Maple tree greening up very late - brown parts - Ask Extension
The very large maple tree in front of our house has looked healthy and been green as expected until this spring. This year it is greening up very slo...
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Maple tree greening up very late - brown parts #750995
Asked May 20, 2021, 8:24 AM EDT
The very large maple tree in front of our house has looked healthy and been green as expected until this spring. This year it is greening up very slowly, with brown seed pods still hanging on it. The leaves on the bottom developed first and some green has started creeping up the middle by the trunk and some at the top, but about half of it is still brown. We had three inches of snow and frost about 3-4 weeks ago; we wonder if that has caused this situation. Many maples around here are like this, but not all. Could you please identify what the problem is and what we can do to help the tree be healthier. We do not want to lose this tree. Thank you.
Wayne County Michigan
Expert Response
I imagine the late spring frost has stunted the tree a bit and that is why it is slow to leaf out and green up this year. From the photos, it is hard for me to tell if the brown is just the seed pods, or leaves that have experienced cold damage. This article highlights a few reasons why trees can be late to leaf out: Why are trees and shrubs so slow to leaf out this spring?
One thing you can do to bolster tree health is to make sure you are watering the tree - especially when we have not received much rain. The Morton Arboretum outlines how to water an established tree here: Watering trees and shrubs
