Waterlogged or diseased? - Ask Extension
One of three crimson king maple trees in my yard is in trouble. Picture 1 shows neighbor's pine tree, which has been turning brown over the past year ...
Knowledgebase
Waterlogged or diseased? #845585
Asked August 14, 2023, 12:49 PM EDT
One of three crimson king maple trees in my yard is in trouble. Picture 1 shows neighbor's pine tree, which has been turning brown over the past year and my c.k.maple in obvious distress. Picture 2 includes a large rubber duck, placed there to look over ground that is sometimes covered with water. Picture 3 shows a large split in the c.k.m's trunk - not an external injury, but caused from within. Pictures 4 and 5 are of leaves from the c.k.m that is in trouble. Picture 6 shows leaves from a different c.k.m, about 60 feet away and on elevated ground. The neighbor's pine tree is the third one that had turned brown over past 4 years - the others were away from the waterlogged ground. Is the problem with my crimson king maple likely to be due to very wet ground or possibly due to disease, possibly shared from pine trees?
Eaton County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
The problem with your Crimson King Maple is less likely to be due to very wet ground, based on the information I found here. Unless your yard was completely flooded, and your standing water was more than what is shown in Picture 2. Homeowners who are worried about trees that have been flooded. The best advice is to wait and see. Trees that are slow to leaf out are often able to catch up by late spring or early summer. Likewise, flooded trees that initially produce chlorotic or stunted leaves will often resume normal growth as spring progresses. If a flooded tree does not resume normal growth by early summer, or you suspect root damage may have affected the structural stability of the tree, you should have the tree assessed by a professional arborist.
According to an article from Michigan State University Extension, most trees can tolerate periods of flooding while they are still dormant. However, tree species vary widely in flood tolerance. In fact, if we think about environmental stresses, trees vary more in flood tolerance than any other trait. On one extreme, trees that are native to floodplains, such as cottonwoods, can withstand months of inundation. On the other extreme, upland trees such as pine, hickories, and most oaks may be damaged after a week or less of flooding - Check out this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/trees_and_flooding
The article also suggests that homeowners with standing water in their backyards often worry if there will be long-term impacts on their trees. In late winter and early spring, many trees can handle a week or two of flooding without long-term problems. Trees that have been flooded may show delayed bud break, branch die-back, smaller than normal leaves, wilted leaves, or chlorotic leaves. For homeowners worried about trees that have been flooded, the best advice is to wait and see. Trees that are slow to leaf out are often able to catch up by late spring or early summer. Likewise, flooded trees that initially produce chlorotic or stunted leaves will often resume normal growth as spring progresses. If a flooded tree does not resume normal growth by early summer, or you suspect root damage may have affected the structural stability of the tree, you should have the tree assessed by a professional arborist - Check out this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/trees_and_flooding
Other information:
Trees and flooding FAQs - Bert Cregg, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Horticulture and Department of Forestry - April 25, 2013 - At this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/trees_and_flooding_faqs#:~:text=When%20soils%20are%20flooded%2C%20these%20air%20spaces%20are,compounds%20within%20the%20tree%2C%20and%20reduced%20nutrient%20uptake.
It’s raining, it’s pouring, and it’s a good time for a landscape site assessment - Bert Cregg, Michigan State University Extension, Departments of Horticulture and Forestry - April 12, 2013 - At this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/its_raining_its_pouring_and_its_a_good_time_for_a_landscape_site_assessment
This is a disease problem not shared by the pine tree.
Based on Pictures 4 and 5 of the leaves from your Crimson King Maple tree that is in trouble. Leaf scorching is also a common issue, which takes place when weather conditions are hot and windy, or the tree does not get enough water. I think the problem is the physiological leaf scorch. Also, a Crimson King maple tree can split due to sunscald on the southern side during the winter, causing some trunk decay, but the tree usually remains intact, as shown in Picture 3.
You got some options:
You should get a confirmed diagnosis from the MSU Diagnostic Plant & Pest Lab - Please email your digital images prior to bringing or sending physical samples. You have a PDF file that has six (6) images. In your e-mail, explain to them what each picture is. That file can be sent to <personal data hidden>.
MAKE SURE IN THAT E-MAIL YOU INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER!!
Be prepared. The lab may ask for more images - THE LAB WILL LET YOU KNOW IF A SAMPLE NEEDS TO BE SENT - There is a $20-25 dollar fee (if they need a sample sent).
Lab email: <personal data hidden>
Lab phone:<personal data hidden>
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
PLEASE READ BELOW ON PREPARING YOUR SAMPLE (if the lab needs a sample)
From the lab: Please do not ship samples on Fridays. They thank you for your patience and understanding.
