seriously harmed by these diseases. Cut away the bark underneath the washer, so it sits directly on the wood. are they x amount of metres away. Preventing Maple Tree Diseases The best thing you can do for your trees to protect them from maple tree diseases is to take good care of them before they develop a disease. By H. T. Fernald [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. In other years, it will be yellow or green early in spring with red leaves appearing in summer (the yellow is mostly new growth at the tips) – they seem to change color from spring to summer to fall – this is also a trait that was told to us by the nursery (the ‘variegation’). The second has deep red/purple leaves that now has little yellow spots on the leaves. The first appear on juicy, tender young shoots. The disease continues when fungal spores over-winter in dead leaves and infect trees during a prolonged wet spring. Our 5 year old Maple started losing leaves in the center of the trunk about 6 weeks ago. Thank you! So what signs might be telling you that your maple tree is in trouble? Keep it a few inches clear of the trunk, so nothing touches it. Check out my slideshow at the beginning of my article- slide #7 is a photo of this type of gall. However, if it were possible to re-direct this drainage away from the tree is it possible that this might assist in the tree’s situation and hoped-for recovery? I would leave it to heal naturally, unless there is loose bark around the edges. This can sometimes allow the tree to outgrow the diseases – no guarantees, though. Several different kinds of fungi will cause cankers on a maple tree. Some branches are dying and fall off during heavy winds. It continues to lose bark, sometimes in large pieces. Recently i knew about Maple pest Control Services which seems to be too much beneficial for maple tree pests. Please check this link from the US National Forest Service: www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/alb/. I hope you have some thoughts and suggestions. Pictures of over 40 Japanese Maple Trees grown in the UK with links to much more detailed information of each variety. We are sick – these trees are the center of all the beautiful landscaping in our yard, and provide us with needed privacy. This year it has been growing just fine, many leaves and new branches, nice deep green color. Hard to say at this stage, but have you had a late frost in your area, after the leaves came out? Tree Galleries. You mentioned in another post about some maples “reversing”, we were never told by the nursery of this, so is our tree giving us another surprise with the coloring, or do we have a worse problem with the wetwood combined with the leaf wilt? I don't see any damage to bark or any sign of insects. Sorry I can’t be more positive! Thank you... Charlotte Gerber (author) from upstate New York on June 12, 2010: Hi Paul and Amber, What someone told you about scraping the injured bark from the tree is true- it is called tracing. These are rarely noticed by most people, and I have never seen the problem you describe. My sugar maple is producing less leafs and the ones that are on the tree are smaller than they use to be. If it is wilt, something to try is root feeding, which an arborist can usually do. All necessary for Pest Control https://amzn.to/2rLU5CG ----- Maple Tree Diseases With White Spots on the Bark. Sometimes a disease can’t be prevented, and often can’t be detected early enough to be able to take effective action. I planted a Florida Maple tree that I bought at a nursery over the weekend. Once there is a bad summer for it, the next few summers can be bad too. The reason the leaves are dying is because of the stress, and probably lack of water, due to the split. On our family farm we have a huge maple (not sure what kind it is) that has been there for over 50 years. Problems such as pests and diseases typically attack weakened maples. We live in the Pacific Northwest and have a large (approx 30 year old) well established Japanese Red Maple tree (not sure of the exact species)that has been suffering leaf die off in summer for the last three years. The tree was losing leaves in July, now they are 60% or more gone. Put a big effort into cleaning up and burning all the leaves as they drop – which they will do early, and especially in fall. Sick to think I may lose it. This year also noticed that leaves have black and brown spots on edges of leaves and they curl up and die. Do you give a long, deep weekly soak over an area a couple of feet larger than the root ball was when planted? Hi Mike, Even though you state the tree is being watered well, it still sounds like leaf scorch, which can be remedied by deep watering during periods of dry weather and high winds. It may be a borer beetle, but several different beetles affect maple trees. I'll be more than happy to post pictures if it will assist in identifying the problem. The fungus spores will winter over in the dead leaves on the ground, so rake up the leaves in your yard if you don't want it coming back next year. I am literally at a point where I am considering having them removed as they are a year round headache as far as maintenance. For the past 3 years my Schwedler Maple (25 years old) has leafed out beautifully but when you sit under it & look up most of the bmaller branches are bare & look dead. This is on the south side of the tree. Occasionally the leaf margins are yellow or chlorotic. You can search by state to find out about the invasive insects in your area, complete with photos and descriptions. you should be able to go to the above link, which is another hub of mine and email me there. It is best to remove those shoots when they are still young, as they will eventually take over completely, as the yellow parts are always weaker. All the plants near it (next to it in fact) are healthy. I want to love this tree. A Japanese maple is a glorious specimen tree. Taper the top and bottom so you have an elongated oval. This borer tunnels into the center of the tree trunk or a large limb. Sorry, news here so I hope I’m responding in the correct way?!? Find maple