Red maple tree - How to revive. - Ask Extension
In April, I had some stump grinding done on the east side of a 3-year-old red maple tree about two feet away from it at its nearest point. The maple...
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Red maple tree - How to revive. #870640
Asked May 29, 2024, 5:22 PM EDT
In April, I had some stump grinding done on the east side of a 3-year-old red maple tree about two feet away from it at its nearest point. The maple tree was beginning to bud before the work was done. But that was a far as the maple tree developed. It never leaved out. In the previous two years, it was healthy and in excellent condition. It seems that the stump grinding adversely affected it. Is there any way I can save the tree? I have included three photos to illustrate the problem.
Delta County Michigan
Expert Response
Good Morning,
Are the branches flexible and not brittle? As tree's leaf out in the spring, late freezes can severely damage or kill buds and new leaves. This will cause a tree to use stored energy to re-leaf so this can result in a slower second try, or fewer/sparser leaves.
You can also take a sharp knife or use a fingernail to gently scrape a small piece of bark off of several small twigs. If the exposed twig is green, the branch is still alive. It appears in the photo that the tree has many buds on it, some quite large perhaps nearing leaf out. Take a close look at the buds to see if they are green (alive) or black (dead).
You may simply have an abiotic issue, meaning that it's not disease-related, but the tree is failing to thrive due to some other environmental factor or combination of factors. Maybe it's not getting enough (or too much) water, fertilizer, light, etc. and that's impacting it's growth. Maples have a very shallow root system compared to many other trees, so sometimes even compaction of the root zone area around the tree can cause issues. Unfortunately, there's no straightforward answer I can give you at this time. Having some leaf tissue later on could be helpful for diagnosing though!
Take a wait-and-see approach for the tree. Make sure the tree receives adequate moisture and look for growth.
MapleEnvironmentalStresses_MSUE-1213.pdf
I hope this helps. Thanks for using our service.
Are the branches flexible and not brittle? As tree's leaf out in the spring, late freezes can severely damage or kill buds and new leaves. This will cause a tree to use stored energy to re-leaf so this can result in a slower second try, or fewer/sparser leaves.
You can also take a sharp knife or use a fingernail to gently scrape a small piece of bark off of several small twigs. If the exposed twig is green, the branch is still alive. It appears in the photo that the tree has many buds on it, some quite large perhaps nearing leaf out. Take a close look at the buds to see if they are green (alive) or black (dead).
You may simply have an abiotic issue, meaning that it's not disease-related, but the tree is failing to thrive due to some other environmental factor or combination of factors. Maybe it's not getting enough (or too much) water, fertilizer, light, etc. and that's impacting it's growth. Maples have a very shallow root system compared to many other trees, so sometimes even compaction of the root zone area around the tree can cause issues. Unfortunately, there's no straightforward answer I can give you at this time. Having some leaf tissue later on could be helpful for diagnosing though!
Take a wait-and-see approach for the tree. Make sure the tree receives adequate moisture and look for growth.
MapleEnvironmentalStresses_MSUE-1213.pdf
I hope this helps. Thanks for using our service.
Hi Doreen. Thanks for the info.
I scratched a small limb, and it's green. I assume then that the stump grinding near the tree could have impacted it. I have been watering it. I will also now put in some fertilizer spikes near the tree to give it a boost. Is this a good idea? I have a second red maple, planted the same time, in a different location, and it's thriving.
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From: "Ask Extension" <<personal data hidden>>
To: "David Curtis" <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: June 4, 2024 at 6:25 AM EDT
Subject: Re: Red maple tree - How to revive. (#0140560)
--------------------
From: "Ask Extension" <<personal data hidden>>
To: "David Curtis" <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: June 4, 2024 at 6:25 AM EDT
Subject: Re: Red maple tree - How to revive. (#0140560)
Good Morning,
Yes, that is what I would do.
V/r,
Yes, that is what I would do.
V/r,
One final question: Can my tree survive until next spring with no leaves? Thanks.
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From: "Ask Extension" <<personal data hidden>>
To: "David Curtis" <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: June 5, 2024 at 7:04 AM EDT
Subject: Re: Red maple tree - How to revive. (#0140560)
--------------------
From: "Ask Extension" <<personal data hidden>>
To: "David Curtis" <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: June 5, 2024 at 7:04 AM EDT
Subject: Re: Red maple tree - How to revive. (#0140560)
Good Evening,
Only time will tell. There are buds and you said it wasn't brittle and had green when you scratch the cambium. You can always call an arborist to come out and assess your tree. You can find one here. Find an Arborist (treesaregood.org)
Only time will tell. There are buds and you said it wasn't brittle and had green when you scratch the cambium. You can always call an arborist to come out and assess your tree. You can find one here. Find an Arborist (treesaregood.org)
