Knowledgebase

Problem with my sycamore tree #929281

Asked April 22, 2026, 5:43 PM EDT

My sycamore tree has a problem. I don't know if it's pest, disease or hydration related. All the leaves on the tree came in like this this spring. Can you tell anything from these pics?

Howard County Maryland

Expert Response

This looks like damage from the frost/freeze of a couple nights ago. Many plants that had tender new growth were damaged by that event, but they will typically grow out of it on their own. The injured or killed leaves will eventually fall off, and the tree may take a few weeks to generate and produce new growth to replace what was lost. Given the ongoing drought, plants are stressed by insufficient soil moisture (especially species that prefer moist soil, such as sycamore), but watering a mature shade tree isn't often practical given the extensive root area and amount of water needed to rehydrate the root zone.

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied April 23, 2026, 10:23 AM EDT

Loading ...