Knowledgebase
Silver maple tree #772613
Asked September 21, 2021, 7:24 PM EDT
Ingham County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
Black spots like these are usually a result of sooty mold growing on the sap that oozed from wounds on the trunk of the tree. The tree could live for a long time with the darkened areas. Or, it could be a sign of internal fungal or bacterial infection.
To be sure, I would recommend hiring a certified arborist to take a look. Arborists are certified through the International Society of Arboriculture, or ISA. They maintain a website to make it easy to find a certified professional:
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
Look for an arborist with the "Hazard Tree Qualification" as those folks will know best if this is an issue for the tree as it is fairly close to the house.
Thank you,
Julie