Every sample must be accompanied by a completed submission form. Please place the form in a separate resealable bag to prevent it from getting damp or soiled. The form is at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/uploads/files/General_Sample_Submission_Form_May2022.pdf.
Complete details of submitting a sample are at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/submit-samples/
The other option is to hire a certified arborist - who will come on-site, evaluate the tree as a whole, and give a diagnosis and a plant health care guide. See www.treesaregood.com and click on the ‘Find a Tree Care Service’ tab at the top of the page. Contact 2-3 arborists and get estimates.
Direct link: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/arboristsearch
I hope this helps!
The problem with your Crimson King Maple is less likely to be due to very wet ground, based on the information I found here. Unless your yard was completely flooded, and your standing water was more than what is shown in Picture 2. Homeowners who are worried about trees that have been flooded. The best advice is to wait and see. Trees that are slow to leaf out are often able to catch up by late spring or early summer. Likewise, flooded trees that initially produce chlorotic or stunted leaves will often resume normal growth as spring progresses. If a flooded tree does not resume normal growth by early summer, or you suspect root damage may have affected the structural stability of the tree, you should have the tree assessed by a professional arborist.
According to an article from Michigan State University Extension, most trees can tolerate periods of flooding while they are still dormant. However, tree species vary widely in flood tolerance. In fact, if we think about environmental stresses, trees vary more in flood tolerance than any other trait. On one extreme, trees that are native to floodplains, such as cottonwoods, can withstand months of inundation. On the other extreme, upland trees such as pine, hickories, and most oaks may be damaged after a week or less of flooding - Check out this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/trees_and_flooding
The article also suggests that homeowners with standing water in their backyards often worry if there will be long-term impacts on their trees. In late winter and early spring, many trees can handle a week or two of flooding without long-term problems. Trees that have been flooded may show delayed bud break, branch die-back, smaller than normal leaves, wilted leaves, or chlorotic leaves. For homeowners worried about trees that have been flooded, the best advice is to wait and see. Trees that are slow to leaf out are often able to catch up by late spring or early summer. Likewise, flooded trees that initially produce chlorotic or stunted leaves will often resume normal growth as spring progresses. If a flooded tree does not resume normal growth by early summer, or you suspect root damage may have affected the structural stability of the tree, you should have the tree assessed by a professional arborist - Check out this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/trees_and_flooding
Other information:
Trees and flooding FAQs - Bert Cregg, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Horticulture and Department of Forestry - April 25, 2013 - At this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/trees_and_flooding_faqs#:~:text=When%20soils%20are%20flooded%2C%20these%20air%20spaces%20are,compounds%20within%20the%20tree%2C%20and%20reduced%20nutrient%20uptake.
It’s raining, it’s pouring, and it’s a good time for a landscape site assessment - Bert Cregg, Michigan State University Extension, Departments of Horticulture and Forestry - April 12, 2013 - At this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/its_raining_its_pouring_and_its_a_good_time_for_a_landscape_site_assessment
This is a disease problem not shared by the pine tree.
Based on Pictures 4 and 5 of the leaves from your Crimson King Maple tree that is in trouble. Leaf scorching is also a common issue, which takes place when weather conditions are hot and windy, or the tree does not get enough water. I think the problem is the physiological leaf scorch. Also, a Crimson King maple tree can split due to sunscald on the southern side during the winter, causing some trunk decay, but the tree usually remains intact, as shown in Picture 3.
You got some options:
You should get a confirmed diagnosis from the MSU Diagnostic Plant & Pest Lab - Please email your digital images prior to bringing or sending physical samples. You have a PDF file that has six (6) images. In your e-mail, explain to them what each picture is. That file can be sent to <personal data hidden>.
MAKE SURE IN THAT E-MAIL YOU INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER!!
Be prepared. The lab may ask for more images - THE LAB WILL LET YOU KNOW IF A SAMPLE NEEDS TO BE SENT - There is a $20-25 dollar fee (if they need a sample sent).
Lab email: <personal data hidden>
Lab phone:<personal data hidden>
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
PLEASE READ BELOW ON PREPARING YOUR SAMPLE (if the lab needs a sample)
From the lab: Please do not ship samples on Fridays. They thank you for your patience and understanding.
Every sample must be accompanied by a completed submission form. Please place the form in a separate resealable bag to prevent it from getting damp or soiled. The form is at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/uploads/files/General_Sample_Submission_Form_May2022.pdf.
Complete details of submitting a sample are at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/submit-samples/
The other option is to hire a certified arborist - who will come on-site, evaluate the tree as a whole, and give a diagnosis and a plant health care guide. See www.treesaregood.com and click on the ‘Find a Tree Care Service’ tab at the top of the page. Contact 2-3 arborists and get estimates.
Direct link: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/arboristsearch
I hope this helps!
