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Red maple trees struggling #870030

Asked May 25, 2024, 8:30 AM EDT

I have 2 red maple trees that seem to be declining. However, the silver maple trees near them don't seem to be bothered at all. This is the first time anything like this has happened to them. At first I thought it may be frost damage. Both trees were starting to leaf out when we had a late frost but they don't seem to be recovering. I tried to get the best photos I could. One tree is retaining about 25% of its leaves. The other is covered in dead leaves that won't drop. Any guesses if this is frost damage or disease? I see absolutely nothing else on either tree, no holes and they are not losing any bark.

Clinton County Ohio

Expert Response

Brendan,

Unfortunately, the tree that is all brown is dead and will not recover. The other one probably will not recover either and will never be the tree that it was. There are several things that could have caused this. Verticillium wilt is most likely. Sometimes the cause was in a previous year and the tree has taken it's time to die. The late freeze would not be one of the things that caused it. Do you have a lawn service? What is around you? 

You should take a fresh sample of the tree with live branches to the extension office. When I say fresh samples, I mean you need to gather your samples, keep them moist, and go straight to the office. If there are branches with brown to live leaves that would be the best to take. Take some samples from both trees and keep them separate. Take some dead leaves too. You might want to call first. The educator you want to talk to may be out of town at a retreat. His name is Brooks Warner (<personal data hidden>).

This is the contact information for Clinton County Extension:

111 S. Nelson Avenue, Suite 2
Wilmington, Ohio 45177

Phone:<personal data hidden>

<personal data hidden>

Sara Creamer Replied June 04, 2024, 4:07 PM EDT

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