Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - June 25, 2008
From: Edmonton, KY
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Diseases and Disorders, Pruning, Trees
Title: Premature leaf drop on Red Maple in Kentucky
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a ten foot Red Maple tree that has been set out for 4 years. Its leaves have slowly turned colors until it currently looks like fall. The leaves are not falling off nor is there yet any sign that they are dying. There are a few sprouts lower on the trunk that are green. I have three other Red Maples of the same age and size which are doing fine, although none are close to this one in the lawn. What is happening and what should I do. Last spring, the trees around here were already in leaves when a late frost occurred and killed them. The leaves returned and then we had a dry summer. I notice the bark on the trunk is also cracked and peeling. Also, we are experiencing the Cicadas this year. I do not know if any of that is relevant, but I thought I would include it. Thank you.ANSWER:
Acer rubrum (red maple) is a native of North America and also of Kentucky, so the tree should do well in your area. The fact that you have three others on the property that are showing no similar problems indicates the location of that tree may be the clue. Maples prefer full sun, but can survive in some shade, but insufficient sun exposure shouldn't cause early leaf color change; more likely, it would just cause the tree to grow poorly. The bark of the maple is thin and easily damaged by mowers, weed eaters or just accidental hard contact so, again, the position of the tree on your property might be a clue to the bark problem. Check this Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet on Verticillium Wilt of Landscape Trees and Shrubs, just in case it's something that serious.
There are two possibilities that we have found so far for the premature color changes on your tree. One is that of chlorosis, which can occur in maples that are in alkaline soils and manganese in the soil is not accessible to the roots. Chlorosis is the absence of chlorophyll (which causes the color green in the leaves) and indicates a plant in distress. Since you have three other red maples on your property, it wouldn't seem that the soil would be all that different around the tree you are concerned about.
The other possibility we found in a USDA Forest Service website on Acer rubrum. Note the references on Page 4, midway down in the right-hand column on girdling roots. This is indeed serious, and can best be prevented by cutting circling roots from being too long in a container, but that has to be done before the tree is planted.
Finally, this Cornell University Extension website on Noninfectious diseases of maples addresses both of the problems, girdling and shortage of manganese. It also has practical suggestions for dealing with the problems. Hopefully, since your tree is still young, you can do what's needed to let it grow to a tall, magnificent maple.
More Diseases and Disorders Questions
Plants dying in circular garden in Killeen, TX.
July 31, 2012 - I have a large circular garden in my backyard out in the country in Killeen Texas. Last year two elms died. This year the Rose of Sharon has been dying one by one. One bush will completely die off bef...
view the full question and answer
Are Ashe Junipers dying from mite damage in Austin?
August 08, 2011 - If Ashe Juniper needles are turning brown and dropping off the trees because of drought, and not disease, do the needles ever come back, or have the tree limbs died? What if the cause is mites, not ...
view the full question and answer
Gaura Plants Dying In PA
July 16, 2014 - I had six gaura plants. They were beautiful last year. Now I have one that is doing well and the others are dying slowly one at a time. I don't understand this. They are on a slight slope and have ...
view the full question and answer
Protecting storm-damaged pecan and black walnut trees in TX
June 29, 2015 - Several trees on our property in northeast Texas were uprooted by a tornado. A pecan tree with a circumference greater than 93 inches was carried to the ground. Although it is completely horizontal,...
view the full question and answer
Transplant shock in Dakota mock vervain
July 23, 2007 - We just planted some Verbena bipinnatifida in our back yard and when we planted it, it had purple flowers on it but now they've all dried up. We live in central Colorado and thought this plant was fa...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |