Perhaps diseased maple? - Ask Extension
I have two 8-year old maple trees in my yard. Am wondering if anyone can tell me what is up with them. They leafed out nicely in mid-May and all look...
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Perhaps diseased maple? #800949
Asked July 13, 2022, 3:44 PM EDT
I have two 8-year old maple trees in my yard. Am wondering if anyone can tell me what is up with them. They leafed out nicely in mid-May and all looked fine. Now, in late June/July many of the leaves are wilting and turning brown around the edges. It is worse at the tops of the trees. But looks like it might be spreading. Help.
Cheboygan County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi Patti,
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension!
This looks like advanced stages of iron chlorosis which occurs when the tree can not take up adequate amounts of iron, which is necessary in the photosynthetic process. You can read more about it at the link below:
https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/common-pest-problems/common-pest-problem-new/Iron%20Chlorosis%20of%20Trees.pdf
A foliar spray of iron sulfate or iron chelate may be necessary to correct the condition in the short term; in the long term you should make plans to lower the pH of the soil and/or add an iron supplement to the soil. All options are explained in detail in the article above.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Thank you,
Julie
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension!
This looks like advanced stages of iron chlorosis which occurs when the tree can not take up adequate amounts of iron, which is necessary in the photosynthetic process. You can read more about it at the link below:
https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/common-pest-problems/common-pest-problem-new/Iron%20Chlorosis%20of%20Trees.pdf
A foliar spray of iron sulfate or iron chelate may be necessary to correct the condition in the short term; in the long term you should make plans to lower the pH of the soil and/or add an iron supplement to the soil. All options are explained in detail in the article above.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Thank you,
Julie
