Knowledgebase

Maple Tree disease #790745

Asked May 14, 2022, 12:18 PM EDT

I have large maple tree dying from the top down it would appear to be sapstreak since no other description fit. It started last year on one main branch and now the second. Could it be sapstreak and if so, is there anything that can be done to save the tree?

Jackson County Oregon

Expert Response

Sap streak is a disease if sugar maple usually caused by mechanical injury.

If your tree is an Oregon big leaf maple check out these symptome:

Symptoms of the decline include partial or entire crown die back, discoloration and reduced size of the leaves, crown thinning, and death. Tree decline never happens overnight. Decline can be the result of a single disease or environmental event or, more common, from stress over many years. Often there is more than one stress factor. Stressed trees often are predisposed to other problems, such as those caused by insect borers, opportunistic organisms, and injury from extreme climatic factors. Any of the following may contribute to tree decline.

Injury to the trunk from: String weeders or lawn mowers (repetitive minor injuries have a cumulative effect), poor pruning practices, weather (sudden drops in temperature, wind, hail, or lightning), animals’ feeding on the bark (deer, beaver, porcupine, mice, etc.), other injuries to the bark, or disease.

Injury to the roots from: Standing water or poorly drained soils, seasonal high water table, soil compaction, insufficient room for root growth, a change in grade of the surrounding soil, recent construction in or near the root zone (sidewalk, sewer, etc.), or root rots.

Injury to the whole plant from: Insufficient water (lack of irrigation, drought), not being climatically adapted to the area in which it is growing , being planted in subsoil or other unsuitable soils (especially true in new housing developments), transplant shock, poor fertility, chemicals, or girdling roots

Control

For established trees insufficient water over several years is the most common cause of tree decline. Trees need supplemental irrigation in the dry summer season even if the spring has been wet. Irrigation is particularly important for trees transplanted in the past 3 years or that are stressed from any of the factors listed above.

Water deeply and infrequently (once a week) rather than sprinkling lightly for 5 or 10 minutes a day. When the soil 4 inches below the surface feels dry or only slightly damp, it is time to water. Well-drained, sandy soils need more water volume, which should be applied more frequently than for a loam or clay soil. Trees, especially conifers, in drier regions often need water during the winter to prevent desiccation.


Identify sources of stress and eliminate them if possible. Mulch under the tree to keep down weeds and to prevent the need for mowing right up to the trunk. Organic mulches such as leaf litter and wood and bark chips work well. Do not use plastic because it interferes with root–soil gas exchange and water infiltration. Spread the mulch 3 to 6 inches deep in a circle at least 3 feet in radius from the trunk. Keep the mulch from direct contact with the tree trunk.

Protect trees from bark-chewing animals by placing hardware cloth or other wire mesh around the trunk. In high-traffic areas or public landscapes, try to reroute foot or vehicular traffic to prevent compacting soil in the root zone. Correctly prune out dead and dying branches to prevent insect and disease invasion. Fertilize trees with symptoms of nutrient deficiency (yellowish or off-color leaves).

These are all common signs that something is amiss with the tree, either from drought, root disturbance, chemical imbalance, or pathogen. Decline in bigleaf maples has also been reported throughout the tree’s entire geographic range, including in California, Oregon, and British Columbia.

Here are a couple of publications you will find interesting.

https://dnrtreelink.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/bigleaf-maple-decline-results-of-uw-study/

https://scienceline.org/2018/12/the-curious-case-of-the-disappearing-maple/

https://dengarden.com/landscaping/Maple-Tree-Problems

Chris Rusch Replied May 16, 2022, 11:35 PM EDT

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