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Maple tree looking bad #878077

Asked July 20, 2024, 11:22 PM EDT

Possibly a Big Leaf Maple, about 15-20 years old. Started losing it’s leaves super early, brown mottled leaves. Looks like powder mildew, bur something else too. Any ideas? Several smaller (possibly) Red Leaf Maples nearby seem unaffected.

Clackamas County Oregon

Expert Response

From your photos one of the issues with your maple is likely powdery mildew, a common problem, especially after a wet period in June such as we had. See more on this at https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/maple-acer-spp-powdery-mildew
and https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=149879 In general this problem is not a major health issue.

Regarding symptoms such as brown spots, leaf curl, small leaves, premature leaf drop - there are a variety of possible issues that affect maples. There has been an increase in maple dieback with some or all of these symptoms. For more information see:

https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Documents/forestbenefits/tree-declines-bigleaf-maple.pdf



An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 26, 2024, 10:25 AM EDT

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