tree disease stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. So, if you wanted a large, shade tree, you may want to replace this one, or just move it to another area of your property where looks/size aren't as important. Thanks for any help. Through all the 4 years my trees fare the worst compared to any lawn in my neighborhood. This is another fungus disease, usually caused by an organism called Erysiphe. A mild case of canker will resolve itself, but heavy infection will kill the tree. I really don't want to loose it ... any help would be greatly appreciated. We live in Eastern PA. The tree is about 16 years old and over the last months started to loose the outer bark from the trunk and also some of leaves (some of the branches are leafless now). About 1 month ago, the tree was staked down and during a storm the top 1/3rd of the tree snapped off as well as a few lower branches. Your thoughts? I have a question I hope you can help with. Although you saying ‘on the edges’ makes me wonder if it could be something else. Should I be looking for an arbourist to do something regarding the roots and, if so, what would you recommend? Some strains can cause cankers and blight. My husband gave me this tree for our 6th Anniversary. I planted two large 3 1/2″ caliper size Celebration Maples in June 2017 here in the Western New York area, specifically Clarence, NY just outside Buffalo. This is a much more serious disease that affects all kinds of maples, but Sugar Maple and Silver Maple are the ones most commonly affected. . I have a row that are so big around, it takes 2, sometimes 3 people to join hands around them! All of these pests present as tiny bumps or cottony dots on twigs and on leaves. They both have spotted leaves. silver maple leasions in bark / separating 8 or 10 years old 30ft tall - we live in texas near austin. I notice that even on the live tree small branches at the very top are now dead. Other types do exist but are rarer. noticed on a mature silver maple tree in Reno, Nevada by Leslie Lyles. In the long term would bracing the trunks help to prevent the splitting? That early fall coloring is a clear symptom, combined with the lack of leaves this year. what is this? The foam may small ‘beery’ or of rot. I did have another tree cut down and the stump removed. 25 year old maple is dropping shriveled and black spotted leaves.The entire tree has this condition.the past two years this tree had tar spots,but very few leaves fell.Any suggestions? Otherwise, problem indicators you should look for include insects and insect damage, and cracks or other damage to the bark of the tree- these indicate other problems that would require treatment. Thanks again for any help or suggestions. Any advice that you can offer would be helpful. The leaves are turning red and yellow like fall with the tips turning black. If you have verticillium wilt, it lives in the soil and will continue to attack any new maples that you plant. As for the tree not faring well, it probably will rebound since you have taken steps to correct the exposed root. Hail, high winds, frost, dry spells, etc. The roots are usually as long as the tree is tall, and often much longer. Sometimes a disease can’t be prevented, and often can’t be This can cause splits in the bark of maple trees. Can’t find these symptoms online. Hi. Does it go below ground? An arborist told us that both trees were “girdled” and also had mites – nothing could be done but removal. Because it was like thar prior to the building when they bought the lot. I have a picture but cannot post it and all my research is not telling me what it is. It is a schwedler maple. Bacterial leaf scorch (red maple) Leaf margins on localized, individual branches brown in mid- to late July. Had an early bloom time in spring, followed by a very unexpected freeze/snow storm. It doesn't seem to have any long-lasting effects on the places where it grows. If it isn't raining frequently, give the tree a good watering at least once a week. A tree of that age is not going to die from losing a few leaves – or even losing a lot. Leafscorch occurs around the perimeter of the leaf. Provide it with more sunlight, and the leaves will turn back to a purple shade. The rest of the maples in the neighborhood are bright red. Charlotte Gerber (author) from upstate New York on August 08, 2010: Hi Peter, You could brace the tree- what you would need is a brace for each side of the tree, so one would be gently pulling one side of the split to bring it together, and the other would be pulling the other side of the split. I'm not sure exactly what may be causing the lesions you speak of. Alternatively, you could contact a beekeeper who may be interested in the bees, then cut down the tree (though they would be "wild" bees). and if it's dying back consult a qualified arborist. We live in zone 4. Common Diseases of Maple Tree Limbs. I pray there is something we can do because it’s a gorgeous tree and has been there for as long my mother can remember. They come and go depending on the season, but the damage is purely cosmetic. Well, trees live in slow motion, so it could already be too late. You have to be vigilant from the beginning and remove any all-green shoots (which are always produced, every year) before they take over the tree – which yours has now done. I have a huge sugar maple. Was doing fine all spring, but is now loosing leaves at the end of it’s branches on the windward side and developing a light green fungal looking growth on its trunk. The branches begin at the lowest level at about five feet from the ground. That is the most common route of entry for the disease – cut roots. Just a side note- are there a lot of birds/pigeons in the area you describe? Once the tree has begun healing, the sap will stop and the ants will disappear. Personally, I've had luck with Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub (available at WalMart and other similar stores in the garden section) for my maples. If it dropping limbs isn’t a danger to property, then it really isn’t a hazard at all – just a dead tree. They can be identified by falling major limbs with dark tunnels visible at the break, sawdust at the base of the tree, and an opening plugged with wet sawdust Fungus feeding fruit flies, and dried fruit beetles were seen feeding in large numbers on carpenter worm openings. The stress can weaken the tree and make it more susceptible to a wide range of diseases. Help! Charlotte Gerber (author) from upstate New York on October 02, 2010: Hi Samantha, It sounds like you might be describing a leaf gall. Any and all help is greatly appreciated and I'll post on the page whatever I find out. The trees in my neighborhood have finally lost all of their leaves, and I noticed that my 2 maples have a lot more seeds than any others in the neighborhood. That’s a tricky one. They all have the same thing in c… It does, unfortunately, sound like Verticillium wilt, but if this is the first time it has happened it would be hard to say for sure. