Knowledgebase
ABM not pushing leaves #876676
Asked July 10, 2024, 1:20 PM EDT
Hello, We have an Autumn Blaze maple and this year, it has failed to completely leaf out. I pruned some lower branches off that had lots of dieback and have been watering and fertilizing as well. This is what it looked like this Spring, and while it has not gotten worse, it also has not pushed out any more buds. The tree is alive, the branches with dieback are also alive, just the buds started to push leaves out at the tips of the branches, then stopped for whatever reason.
I am wondering if it is a root girdle issue and if the tree is worth saving or slowly dying and we need to start thinking about replacing it, I would like a catalpa anyway.....Thanks
Weld County Colorado
Expert Response
Kyle,
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension. My name is Kathy, and I’ll be helping you today.
Last winter & spring were hard on trees. The winter was dry. That, combined with the late spring snows and frosts, could have stunted the leaf buds. Were you watering your trees & shrubs through the winter when there hadn’t been any precipitation in a week or more?
Also, if a tree is stressed, overwatering and adding more fertilizer now can cause more problems than letting it dry out a bit between watering, and hold off on more fertilizing.
Could you please send some more pictures of the tree, including one full picture of it. And some close-ups of the tips that are affected?
And if you suspect root girdling, a picture of the base of the tree where the trunk is growing out from the ground would be helpful.
It’s possible the tips of the branches were affected by the late freezes, and the tree may recover and be in the process of developing new buds for next year.
In the meantime, the links below could help with understanding possible issues with your tree.
Especially note in the Tree Recommendation list, Autumn Blaze maples are listed on the B list “Conditionally Recommended” due to several factors including that Colorado’s alkaline soil isn’t the best for their growing needs.
Catalpas on the other hand are on the A list “Recommended”.
CSU Fact Sheet 7.419 – Large Deciduous Trees
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/large-deciduous-trees-7-419/
CSU Fact Sheet 7.211 – Fall and Winter Tree Watering
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/fall-and-winter-watering-7-211/
CSU Fact Sheet 2.911 – Leaf Scorch
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/leaf-scorch-2-911/
Front Range Tree Recommendation List
https://greeleygov.com/docs/default-source/forestry/front-range-tree-recommendation-list.pdf
Again, thanks for contacting us and let us know if you have any additional questions on this or other gardening issues.
Kathy
