Healthy maple tree suddenly died. - Ask Extension
This spring a formerly totally healthy mature maple tree started to bud out but then suddenly stopped growing and now appears dead. A nearby tree, at...
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Healthy maple tree suddenly died. #575524
Asked June 30, 2019, 12:34 PM EDT
This spring a formerly totally healthy mature maple tree started to bud out but then suddenly stopped growing and now appears dead. A nearby tree, at a higher elevation, also has stunted growth, and is not leafing out as in the past. What could this sudden death be from? Weather? Ground lightning? Might the tree come to life next spring?
I live in Duluth Heights and have a lot of trees on the property.
Thank you.
Konnie Ellis
St. Louis County Minnesota
Expert Response
I can't tell you for certain what happened to your tree. Weather might have been an issue. You'd see structural damage to the tree if it were storm damage. But there are many things that can make a tree fail: improper planting (younger trees), repeated insect predation, repeated defoliation by disease, drought, water drainage, construction nearby, mower damage, changes in the grade, herbicide drift, salt, and on and on. Read here:
https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Assets/pdfs/A2510.pdf
https://extension2.missouri.edu/g5200
If the tree has not leafed out, it is unlikely it will come back. You can scratch a twig to see if there is green below the bark, an indication the tree is still alive.
You might want to hire a certified arborist to assess your tree(s):
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Assets/pdfs/A2510.pdf
https://extension2.missouri.edu/g5200
If the tree has not leafed out, it is unlikely it will come back. You can scratch a twig to see if there is green below the bark, an indication the tree is still alive.
You might want to hire a certified arborist to assess your tree(s):
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
