Maple leaves turning black - Ask Extension
My maple tree is approximately 15 years old. It has been healthy but near the end of May I noticed it was dropping leaves that were turning black. Is ...
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Maple leaves turning black #835253
Asked June 12, 2023, 4:06 PM EDT
My maple tree is approximately 15 years old. It has been healthy but near the end of May I noticed it was dropping leaves that were turning black. Is this a fungus? The leaves are dropping on my lawn and my vegetable garden - will it be harmful to them?
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
This appears to be Anthracnose, a fairly common disease among shade trees (and other plants) but despite creating drastic-looking symptoms it usually doesn't cause long-term health issues for the tree. Fallen leaves can be raked-up and disposed of (don't compost at home, but yard waste pick-up should be fine). We have received many submissions of Anthracnose symptoms on sycamore and maple so far this year, so the weather earlier this spring must have been conducive to infection. Although other anthracnose-type fungi (and other unrelated infections) can affect vegetables, this particular pathogen from the maple probably won't (or can't) cross over to infecting the veggies.
Miri
Miri