Hello,

As I look at the pictures, is it correct to say that the branches without leaves do have some sort of growth toward the end of them? 

I ask because I have a sugar maple in my front yard, and the early warm weather followed by bouts of cooler temps caused the tree to start to flower, and stay in sort of a suspended flowering period (I'm in Roscommon). The squirrels ate the  flowers for a few weeks, and in some cases also ate the leaf buds. I now have branches with no leaves, and with evidence that the leaves once there had been removed. Could this be the case with your tree, too?

If not, I recommend looking closely at the branches that did not leaf out. Are there cankers (growths, sunken places in the bark), or holes from insects exiting the branch? 

Please let me know what you find, and we can go from there. 

Thank you,

Julie

Hi Cindy!

I thought I recognized the email address! LOL!

Watering is a good thing in times of drought. Fertilizer spikes never hurt (when used according to label directions). The material at the end of the branches made me think of the squirrels; could possibly have struck when you were not home? 

The picture of the wound doesn't look bad; does it bleed or ooze sap? I wouldn't be too concerned, and just watch the tree for color change in the leaves. That will tell us the issue is expanding, and could give more clues as to the cause. 

Not a great answer, but it's really all we can go by at this time. Stay in touch and keep my cell phone number handy! <personal data hidden>. 

Thanks, Cindy!

-Julie