Knowledgebase
Sienna Glen Maple not leafing out #752287
Asked May 26, 2021, 1:27 PM EDT
Cass County North Dakota
Expert Response
Thank you for your question. Can you tell me a little bit more; first where are you located? How old is the tree? I notice that the grass is right up to the tree; have you applied any fertilizers or herbicides?
This year has been tough on maples.
Good morning.
Sienna Glen Maple, and its close relative Autumn Blaze Maple, are members of a maple group that struggle greatly in our region. Such maples would be happier in the naturally forested areas of Minnesota and eastward. In the Red River Valley and west, the heavy clay alkaline soils are not friendly to these maples. As such, they are naturally under stress, making them more susceptible to damage from winter injury, herbicide injury, or problems such as iron deficiency.
You mentioned lawn services by TruGreen, and that company is most likely applying herbicide as a main part of their service. Damage such as shown in the photo is generally not caused by insects or diseases for which there is treatment.
When a maple succumbs to problems like non-adaptability, winter injury, or herbicide injury, there is little that can be done, other than wait-and-see if the tree recovers. You can check twigs for life by bending them: live twigs will be pliable, while dead twigs snap. With your thumbnail, scratch aside a little of the outer twig bark. Live twigs have a bright green layer beneath, while dead twigs don't. Also, check the base of the tree trunk at ground level to determine if there has been any scarring or damage from lawnmowers or string trimmers over the years. Even slight scars can stress a tree and make it susceptible to other injuries or death. I remove grass from three feet around the tree and replace with mulch, keeping the mulch/moisture about an inch or so from the trunk.
If damage is severe enough, these maples often require replacement with other more-adapted tree types.
It is your choice whether to remove the grass around the tree, replace with mulch and give it another year to see if there is improvement or to replace the tree. I'm dealing with this dilemma myself with a spring snow crabapple that has rabbit damage. I will send you a list of trees later today.
Maples should be mulched and use tree protectors in the winter. They each have some issues such as can become weedy, cleanup of seed pods etc.
Tatarian Maple Red samaras - cultivar Hot Wings
Amur Maple (ginnala) can be single or multi-stemmed Canpfire deep red fall color
Sugar Maple NDSU Release Northern Flare
State Stree Miyabe Maple
Rugged Ridge Miyabe Maple
Not a maple, however unique and beautiful:
Northern Catalpa no red fall color, huge leaves, large seed pods, can be messy