Thank you for contacting Ask Extension. I need a little bit more information on your tree. First, could you provide a few more pictures for me? I need one of the entire tree, one of the root flare, one of the trunk and one of the site where it is planted.

Also, how old is this tree? Is it planted in the sun, shade? Does water drain well in the area or does it stay wet? Is this a new problem, or has it looked bad for a couple of years?

Once I receive this information, I will be able to give you a better determination of the problem.

Thank you for contacting Ask Extension. Based on the information you provided and the limited pictures received, I am not sure what really is the problem, since I did not receive followup info that was requested. But you do have a Red Maple,

Red maples, like other maple species, can face various problems that affect their health and appearance. In Michigan, some of the common issues that red maples may encounter include:

1. Anthracnose: This disease primarily affects the leaves, causing irregular tan, brown, or reddish-brown blotches along the leaf veins or on the leaf margins. It can lead to leaf drop and unsightly leaves, but it rarely causes permanent damage.

2. Chlorosis: This condition is characterized by leaves that are light green or yellow, often with dark green veins. It is usually caused by a nutrient deficiency, particularly a lack of manganese in the soil.

3. Wood-boring insects: These pests, such as the flatheaded appletree borer, can cause significant damage by tunneling and feeding under the bark in living wood, leading to girdling, branch dieback, and structural weakness.

4. *Verticillium wilt: This soil-borne fungus can enter the roots through wounds or when plants are weakened by stressors like drought. It can lead to branch dieback and is not controlled by fungicides but by plant care, such as watering during droughts and fertilization in the spring.

5. Leafminers: These pests can cause damage to the leaves, although the symptoms are not described in the provided references.

The best way to learn what is causing the problem is to submit a sample and picture to the MSU Extension Plant and Pests Diagnostic Lab. To learn how to submit a sample go to: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/
You can also consult a certified arborist to assess the tree. To find an arborist in your area, go to: www.treesaregood.org, the website of the International Society of Arboriculture.

If we can be of further help, please contact us.

Thank you for sending the additional pictures. But you did not send me the additional information needed. Such as: Is it planted in the sun, shade? Does water drain well in the area or does it stay wet? Is this a new problem, or has it looked bad for a couple of years?

Based on the way the trunk looks and thinning of the branches in the canopy, and based on the information that you sent, it is a possibility that your red maple has verticillium wilt. But you would need to check with a certified arborist to determine that on site. We can only determine what we see.   To find an arborist in your area, go to: www.treesaregood.org, the website of the International Society of Arboriculture.

Part of the problem with being in sand, is that it drains well. Which means when it hasn't rained in a while, or the tree does not get a minimum of 1" of rain/week, then the homeowner needs to supplement it, even an older tree. 

I still stand by my comments in the last response:           Based on the way the trunk looks and thinning of the branches in the canopy, and based on the information that you sent, it is a possibility that your red maple has verticillium wilt. But you would need to check with a certified arborist to determine that on site. We can only determine what we see. To find an arborist in your area, go to: www.treesaregood.org, the website of the International Society of Arboriculture.

If you want to check to be sure of the issues, I would contact an arborist. They would know whether you can treat the issue, or that it is not worth it.