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Maple tree #878607

Asked July 24, 2024, 2:48 PM EDT

What is wrong with the leaves on my maple tree and what can I do about it?

Crow Wing County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thanks for the question regarding your maple tree. As far as I can tell from the leaves, this seems to be a silver maple (Acer saccharinum).

I see two things that might be causing you concern:

1). Some leaves have “bumps” on them. These are maple galls and will cause no harm to the tree. They can simply be ignored. Here is some information about them:

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/maple-gall-mites-eriophyidae/

https://extension.psu.edu/leaf-galls-on-maple

https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef404

2). Secondly, I see a few leaves with blackened areas. I suspect this is a fungal disease called anthracnose. It is caused by a variety of different fungal species. It is not a significant threat to the health of the tree and doesn’t require treatment in most cases. See:

https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/deciduous/maple/leavesspots.html

https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/anthracnose-trees-and-shrubs

https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/maple-anthracnose

Bottom line, assuming I have located the leaves about which you had concerns, your maple seems quite healthy. The two conditions I’ve mentioned only detract from the cosmetic appearance of the tree.

Good luck. If I have missed something, please get back to us. Thanks for using our forum.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 24, 2024, 3:30 PM EDT

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