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Established Maple Tree has small Leaves this year #759203

Asked June 29, 2021, 11:48 PM EDT

My established Maple Tree has small leaves this year and I wonder who will be able to evaluate my tree for disease or girdling or saving it at all? I do not wish to lose this tree, it is THE MAIN TREE in my yard, on a corner. Denise

Rutland County Vermont

Expert Response

Hi Denise: Are you able to send us some good images of the damage you are seeing, the entire tree, the root system?  That would be most helpful. We might be able to tell from the images.  

Lisa
An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 07, 2021, 1:16 PM EDT

I will get pics and email to you.!

Denise

 

From: Extension Foundation <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 1:16 PM
To: Denise Byers <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Established Maple Tree has small Leaves this year (#0029134)

 

The Question Asker Replied July 07, 2021, 3:57 PM EDT
You can attach them to this query (see below - Drop files here or choose them). Click on choose them.
An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 07, 2021, 4:03 PM EDT

Very frustrating..site keeps saying error, but does not tell how many pics at a time, or how to upload all the pics…

 

From: University of Vermont <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 4:03 PM
To: Denise Byers <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Established Maple Tree has small Leaves this year (#0029134)

 

The Question Asker Replied July 07, 2021, 4:33 PM EDT

this site does not take the photos. says too many files undefined, even when loading only 2 at a time...I sent them in

regular email...
Denise

The Question Asker Replied July 07, 2021, 4:38 PM EDT

 

 

From: University of Vermont <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 4:03 PM
To: Denise Byers <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Established Maple Tree has small Leaves this year (#0029134)

 

The Question Asker Replied July 07, 2021, 4:38 PM EDT

 

 

From: University of Vermont <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 4:03 PM
To: Denise Byers <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Established Maple Tree has small Leaves this year (#0029134)

 

The Question Asker Replied July 07, 2021, 4:38 PM EDT

 

 

From: University of Vermont <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 4:03 PM
To: Denise Byers <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Established Maple Tree has small Leaves this year (#0029134)

 

The Question Asker Replied July 07, 2021, 4:38 PM EDT

 

 

From: University of Vermont <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 4:03 PM
To: Denise Byers <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Established Maple Tree has small Leaves this year (#0029134)

 

The Question Asker Replied July 07, 2021, 4:38 PM EDT

Says I am trying to load too many files undefined.

 

From: University of Vermont <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 4:03 PM
To: Denise Byers <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Established Maple Tree has small Leaves this year (#0029134)

 

The Question Asker Replied July 07, 2021, 4:38 PM EDT
It is always distressing to have a large tree showing signs of stress, which is what smaller leaves are, early fall color or thinning branches. We did have some anthracnose (a fungal disease) earlier in the season and i see some evidence of that in your pictures (1975) but this is very minor and would not really cause smaller leaves. https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/maple-anthracnose

When i see smaller leaves and a thinner crown, i think of something lower in the tree or in the vascular (water conducting) system. In your pictures, i believe i am seeing girdling roots which can strangle a tree and kill it eventually. Some species are more prone to this than others and maple often develops girdling roots.

https://www.bartlett.com/resources/girdling-roots.pdf

This often happens when trees are planted too deep. I am not sure if this can be addressed now, but it would be best to call an arborist to see if they can expose the girdling roots and cut them. It may not be possible on such an old tree.

The other possibility with smaller leaves is an issue in the vascular system. THe fungal disease caller Verticillium wilt is soil borne and can plug up the water conducting system in a plant so that you see smaller leaves, dead branches, early fall color. SOmetimes trees are able to "wall" off the infection and live many more years and sometimes they succumb. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2005/jun/071602.htm

Trees in general have been very stressed due to late season droughts in the past several years so this may be contributing to the issue.

At this point, i would contact an arborist to assess the tree and decide what to do from here.

Ann Hazelrigg

Plant Pathologist

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 09, 2021, 4:09 PM EDT

Thank you for getting back to me Ann!

Can you supply names of arborists in south central vt?
Denise

 

From: Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Friday, July 9, 2021 4:10 PM
To: Denise Byers <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Established Maple Tree has small Leaves this year (#0029134)

 

The Question Asker Replied July 09, 2021, 5:12 PM EDT
I am sorry, I don't know arborists in that area. I would look in the yellow pages, google or Front Porch Forum.
Sorry,
Ann
An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 09, 2021, 5:44 PM EDT

Hi Denise: Here is a website where you can search for arborists in your area.   https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist

Lisa

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 12, 2021, 8:47 AM EDT

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