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but your tree almost certainly has Verticillium wilt. I read elsewhere about using a sterile knife to cut around the sore and help the tree heal more efficiently (allegedly). This is more likely on trees that have a divided trunk, from the ground, or from low down. But don’t be too concerned, as it doesn’t affect the whole tree and its long-term health, just the foliage. Form Terminal bud present, ovoid, blunt 2 or 3 pairs of scales coated with That depends. There is a large dark purple discoloration on the trunk, starting where the primary trunk splits into three vertical smaller branches. The tree get a lot of strong, west wind. You shouldn't feel a pressing need to eliminate lichen because it's not harmful, but you can use copper fungicides if you don't want to see them on your maples. If not, it could be leaf scorch, which is like your description, minus the spots. If so, that is a definite sign that it is Verticillium. Having the right set of weather conditions (high humidity and frequent rain) ensures that this disease spreads. Maple Tree Gallery consists of two pages of maple images with an impressive maple tree photos feature and a maple leaf page.. Tree Categories. First, thank you for the time you spend helping us maple tree lovers. Hi Jeff, It sounds like sun scorch. You are correct cutting one stem would make the tree asthetically unpleasing, so that isn't really an option. You will need an arborist with the root feeding equipment. Since it is moving so slow is their anything we can do to try and help the tree survive longer? Both of these are more likely on sandy soil, and if the tree is recently planted (couple of years or so). I haven't seen anyone else here with this problem. If so it is probably a lightning strike. cazzart from England , west Yorkshire on April 25, 2011: could anyone help.. There are a variety of leaf diseases found in maple trees that vary in intensity from year to year and from place to place. If so, contact an arborist as the tree may be structurally unsound, and may possibly fall over in the next windstorm. We have a row of Canadian Maple Trees at the back of our property and this Spring they were all budding beautifully. In the late fall you may want to prune any dead branches, if that is what has happened to that side of the tree. First, I assume that when planted all the burlap was untied and cut away from the top of the root-ball (if they came that way) – that’s important. In my own experience, this has helped me to eliminate a variety of landscape pests including aphids. Hi Peter, I'm not sure exactly what caused the death of the other maple you spoke of, but unless the Japanese Maple is exhibiting the same problem, it probably isn't related. Two in the back yard right next to each other. Charlotte Gerber (author) from upstate New York on June 11, 2010: Hi MelissaJ, The damaged root could be the source of the problem with the one side of the tree. Trees usually recover from this condition when they're heavily watered (10-15 mins) every 3-4 days when there is no rain. Did it show fall color early last year? If the upper crown remains healthy, I would go for natural die-back as the cause. My very tall maple–silver leaf, I think–has spider mites and tar spot. Learn more about the symptoms of maple leaf blister and maple anthracnose, two foliar diseases of maple trees that can appear in late spring on the same tree. The leaves have numerous small holes in them as if they are being eaten by insects. It can also affect Japanese Maple. Acer rubrum is the red maple with green leaves that turn red in fall. If it is, nothing to worry about. Sorry I can’t give a blanket ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to your question. Basically, what I'm trying to find out is whether I have an insect problem or the tree isn't receiving enough water. A database that provides information on more than 200 native tree and shrub species, and on almost 300 insects and 200 diseases found in Canada's forests. Taking it down does sound like a headache, but it will be several years at least before a large tree like that is definitively dead, and a few more after that before it becomes a hazard. I should also mention that one of the worst branches for sap in the spring was on the south side. It’s affected by the weather in the season – can go away for years, and then come back under suitable weather conditions. these kinds of infections are just a chance event. Hi Scott M., I think you are describing Maple Leaf Gall, which is a fungus. They inject toxins into the leaf, causing the leaf to form these structures, which create a nice, comfortable home for the mites. There are many other species of shade trees available with fewer problems that will provide beauty in the landscape. Branches seem to be dying back more than in the past. Most leaves have them and they are sprinkled around the bottom portion of the leaf, closest to the stem. Your tree(s) should recover if it is kept well watered during drought conditions. The difficulty of the identification process depends on Wrapping the damage areas in ‘tape’ is also the worst thing to do. The taller it gets, the longer the roots are going to be.