Reoccuring issue with Sugar Maple Trees - Ask Extension
Hello-
Something is happening to my Sugar maple trees at my house in Marysville. I lost one last year around this time and now another one is doing ...
Knowledgebase
Reoccuring issue with Sugar Maple Trees #771686
Asked September 15, 2021, 10:02 AM EDT
Hello-
Something is happening to my Sugar maple trees at my house in Marysville. I lost one last year around this time and now another one is doing the same thing. In Late June the middle 1/3rd of the tree started to change color, the remaining part of the tree still was green and lively. It has since lost its leaves and now is starting to spread out from the original part of the tree. I have attached a photo of the tree. None of my other non sugar maples seem to be affected. However all the sugar maples on my property currently do have Maple Tar spots, yet this one tree is the only one exhibiting this issue. I’m hoping to try and curb the issue before I lose the majority of trees in my front yard.
Any idea on who could point me in the right direction?
Regards
Nigel Pence
Union County Ohio
Expert Response
There are many problems of Maple trees caused by pests, bacteria, fungi as well as environmental conditions. Environmentally, Northern Sugar Maple grows best in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic,
fertile soil in full sun but will tolerate average well-drained soils
in sun to part shade. It is intolerant of compacted soil, high heat, air
pollution, and road salt commonly found in urban environments. Any of these conditions can result in leaf loss.
The leaves of the tree often provide a sign of what may be causing a problem. Before the leaves dropped, did you notice any browning along the margins and/or leaf veins or other signs of a problem? You already mentioned tar spot which is more unsightly than detrimental.
A common problem of maples that results in leaf loss at times from just a single branch or one side of the tree is something called Verticillium Wilt (VW). Verticilliium Wilt is caused by a fungus that lives in the soil and is taken up with water through the roots. It lives in the xylem or tubes that transport water through the tree effectively plugging them up. Verticillium Wilt can only be diagnosed through lab tests. There is nothing that will kill the fungus. Sometimes it will go dormant and re-appear years later. Following are a few links to University Extension sites with more info about VW:
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2005/jun/071602.htm
fertile soil in full sun but will tolerate average well-drained soils
in sun to part shade. It is intolerant of compacted soil, high heat, air
pollution, and road salt commonly found in urban environments. Any of these conditions can result in leaf loss.
The leaves of the tree often provide a sign of what may be causing a problem. Before the leaves dropped, did you notice any browning along the margins and/or leaf veins or other signs of a problem? You already mentioned tar spot which is more unsightly than detrimental.
A common problem of maples that results in leaf loss at times from just a single branch or one side of the tree is something called Verticillium Wilt (VW). Verticilliium Wilt is caused by a fungus that lives in the soil and is taken up with water through the roots. It lives in the xylem or tubes that transport water through the tree effectively plugging them up. Verticillium Wilt can only be diagnosed through lab tests. There is nothing that will kill the fungus. Sometimes it will go dormant and re-appear years later. Following are a few links to University Extension sites with more info about VW:
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2005/jun/071602.htm
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/verticillium_wilt_refresher
If you would like to get a positive diagnosis of the problem, you can send a sample to the OSU C. Wayne Ellet Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic. Here is the link to their site:
