Hello Beth,

I am sorry to hear about your Red Maple. Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is tolerant of most soils but prefers slightly acid, moist conditions.

They are susceptible to many diseases and insect attacks. The dieback in the crown can be due to root damage caused by girdling roots, improper planting or environmental damage. If a herbicide is sprayed on plants below the tree, depending on the chemicals involved, the herbicide can be taken up by the tree and cause the leaves to die. All of these conditions are difficult to diagnose from a picture.

Trees should be planted so that the root flare is at the level of the soil. To plant a tree, it must not be too deep, but set into the ground where the root flares from the trunk. Unfortunately, the picture does not show the root flare, and it may be planted too deep. Read the following on how to find the root flare: https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/How-to-Properly-Plant-a-Tree-Root-Flare_v2.pdf

As a tree grows, it puts on new shoots at the branch tips and increases its girth by adding new cells under the bark in the cambium layer. Read about tree growth here: https://www.treehugger.com/hardwood-trees-and-how-they-grow-1343506

And here; https://www.arborday.org/trees/ringstreenatomy.cfm

Girdling roots could be an issue. When you restrict the growth by tying something around the circumference of the tree, you can girdle the tree by preventing new cells in the cambium layer to grow and cut off nutrients and water to the root and crown. This could lead to cracking of the bark and ultimately compromise the tree. Read about girdling here: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/girdling-roots Also, mulch and soil should not be piled up against the tree as it can cause the trunk to rot.

All of these conditions are mere suppositions. A certified arborist can assess the tree and advise on how to manage it. To find an arborist in your area, go to www.treesaregood.org the website of the International Society of Arboriculture.

Good luck with your tree. Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.