[scl]

I have 6 Red Maples in stock that this spring have limited to no foliage on the top crown. The rest of the tree , with the exception of one, seems to be healthy. I went by a nursery with a couple of thousand red maples the other day and noticed that most of these looked the same. Trunk diameters are 2-3", height 10-14'. Anybody got a clue as to whats going on and a future prognosis? Just hate the thought of losing these guys and would like to get them healthy enough to sell.

Thanks
Scott

[Stonehenge]

How's the spring been down there? Could it be a stress issue?

[NCSULandscaper]

the only time ive seen that happen here is if the tree dried out, we planted some october glory on a job a few years back and i know the customer never watered them, and the tops died out. I just went and cut the tops out and now the trees are back to as good if not better than before.

[TrickyDick]

I had that happen on a four or five inch tree that was well watered but thad some fungal problems.

[jwholden]

What kind of Red Maple is it?

Acer palmatum? Acer rubrum? Acer platanoides 'Crimson King'?

We had a late frost in CT and some trees ended up with some leaf scorch, including laceleaf maples and styrax. If it is frost damage the tree will leaf out in time and look fine...though you may have to prune out a little dead wood.

I hope it all ends well for you.

[scl]

Mine are rubrums. The others? Seen a lot of Jap laceleafs having isses this year also. Yeah Jeff, I thought about the stress issue also, though moisture and cooler temperatures were definitely the rule here this spring. Almost all trees and shrubs were 2-3 weeks behind. Lilacs bloomed in Had ahard freeze in late APril so that may be it