maple tree with eutypella cancor? - Ask Extension
I have a fairly old/ mature maple tree in my side yard. There is old bark and dead areas on the lower, almost at the base trunk part. This opening is ...
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maple tree with eutypella cancor? #671929
Asked August 02, 2020, 3:40 PM EDT
I have a fairly old/ mature maple tree in my side yard. There is old bark and dead areas on the lower, almost at the base trunk part. This opening is facing SW. The tree is now increasingly leaning. It appears to also have Spot Tar on the leaves. and there are white splotches on the branches and trunk. I am just wondering if you could verify for me, from the pictures I am attaching, if this tree is suffering from Eutypella Cancor and what you might recommend for either saving it or needing to take it down.
Thanks
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hello. Happy to help.
It may have Eutypella canker which may have set in after the trunk was physically damaged in some way many years ago. Because it is leaning, my guess is that the decay is significant enough that the tree will soon become a hazard tree. A strong wind may blow it down.
Here is more information about Eutypella canker that includes options for control: https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/eutypella-canker
The spot tar on the leaves is typical for maples and is usually harmless but it's one more issue this poor tree is suffering from. Here is more information about tar spots: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/tarspotofmaple.pdf
Finally, if you do replace this tree, I recommend ensuring that its root flare is situated at the soil level and not buried as this tree's root flare is. Here is information about what happens when a tree is planted too deeply that includes a photo of where a tree's root flare should be (you'll need to open the PDF link on
the left side of this link):
https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/49810
I hope this information helps.
