[jwholden]

I have a client with a laceleaf maple on their property with severe dieback. The tree is about 5' tall and 9' wide. We transplanted the tree about three years ago and saw no dieback since then, however this year it came out of the winter looking bad.

Approximately 1/3 of the branches have simply died on the tree. Branches up to 1" in diameter. I went through the tree yesterday and cut off all the dead wood and now it looks like a bonsai tree.

I see no indication of disease or insect problems. It simply died back.

My only thought is that is could be a root or twine girdling the trunk below ground and it is finally cutting off the flow of nutrients enough to effect the tree. If anyone has other ideas I would love to hear.

Some pictures below.

[jwholden]

A branch showing dieback.

[jwholden]

Closeup of dieback.

[GLAN]

That's happening here as well..........for a couple/few years now.

I've been told a virus.........

I don't recall seeing or hearing anything coming out of Cornell.....

[NCSULandscaper]

its rare for a maple to die of root rot unless planted way way too deep. Appears to be winter dieback, it happens time to time without warning on jap maples. With the pruning you did, it should look great by next year. I planted a large one at my new house, and there was a lot of dead in it when i found it at the nursery, after pruning it all out, its already filling back in nicely.

[VoodooChile]

Not to completely dismiss the Winter die-back theory, but 3 years after transplant the tree should have been well-established, and ready for a zone 6 winter. Was your winter especially cold? Is it sited in an exposed location? Did it leaf out early and then get zapped with a late frost?

Another theory is Verticillium Wilt, a fungal disease commonly found in agricultural soil that has been converted to subdivisions. A diagnostic sign is branch die-back. If you carefully peel back the bark on the affected branches, you should see brown or green streaking in the sap-wood.

If it is Vert Wilt, the tree is a goner, and its replacement should be a Vert Wilt resistant woody, like: Beech, Birch, Ginkgo, Hackberry, Hickory, Honey Locust, Mountain Ash, White or Bur Oak, Poplar, Serviceberry, Sycamore, or Willow.

Good Luck!

[GLAN]

Verticillum has taken many, many Norway Maples

That's been my reasoning for the die back on the Jap Maples.......the die back is exactly the same.

I never realy bought into the "Virus" explanation

I have found that with some Cut/Lace Leaf Maples. Cutting back has done nothing to stop the spread of the die back.......yet some have survived......I honestly haven't charted the problem......or even paid much attention. Just always cut away what died.

[rye]

Sunscald of Deciduous Trees

check this link- i have seen japanese maples- especially after moving get sunscald or frost cracking in Pennsylvania. Especially if the orientation is changed rotated in regards to the sun direction) Luckily the tree heals over with a little help

[GLAN]

Rye

That's a possibility..........in the situation of transplanting

I would just think that the first occurance would be the first winter.

[Dire Wolf]

Definately looks Vert wilt. We have used with great success Mauget tree injections. Abasol is a combination of Abacide (an insecticide) and Fungisol (fungicide labeled for Verticillium wilt). It must be Injected early spring just before or at bud break. We have saved quite a few maples doing this. Its a combination product we also use for birches to prevent BLM and BBB. When applied correctly you will see a differance the first season.

[Greensmith]

Any chance you can go back and scrape the cambium off so we can see the heartwood?

[GLAN]

Originally Posted by Dire Wolf

Definately looks Vert wilt. We have used with great success Mauget tree injections. Abasol is a combination of Abacide (an insecticide) and Fungisol (fungicide labeled for Verticillium wilt). It must be Injected early spring just before or at bud break. We have saved quite a few maples doing this. Its a combination product we also use for birches to prevent BLM and BBB. When applied correctly you will see a differance the first season.

Interesting..........never knew there was a control for the wilt.

Never heard of it being discussed at DEC seminars..........I'll be sure to bring it up at the next one I attend...this coming winter

[Greensmith]

Originally Posted by Dire Wolf

Definately looks Vert wilt. We have used with great success Mauget tree injections. Abasol is a combination of Abacide (an insecticide) and Fungisol (fungicide labeled for Verticillium wilt). It must be Injected early spring just before or at bud break. We have saved quite a few maples doing this. Its a combination product we also use for birches to prevent BLM and BBB. When applied correctly you will see a differance the first season.

How effective is the BBB treatment with this? The extension people always told me that the cause is hopeless for White birches and plant alternates.

[Dire Wolf]

Abacide is used as a systemic because it is injected into the vascular system of the tree. Once the BLM eggs are laid in the leaf and then hatch they expire,the same goes for BBB larvae. You may get a small entrance hole fom adult but as soon as it injests the treated wood it expires also. This teatment will not bring back a dead tree of course but we use this in our PHC program on properties with Birches and on One in particular, it has 9 White birch trees that in the 8 years under our program never have these common problems. In fact the adjacent property has lost all it birch trees due to no treatment. The abacide product label for new york lists the following treatment for BLM, BBB, vert wilt, Anthacnose in willow, die back of walnut, Etc. Look up Mauget on google. As a certified ISA Arborist we continually take classes on latest treatment and arborculture practices. If the tree is showing less than 25% of die back then it is a good canidate for the Abisol treatment for vert wilt. We market this as an annual booster shot for the trees and its more eco friendly due to sealed injection capsule inserted directly into tree.

[NCSULandscaper]

Originally Posted by Dire Wolf

Look up Mauget on google. As a certified ISA Arborist we continually take classes on latest treatment and arborculture practices. If the tree is showing less than 25% of die back then it is a good canidate for the Abisol treatment for vert wilt. We market this as an annual booster shot for the trees and its more eco friendly due to sealed injection capsule inserted directly into tree.

Mauget is the same thing i use as a preventative as well as treating after symptoms show of other insects and diseases, great stuff